My March 2023 Charts

5th March 2023

It’s 2 weeks on top for Linda Ronstadt’s yearning Long, Long Time feature from The Last Of Us as a TV repeat of Dusty’s career helps keep her at 2. When it comes to actual singers, as opposed to songwriters, Dusty remains my all-time fave. A perfectionist inspired by Black American soul singers that she aspired to be as good as (but never felt she was). Dusty, as the fab Madeline Bell pointed out – no slouch herself in the vocal department – had soul, it’s a quality not a colour.

Niall Horan gets a 2nd top 10 with his fab Heaven, and highest new entry is a terrific dance stomper from Kaleena Zanders and Shift K3y at 9, with Kelly from Stereophonics also adding to his top 10’s under the Far From Saints guise. Thomas Rhett takes Doris Day into the 20 with a 70 year-old song and sample (more or less), the sweet Simple As A Song, and Birdy is back with a Kate Bush-inspired new track called Raincatchers, but fans of Cloudbusting might notice the tribute. Utah Saints previously topped my charts with Something Good, also Kate-inspired.

Pulp chart 2 early-ish Pulp minor hits following the sad death of Steve Mackey, who contributed a good deal to their sound and was a top chap according to everyone: Do You Remember The First Time and Babies come back as they weren’t big chart hits for me at the time. Ellie Goulding makes it 2 on the chart as Like A Saviour joins All By Myself, and the rest of the new entries are all chart debuting acts, bar Sparks, who drop new single The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte. I highly recommend the Netflix Edgar Wright documentary The Sparks Brothers. Watch, and marvel at a unique influential career, and their 49-years of charting since I rushed out to buy This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us.

1 1 1 5 LONG, LONG TIME – Linda Ronstadt 372100
2 2 1 4 A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME – Dusty Springfield & Burt Bacharach 460000
3 3 1 7 BORROWED TIME – Rick and Morty & Tennis 880000
4 4 3 7 THAT AIN’T RIGHT – Eloise Viola 451000
5 5 5 7 GOOD TO YOU – RHODES 293000
6 8 6 4 GHOSTS AGAIN – Depeche Mode 126800
7 33 7 3 HEAVEN – Niall Horan 78700
8 9 8 6 UNTIL I FOUND YOU – Stephen Sanchez 148500
9 NEW 9 1 VIBRATION – Kaleena Zanders & Shift K3y 45000
10 19 10 4 LET’S TURN THIS THING AROUND – Far From Saints 86600

11 6 6 8 FREE (DO WHAT U WANT) – Pete Tong, Ultra Nate, LP Giobbi & Jules Buckley 225100
12 16 12 7 MANCHESTER – Kishi Bashi 133300
13 10 4 6 WOMAN – Lady Blackbird 237500
14 18 14 4 PEARLS – Jessie Ware 74000
15 15 15 7 EIGHT MILES HIGH – The Byrds 155600
16 17 16 5 THAT BOY ON THE STAGE – Suede 77000
17 11 1 18 RELEASE – 220 KID & ASDIS 1437800
18 12 10 7 CAN’T STAY AWAY – Darin 186600
19 25 19 4 SILENT RUNNING – Gorillaz featuring Adeleye Omotaye 68850
20 59 20 3 SIMPLE AS A SONG – Thomas Rhett featuring Doris Day 37100

21 7 5 8 NOORIE – Bally Sagoo 289500
22 13 13 8 FLOWERS – Miley Cyrus 163950
23 30 23 5 TOO MUCH MUSIC – Jake Shears 76300
24 21 1 18 I’M A MESS – Avril Lavigne with YUNGBLUD 835650
25 29 25 6 TRUSTFALL – P!nk 90100
26 NEW 26 1 RAINCATCHERS – Birdy 18500
27 14 5 8 10:35 – Tiesto & Tate McRae 304400
28 38 28 6 DEEP IN VOGUE – RHYME SO featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor 63100
29 23 5 13 HIGH – Reverend & The Makers 411250
30 22 4 7 DOWN BY THE RIVER ‘O’ – The Levellers 299500

31 24 24 7 DIGGING DEEPER – Alison Goldfrapp & Claptone 110150
32 48 32 5 WHEN YOU KNOW – Cheat Codes & Matt Stell 53100
33 20 20 8 GIDDY UP! – Shania Twain 144200
34 40 34 4 TODAY – Sugababes 50600
35 49 35 6 FOREVER FORGET – Lucia & The Best Boys 58900
36 26 26 7 GONNA BE YOU – Dolly Parton, Belinda Carlisle & Cyndi Lauper featuring Gloria Estefan & Debbie Harry 107700
37 43 37 4 EYE KNOW – De La Soul featuring Otis Redding & Steely Dan 52800
38 52 38 2 YOUNG HEARTS RUN FREE – Candi Staton 28700 802300
39 73 39 2 THE PROMISE – When In Rome 22500
40 60 40 2 SAN DAMIANO (HEART AND SOUL) – Sal Solo 27000

41 34 1 18 NEVER GONNA NOT DANCE AGAIN – P!nk 899500
42 42 42 7 MR. TAMBOURINE MAN – The Byrds 74850
43 37 1 24 DAYDREAMING – Harry Styles 1064800
44 36 1 22 ALL BY MYSELF – Alok, Sigala & Ellie Goulding 1177050
45 27 9 15 PEOPLE PLEASER – Cat Burns 330400
46 46 46 5 ILYAF (I LOVE YOU ALWAYS FOREVER) – Donna Lewis & Digital Farm Animals 53500
47 41 4 19 SUMMER OF ‘42 – Kishi Bashi 627000
48 NEW 48 1 DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME – Pulp 12300
49 28 8 17 MISS YOU – Oliver Tree & Robin Schulz 387200
50 31 8 13 BACK TO YOU – Lost Frequencies, Elley Duhe & X Ambassadors 279100

51 32 13 9 EASY TO LOVE – Armin van Buuren & Matoma featuring Teddy Swims 171300
52 35 10 15 GOLDEN HOUR – JVKE 297400
53 NEW 53 1 GAME OF LOVE – LOWES 11250
54 58 54 2 BREAKING THE CIRCLE (SUDLOW RADIO MIX) – Sophie Ellis-Bextor 21200
55 NEW 55 1 LIKE A SAVIOUR – Ellie Goulding 10800
56 68 56 3 FEVER – Alison Goldfrapp & Paul Woolford 22800
57 47 1 21 WOLF – Yeah Yeah Yeahs 1004750
58 62 58 3 I FEEL LIKE DANCING – Jason Mraz 23800
59 39 33 7 BELIEVE IN ME – Richard Marx 98700
60 50 1 20 LIONHEART (FEARLESS) – Joel Corry & Tom Grennan 992850

61 67 61 2 NIGHTSHIFT – Bruce Springsteen 14100
62 54 5 16 HOW 2 DANCE – Kaiser Chiefs 426250
63 NEW 63 1 I DON’T MIND – Georgia Twinn 7200
64 NEW 64 1 THE GIRL IS CRYING IN HER LATTE – Sparks 7100
65 70 65 3 CAUTION TO THE WIND – Everything But The Girl 18600
66 51 28 7 GOLD – Loi 90200
67 NEW 67 1 PARTY – Planet 1999 6600
68 53 37 8 GEORGIA – Thomas Headon 100150
69 NEW 69 1 ALL MINE – D.O.D. 6200
70 71 70 3 JOLENE – Olivia Newton-John featuring Dolly Parton 17000

71 NEW 71 1 HARD DAYS LOVE – Lily Moore 5800
72 NEW 72 1 LIKE A RIVER – Frederico & Tiffany Aris 5600
73 55 7 16 YOU CAN FIND IT HERE – The Fizz 425650
74 NEW 74 1 BABIES – Pulp 5200
75 75 1 34 ELOISE – Barry Ryan 677250

DROP OUTS
44 44 3 LIVING IN THE PAST (HOME DEMO) – Pet Shop Boys 39500
45 20 18 HERE THERE AND EVERYWHERE – The Beatles 245850
56 2 17 GONE WITH THE WIND IS MY LOVE – Rita & The Tiaras 521250
57 4 14 RANDOMIZE – Otto Knows & Alex Aris 332300
61 33 18 LAVENDER HAZE – Taylor Swift 217950
63 17 8 DIFFERENT DRUM – PP Arnold 128600
64 40 7 NOBODY HAS TO KNOW – The Webb Brothers 70150
65 2 11 SENSE – The Lightning Seeds featuring Terry Hall 349800 670250
66 1 21 LITTLE DOES SHE KNOW – The Kursaal Flyers 647500
72 27 8 100% PURE LOVE – Years & Years 113200
74 50 8 HEART LIKE A TRUCK – Lainey Wilson 69050
74 74 1 RENT (LIVE ON RADIO 2) – Jake Shears featuring Neil Tennant & BBC Concert Orchestra 5200

12th March 2023

It’s back up on top for a second week for Dusty after some TV shows on the BBC over the weekend, re-igniting my love for her and my sincere belief that she is the greatest female vocalist of all time. Even over Aretha. Niall Horan meanwhile hits a new peak of 3 for him, with Heaven. Far From Saints go top 5, and Thomas Rhett gets his second biggest and second top 10, bringing Doris Day along for her first top 10 since 1987 when Move Over Darling topped my chart. At nearly 70 years old the sample is just as old as The Chordettes’ Mr Sandman sample on the highest new entry from Meghan Trainor, at 53 with Mother.

Jessie Ware gets a top 10 finally after 11 previous charting tracks, Pearls being some fab disco retro vibes, Miley Cyrus has a new track off her new album debut at 63, Jaded, just ahead of The Weeknd’s reactivated oldie Die For You, getting some Ariana Grande revamp action and charting for the first time. They’ve both topped my chart together in 2014 (Love Me Harder). Olly Murs gets some glam rock vibes on I Found Her, as the man singing over the original vibes pops back in prison. I give credit to producer/writer Mike Leander and The Glitter Band though, not that other bloke.

The UK has a new Eurovision song, and it’s actually current-sounding! That hasn’t happened since 1994’s Love City Groove! Mae Muller has had 2 previous chart credits, so let’s hope the hat-trick does well for her. I Wrote A Song at 71. Gorillaz get a second on the chart, Oil, and gives Stevie Nicks another credit for over 40 years of solo credits, or 47 years including Fleetwood Mac, who were her modest little combo prior to that. Chromeo is also back for a 3rd visit, with new track, Words With You.

1 2 1 5 A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME – Dusty Springfield & Burt Bacharach 605000
2 1 1 6 LONG, LONG TIME – Linda Ronstadt 487100
3 7 3 4 HEAVEN – Niall Horan 163700
4 3 1 8 BORROWED TIME – Rick and Morty & Tennis 945000
5 10 5 5 LET’S TURN THIS BACK AROUND – Far From Saints 146600
6 20 6 4 SIMPLE AS A SONG – Thomas Rhett featuring Doris Day 92100
7 9 7 2 VIBRATION – Kaleena Zanders & Shift K3y 95000
8 4 3 8 THAT AIN’T RIGHT – Eloise Viola 499000
9 14 9 5 PEARLS – Jessie Ware 119000
10 5 5 8 GOOD TO YOU – RHODES 335000

11 6 6 5 GHOSTS AGAIN – Depeche Mode 163800
12 8 8 7 UNTIL I FOUND YOU – Stephen Sanchez 183500
13 12 12 8 MANCHESTER – Kishi Bashi 165300
14 11 6 9 FREE (DO WHAT U WANT) – Pete Tong, Ultra Nate, LP Giobbi & Jules Buckley 254100
15 15 15 8 EIGHT MILES HIGH – The Byrds 182600
16 16 16 6 THAT BOY ON THE STAGE – Suede 102000
17 19 17 5 SILENT RUNNING – Gorillaz featuring Adeleye Omotaye 91850
18 26 18 2 RAINCATCHERS – Birdy 40500
19 17 1 19 RELEASE – 220 KID & ASDIS 1458800
20 13 4 7 WOMAN – Lady Blackbird 257500

21 18 10 8 CAN’T STAY AWAY – Darin 206350
22 35 22 7 FOREVER FORGET – Lucia & The Best Boys 78400
23 23 23 6 TOO MUCH MUSIC – Jake Shears 95550
24 40 24 3 SAN DAMIANO (HEART AND SOUL) – Sal Solo 46000
25 39 25 3 THE PROMISE – When In Rome 41250
26 38 26 3 YOUNG HEARTS RUN FREE – Candi Staton 47200
27 55 27 2 LIKE A SAVIOUR – Ellie Goulding 28200
28 24 1 19 I’M A MESS – Avril Lavigne with YUNGBLUD 853950
29 27 5 9 10:35 – Tiesto & Tate McRae 322600
30 34 30 5 TODAY – Sugababes 68600

31 54 31 3 BREAKING THE CIRCLE (SUDLOW RADIO MIX) – Sophie Ellis-Bextor 39100
32 53 32 2 GAME OF LOVE – LOWES 29050
33 56 33 4 FEVER – Alison Goldfrapp & Paul Woolford 40500
34 63 34 2 I DON’T MIND – Georgia Twinn 24800
35 22 13 9 FLOWERS – Miley Cyrus 181450
36 29 5 14 HIGH – Reverend & The Makers 428650
37 69 37 2 ALL MINE – D.O.D. 23500
38 28 28 7 DEEP IN VOGUE – RHYME SO featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor 80300
39 72 39 2 LIKE A RIVER – Frederico & Tiffany Aris 22700
40 25 25 7 TRUSTFALL – P!nk 107100

41 32 32 6 WHEN YOU KNOW – Cheat Codes & Matt Stell 67100
42 21 5 9 NOORIE – Bally Sagoo 303250
43 30 4 8 DOWN BY THE RIVER ‘O’ – The Levellers 313000
44 31 24 8 DIGGING DEEPER – Alison Goldfrapp & Claptone 123400
45 43 1 25 DAYDREAMING – Harry Styles 1077800
46 46 46 6 ILYAF (I LOVE YOU ALWAYS FOREVER) – Donna Lewis & Digital Farm Animals 66250
47 41 1 19 NEVER GONNA NOT DANCE AGAIN – P!nk 912000
48 48 48 2 DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME – Pulp 24600
49 36 26 8 GONNA BE YOU – Dolly Parton, Belinda Carlisle & Cyndi Lauper featuring Gloria Estefan & Debbie Harry 119800
50 58 50 4 I FEEL LIKE DANCING – Jason Mraz 35800

51 33 20 9 GIDDY UP! – Shania Twain 155950
52 42 42 8 MR. TAMBOURINE MAN – The Byrds 86350
53 NEW 53 1 MOTHER – Meghan Trainor featuring The Chordettes 11250
54 37 37 5 EYE KNOW – De La Soul featuring Otis Redding & Steely Dan 63800
55 61 55 3 NIGHTSHIFT – Bruce Springsteen 24900
56 44 1 23 ALL BY MYSELF – Alok, Sigala & Ellie Goulding 1187650
57 47 4 20 SUMMER OF ‘42 – Kishi Bashi 637400
58 64 58 2 THE GIRL IS CRYING IN HER LATTE – Sparks 17300
59 71 59 2 HARD DAYS LOVE – Lily Moore 15900
60 65 60 4 CAUTION TO THE WIND – Everything But The Girl 28600

61 67 61 2 PARTY – Planet 1999 14100
62 45 9 16 PEOPLE PLEASER – Cat Burns 337800
63 NEW 63 1 JADED – Miley Cyrus 7200
64 NEW 64 1 DIE FOR YOU (REMIX) – The Weeknd & Ariana Grande 7100
65 57 1 22 WOLF – Yeah Yeah Yeahs 1011750
66 60 1 21 LIONHEART (FEARLESS) – Joel Corry & Tom Grennan 999650
67 70 67 4 JOLENE – Olivia Newton-John featuring Dolly Parton 23600
68 49 8 18 MISS YOU – Oliver Tree & Robin Schulz 393600
69 NEW 69 1 I FOUND HER – Olly Murs 6200
70 74 70 2 BABIES – Pulp 11200

71 NEW 71 1 I WROTE A SONG – Mae Muller 5800
72 50 8 14 BACK TO YOU – Lost Frequencies, Elley Duhe & X Ambassadors 284700
73 NEW 73 1 OIL – Gorillaz featuring Stevie Nicks 5400
74 NEW 74 1 WORDS WITH YOU – Chromeo 5200
75 75 1 35 ELOISE – Barry Ryan 682250

DROP OUTS
51 13 9 EASY TO LOVE – Armin van Buuren & Matoma featuring Teddy Swims 171300
52 10 15 GOLDEN HOUR – JVKE 297400
59 33 7 BELIEVE IN ME – Richard Marx 98700
62 5 16 HOW 2 DANCE – Kaiser Chiefs 426250
66 28 7 GOLD – Loi 90200
68 37 8 GEORGIA – Thomas Headon 100150
73 7 16 YOU CAN FIND IT HERE – The Fizz 425650

19th March 2023

It’s a first number one for Niall Horan, the second One Direction solo member to do what the boyband never came close to doing, with Heaven leading the singles pack after 6 years of solo entries and 12 years including the band hits. Kishi Bashi makes it 2 oldies top 10’s over the last few months to total 6 top 10’s out of 9 chart hits, Manchester being the oldest one to chart at over a decade old. Time he got better known!

Meghan Trainor makes it a hat trick of album hits, as Mother gives her a 2nd top 20 in a row, and beats the sampled Mister Sandman’s 2016 peak of 33. Jaded leaps up for MIley Cyrus as her other big album track River enters at 56, for 3 on the chart. Highest new entry is an unexpected orchestral makeover for Def Leppard’s classic rock hit Animal, and which works rather well at 39 after going top 5 in 1987 in the original version. Lead singer Joe Elliot meanwhile debuts at 42 with mates Ghost on Spillways for a bonafide 40-year chart career here from me. Photograph was the first way back when.

Reverend & The Makers replace themselves in the chart with a hat-trick of album singles, Problems at 53, and Information Society return with What’s On Your Mind? 35 years on from topping my charts with their big US hit, and Duran Duran-influenced synth hit, the Star-Trek McCoy & Spock sampling (Pure Energy) song new at 57. Talking of 80’s veterans, belinda Carlisle is back again with Big Big Love, sounding very much like her old hits, new at 63 and 37 years of solo chart attention, or 41 Gogos included.

Loreen is back in Eurovision, and new at 64 with Tattoo, her 5th chart entry, first in 8 years, and following on 2 top 3’s – Euphoria at 3, My Heart Is Refusing Me at 2. Taylor Swift is releasing material at a furious pace not seen since the heyday of Prince (let’s ignore those who do a lot of “features”), out this week is All Of The Girls You Loved Before stored from a few years ago. Nathan Evans makes it 4 chart entries, Catch You When You Fall, Alison Goldfrapp gets a 3rd off her new solo album, So Hard So Hot, I assume she’s overcooked something in the oven, Bebe Rexha and Zara Larsson add to their run of singles, Yeah Yeah Yeahs make it two in a row, Pulp get a 3rd oldie track from 1990’s album His ‘n’ Hers, and finally, Shaky’s back! First charting with Hot Dog 43 years ago, most recently in the chart with that Xmas oldie, most recent new recording Echoes Of Merry Christmas Everyone, a sparse 2015 set-up for his new track, an actual slag-off big banking unexpected return with All You Need Is Greed. S’good!

1 3 1 5 HEAVEN – Niall Horan 333700
2 1 1 6 A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME – Dusty Springfield & Burt Bacharach 705000
3 2 1 7 LONG, LONG TIME – Linda Ronstadt 572100
4 5 4 6 LET’S TURN THIS BACK AROUND – Far From Saints 211600
5 7 5 3 VIBRATION – Kaleena Zanders & Shift K3y 155000
6 10 5 9 GOOD TO YOU – RHODES 390000
7 6 6 5 SIMPLE AS A SONG – Thomas Rhett featuring Doris Day 142100
8 11 6 6 GHOSTS AGAIN – Depeche Mode 211800
9 9 9 6 PEARLS – Jessie Ware 164000
10 13 10 9 MANCHESTER – Kishi Bashi 207300

11 4 1 9 BORROWED TIME – Rick and Morty & Tennis 982000
12 8 3 9 THAT AIN’T RIGHT – Eloise Viola 534000
13 17 13 6 SILENT RUNNING – Gorillaz featuring Adeleye Omotaye 123850
14 12 8 8 UNTIL I FOUND YOU – Stephen Sanchez 212500
15 16 15 7 THAT BOY ON THE STAGE – Suede 129000
16 18 16 3 RAINCATCHERS – Birdy 65500
17 14 6 10 FREE (DO WHAT U WANT) – Pete Tong, Ultra Nate, LP Giobbi & Jules Buckley 277100
18 30 18 6 TODAY – Sugababes 90600
19 19 1 20 RELEASE – 220 KID & ASDIS 1479800
20 53 20 2 MOTHER – Meghan Trainor featuring The Chordettes 31250

21 24 21 4 SAN DAMIANO (HEART AND SOUL) – Sal Solo 65750
22 25 22 4 THE PROMISE – When In Rome 60750
23 31 23 4 BREAKING THE CIRCLE (SUDLOW RADIO MIX) – Sophie Ellis-Bextor 58350
24 63 24 2 JADED – Miley Cyrus 26200
25 27 25 3 LIKE A SAVIOUR – Ellie Goulding 46950
26 26 26 4 YOUNG HEARTS RUN FREE – Candi Staton 65700
27 34 27 3 I DON’T MIND – Georgia Twinn 43200
28 33 28 5 FEVER – Alison Goldfrapp & Paul Woolford 58800
29 22 22 8 FOREVER FORGET – Lucia & The Best Boys 96600
30 32 30 3 GAME OF LOVE – LOWES 47050

31 21 10 9 CAN’T STAY AWAY – Darin 224250
32 20 4 8 WOMAN – Lady Blackbird 275300
33 23 23 7 TOO MUCH MUSIC – Jake Shears 113250
34 15 15 9 EIGHT MILES HIGH – The Byrds 200200
35 28 1 20 I’M A MESS – Avril Lavigne with YUNGBLUD 871450
36 64 36 2 DIE FOR YOU (REMIX) – The Weeknd & Ariana Grande 24500
37 37 37 3 ALL MINE – D.O.D. 40800
38 39 38 3 LIKE A RIVER – Frederico & Tiffany Aris 39900
39 NEW 39 1 ANIMAL – Def Leppard featuring Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 17100
40 35 13 10 FLOWERS – Miley Cyrus 198450

41 61 41 3 PARTY – Planet 1999 28100
42 NEW 42 1 SPILLWAYS – Ghost featuring Joe Elliot 13750
43 48 43 3 DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME – Pulp 38100
44 59 44 3 HARD DAYS LOVE – Lily Moore 29150
45 69 45 2 I FOUND HER – Olly Murs 19200
46 50 46 5 I FEEL LIKE DANCING – Jason Mraz 48550
47 29 5 10 10:35 – Tiesto & Tate McRae 335100
48 71 48 2 I WROTE A SONG – Mae Muller 17900
49 58 49 3 THE GIRL IS CRYING IN HER LATTE – Sparks 29400
50 38 28 8 DEEP IN VOGUE – RHYME SO featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor 92300

51 45 1 26 DAYDREAMING – Harry Styles 1089550
52 36 5 15 HIGH – Reverend & The Makers 440150
53 NEW 53 1 PROBLEMS – Reverend & The Makers 11250
54 54 37 6 EYE KNOW – De La Soul featuring Otis Redding & Steely Dan 74800
55 55 55 4 NIGHTSHIFT – Bruce Springsteen 35700
56 NEW 56 1 RIVER – Miley Cyrus 10600
57 NEW 57 1 WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND (PURE ENERGY)? – Information Society 10400
58 74 58 2 WORDS WITH YOU – Chromeo 15400
59 47 1 20 NEVER GONNA NOT DANCE AGAIN – P!nk 922100
60 60 60 5 CAUTION TO THE WIND – Everything But The Girl 38600

61 73 61 2 OIL – Gorillaz featuring Stevie Nicks 12900
62 46 46 7 ILYAF (I LOVE YOU ALWAYS FOREVER) – Donna Lewis & Digital Farm Animals 73650
63 NEW 63 1 BIG BIG LOVE – Belinda Carlisle 7200
64 NEW 64 1 TATTOO – Loreen 7100
65 40 25 8 TRUSTFALL – P!nk 114100
66 41 32 6 WHEN YOU KNOW – Cheat Codes & Matt Stell 73900
67 67 67 5 JOLENE – Olivia Newton-John featuring Dolly Parton 30200
68 NEW 68 1 ALL OF THE GIRLS YOU LOVED BEFORE – Taylor Swift 6400
69 NEW 69 1 CATCH YOU WHEN YOU FALL – Nathan Evans 6200
70 70 70 3 BABIES – Pulp 17200

71 56 1 24 ALL BY MYSELF – Alok, Sigala & Ellie Goulding 1193450
72 NEW 72 1 SO HARD SO HOT – Alison Goldfrapp 5600
73 43 4 9 DOWN BY THE RIVER ‘O’ – The Levellers 318400
74 NEW 74 1 HEART WANTS WHAT IT WANTS – Bebe Rexha 5200
75 NEW 75 1 ALL YOU NEED IS GREED – Shakin’ Stevens 5000
76 NEW 76 1 CAN’T TAME HER – Zara Larsson 4800
77 75 1 36 ELOISE – Barry Ryan 686850
78 NEW 78 1 BLACKTOP – Yeah Yeah Yeahs 4400
79 NEW 79 1 SHE’S A LADY – Pulp 4200
80 42 5 10 NOORIE – Bally Sagoo 307250

DROP OUTS
44 24 8 DIGGING DEEPER – Alison Goldfrapp & Claptone 123400
49 26 8 GONNA BE YOU – Dolly Parton, Belinda Carlisle & Cyndi Lauper featuring Gloria Estefan & Debbie Harry 119800
51 20 9 GIDDY UP! – Shania Twain 155950
52 42 8 MR. TAMBOURINE MAN – The Byrds 86350
57 4 20 SUMMER OF ‘42 – Kishi Bashi 637400
62 9 16 PEOPLE PLEASER – Cat Burns 337800
65 1 22 WOLF – Yeah Yeah Yeahs 1011750
66 1 21 LIONHEART (FEARLESS) – Joel Corry & Tom Grennan 999650
68 8 18 MISS YOU – Oliver Tree & Robin Schulz 393600
72 8 14 BACK TO YOU – Lost Frequencies, Elley Duhe & X Ambassadors 284700

26th March 2023

It’s 2 weeks on top for Niall Horan’s Heaven, that’s 2 more weeks than One Direction managed, while the biggest mover into the top 10 is 1988’s Information Society returning What’s On Your Mind after a Pure Energy 50-place-climb, having topped my chart 35 years ago. Gorillaz get a first top 10 for 2 years, a first with new material for 5 years, and a 7th in total including 2 chart-toppers and 2 big number 2’s in 22 years. Damon also has another 2 Blur chart-toppers in a career of well over 30 years.

In new entry time, Reverend & The Makers get another new track, A Letter To My 21-Year-old Self are in at 69 for 3 on the list and a 4th from the new album. Jake Shears gets a 2nd disco banger from his new solo album, Amber Martin doing most of the singing on Devil Came Down The Dance Floor. Hozier returns with Eat Your Young, a funky return after an absence of 5 years and a 4th chart entry in 10 years including chart topper Take Me To Church.

Noel Gallagher adds to his lengthening list at 77, Dead To The World being his 19th if we include his 1996 chart-topper with Chemical Brothers (Setting Suns) and ignore Oasis. Most of them are in the last 12 years though. Lana Del Ray returns with The Grants, Elizabeth’s real family name as it happens, her 32nd chart entry, including chart-topper Summertime Sadness. Finally, Bakermat returns with Good Feeling, a 9th chart entry, as they’ve been on a roll the last year or so doubling previous entries.

1 1 1 6 HEAVEN – Niall Horan 503700
2 2 1 7 A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME – Dusty Springfield & Burt Bacharach 805000
3 3 1 8 LONG, LONG TIME – Linda Ronstadt 657100
4 4 4 7 LET’S TURN THIS BACK AROUND – Far From Saints 276600
5 7 5 6 SIMPLE AS A SONG – Thomas Rhett featuring Doris Day 202100
6 5 5 4 VIBRATION – Kaleena Zanders & Shift K3y 210000
7 57 7 2 WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND (PURE ENERGY)? – Information Society 60400
8 8 6 7 GHOSTS AGAIN – Depeche Mode 259800
9 6 5 10 GOOD TO YOU – RHODES 435000
10 13 10 7 SILENT RUNNING – Gorillaz featuring Adeleye Omotaye 165850

11 9 9 7 PEARLS – Jessie Ware 201000
12 20 12 3 MOTHER – Meghan Trainor featuring The Chordettes 66250
13 16 13 4 RAINCATCHERS – Birdy 97500
14 11 1 10 BORROWED TIME – Rick and Morty & Tennis 1011000
15 36 15 3 DIE FOR YOU (REMIX) – The Weeknd & Ariana Grande 51500
16 10 10 10 MANCHESTER – Kishi Bashi 232300
17 18 17 7 TODAY – Sugababes 113600
18 24 18 3 JADED – Miley Cyrus 48200
19 14 8 9 UNTIL I FOUND YOU – Stephen Sanchez 233500
20 23 20 5 BREAKING THE CIRCLE (SUDLOW RADIO MIX) – Sophie Ellis-Bextor 78350

21 27 21 4 I DON’T MIND – Georgia Twinn 62950
22 12 3 10 THAT AIN’T RIGHT – Eloise Viola 553500
23 28 23 6 FEVER – Alison Goldfrapp & Paul Woolford 78050
24 56 24 2 RIVER – Miley Cyrus 29600
25 19 1 21 RELEASE – 220 KID & ASDIS 1498550
26 26 26 5 YOUNG HEARTS RUN FREE – Candi Staton 84200
27 39 27 2 ANIMAL – Def Leppard featuring Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 35500
28 15 15 8 THAT BOY ON THE STAGE – Suede 147300
29 48 29 3 I WROTE A SONG – Mae Muller 36100
30 17 6 11 FREE (DO WHAT U WANT) – Pete Tong, Ultra Nate, LP Giobbi & Jules Buckley 295100

31 25 25 4 LIKE A SAVIOUR – Ellie Goulding 64850
32 22 22 5 THE PROMISE – When In Rome 78550
33 21 21 5 SAN DAMIANO (HEART AND SOUL) – Sal Solo 83450
34 30 30 4 GAME OF LOVE – LOWES 64650
35 41 35 4 PARTY – Planet 1999 45600
36 37 36 4 ALL MINE – D.O.D. 58200
37 38 37 4 LIKE A RIVER – Frederico & Tiffany Aris 57200
38 42 38 2 SPILLWAYS – Ghost & Def Leppard featuring Joe Elliot 30950
39 45 39 3 I FOUND HER – Olly Murs 36300
40 64 40 2 TATTOO – Loreen 24100

41 43 41 4 DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME – Pulp 52100
42 31 10 10 CAN’T STAY AWAY – Darin 238000
43 44 43 4 HARD DAYS LOVE – Lily Moore 42650
44 35 1 21 I’M A MESS – Avril Lavigne with YUNGBLUD 884700
45 53 45 2 PROBLEMS – Reverend & The Makers 24250
46 33 23 8 TOO MUCH MUSIC – Jake Shears 126000
47 58 47 3 WORDS WITH YOU – Chromeo 27900
48 40 13 11 FLOWERS – Miley Cyrus 210750
49 49 49 4 THE GIRL IS CRYING IN HER LATTE – Sparks 41500
50 54 37 7 EYE KNOW – De La Soul featuring Otis Redding & Steely Dan 86800

51 29 22 9 FOREVER FORGET – Lucia & The Best Boys 108350
52 32 4 9 WOMAN – Lady Blackbird 286800
53 61 53 3 OIL – Gorillaz featuring Stevie Nicks 24150
54 46 46 6 I FEEL LIKE DANCING – Jason Mraz 59550
55 55 55 5 NIGHTSHIFT – Bruce Springsteen 47500
56 51 1 27 DAYDREAMING – Harry Styles 1100150
57 34 15 10 EIGHT MILES HIGH – The Byrds 210600
58 63 58 2 BIG BIG LOVE – Belinda Carlisle 17400
59 79 59 2 SHE’S A LADY – Pulp 14300
60 68 60 2 ALL OF THE GIRLS YOU LOVED BEFORE – Taylor Swift 16400

61 47 5 11 10:35 – Tiesto & Tate McRae 342600
62 69 62 2 CATCH YOU WHEN YOU FALL – Nathan Evans 13600
63 52 5 16 HIGH – Reverend & The Makers 447350
64 76 64 2 CAN’T TAME HER – Zara Larsson 11900
65 50 28 9 DEEP IN VOGUE – RHYME SO featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor 99300
66 70 66 4 BABIES – Pulp 24000
67 72 67 2 SO HARD SO HOT – Alison Goldfrapp 12200
68 59 1 21 NEVER GONNA NOT DANCE AGAIN – P!nk 928500
69 NEW 69 1 A LETTER TO MY 21 YEAR OLD SELF – Reverend & The Makers 6200
70 75 70 2 ALL YOU NEED IS GREED – Shakin’ Stevens 11000

71 74 71 2 HEART WANTS WHAT IT WANTS – Bebe Rexha 11000
72 NEW 72 1 DEVIL CAME DOWN THE DANCE FLOOR – Jake Shears featuring Amber Martin 5600
73 NEW 73 1 EAT YOUR YOUNG – Hozier 5400
74 62 46 8 ILYAF (I LOVE YOU ALWAYS FOREVER) – Donna Lewis & Digital Farm Animals 78850
75 78 75 2 BLACKTOP – Yeah Yeah Yeahs 9400
76 71 1 25 ALL BY MYSELF – Alok, Sigala & Ellie Goulding 1198250
77 NEW 77 1 DEAD TO THE WORLD – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 4600
78 77 1 37 ELOISE – Barry Ryan 691250
79 NEW 79 1 THE GRANTS – Lana Del Ray 4200
80 NEW 80 1 GOOD FEELING – Bakermat featuring Rhys Lewis 4000

DROP OUTS
60 60 5 CAUTION TO THE WIND – Everything But The Girl 38600
65 25 8 TRUSTFALL – P!nk 114100
66 32 6 WHEN YOU KNOW – Cheat Codes & Matt Stell 73900
67 67 5 JOLENE – Olivia Newton-John featuring Dolly Parton 30200
73 4 9 DOWN BY THE RIVER ‘O’ – The Levellers 318400
80 5 10 NOORIE – Bally Sagoo 307250

My January 1991 Charts

Photo: Colegraves (work-related) bedding displays

6th January 1991

It’s a New Year and a new chart-topper as Enigma go where Mrs Enigma (Sandra) has already been, and gives ambient dance chanting monks a go at the top spot. Just brilliant, as is Seal’s runner-up Crazy which is every bit as good as his 1990 chart-topper Killer, courtesy Trevor Horn production. Bill Medley is beside himself with oldies, literally, and Bananarama find the change in sound (not SAW) doesn’t slow down the top 10’s in my charts even if Preacher Man under-performed in the UK charts.

A lack of new singles has given me a great, and looooooong-overdue by 14 years, opportunity to allow album tracks into my charts – new rule, one track at a time per album, and a chart run of 5 weeks only (for some rubbish reason or other). Anyway Dusty Springfield’s marvellous Pet Shop Boys track Daydreaming is the beneficiary, in at 7, extending her top 10 run to 24 years, while Prince is also in with a decent track off his album, A Question Of U in at 23. 

Robert Palmer shoots into the 20 from 42 with his fab Mercy Mercy Me, The Stranglers join the remixed oldies bandwagon as a not-that-much-different revamped Always The Sun returns at 24, having not been the big hit it should have been first-time round in 1986, so a second run is fair enough. Alexander O’Neal’s Jam & Lewis run keeps on performing, even if it was sounding very-80’s, All True Man still funks at 39. 

Sting pops in with All This Time, not a bad effort and 12 years of entries, Quo run out of ideas at 71, and footballer Gazza is also back, on his own this time, still waving the Geordie flag. In my life? I had a permanent job at Bournemouth Council Parks Department now, as Contracts Surveyor, which required me to do a day a week on horticultural courses, pass exams and the like for City & Guilds qualifications, so back into College life, which I rather enjoyed actually. The workdays chasing up contractors (ie former Council colleagues who had split off under Thatcherism in a failed attempt to save money by privatising everything) issuing tickets to make them work harder was less enthralling and self-respecting. I will say, though, that standards in those days – despite a mass firing of staff – were still way better than the cut-to-the-bone services we get these days in all areas of Council work that aren’t prioritised as another Tory-led “let’s cut jobs” philosophy gives some people what they voted for. 

1 ( 2 ) SADENESS PART I Enigma
2 ( 3 ) CRAZY Seal
3 ( 1 ) YOU’VE LOST THAT LOVIN’ FEELIN’ The Righteous Brothers
4 ( 10 ) (I’VE HAD) THE TIME OF MY LIFE Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
5 ( 7 ) CRAZY Patsy Cline
6 ( 4 ) WICKED GAME Chris Isaak
7 ( NEW ) DAYDREAMING Dusty Springfield
8 ( 6 ) (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU/ MERRY CHRISTMAS DARLING Carpenters
9 ( 8 ) ALL TOGETHER NOW The Farm featuring Pete Wylie
10 ( 38 ) PREACHER MAN Bananarama

11 ( 5 ) SAVIOUR’S DAY Cliff Richard
12 ( 19 ) SUMMER RAIN Belinda Carlisle
13 ( 14 ) FREEDOM ’90 George Michael
14 ( 11 ) BEING BORING Pet Shop Boys
15 ( 32 ) GONNA MAKE YOU SWEAT C+C Music Factory
16 ( 9 ) WAIFS AND STRAYS Marc Almond
17 ( 15 ) THE GREASE MEGAMIX John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John
18 ( 16 ) ICE ICE BABY Vanilla Ice
19 ( 12 ) JUSTIFY MY LOVE Madonna
20 ( 45 ) MERCY MERCY ME/ I WANT YOU Robert Palmer

21 ( 25 ) SENSITIVITY Ralph Tresvant
22 ( 17 ) HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE The Bee Gees
23 ( NEW ) A QUESTION OF U Prince
24 ( NEW ) ALWAYS THE SUN (REMIX) The Stranglers
25 ( 18 ) STAND AND FIGHT The Pack featuring Nigel Benn
26 ( 24 ) ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER The Jimi Hendrix Experience
27 ( 27 ) UNBELIEVABLE EMF
28 ( 35 ) INTERNATIONAL BRIGHT YOUNG THING Jesus Jones
29 ( 13 ) MR. TAMBOURINE MAN (4 DIMENSIONS EP) The Byrds
30 ( 40 ) HIPPY CHICK Soho

31 ( 21 ) PRAY MC Hammer
32 ( 31 ) UNCHAINED MELODY The Righteous Brothers
33 ( 42 ) A MATTER OF FACT Innocence
34 ( 20 ) THE SKY’S THE LIMIT Fleetwood Mac
35 ( 29 ) WAITING FOR THE DAY George Michael
36 ( 30 ) DON’T WORRY Kim Appleby
37 ( 43 ) SITUATION Yazoo
38 ( 23 ) DISAPPEAR INXS
39 ( NEW ) ALL TRUE MAN Alexander O’Neal
40 ( 22 ) SOLSBURY HILL Peter Gabriel

41 ( 39 ) LOVE WILL NEVER DO WITHOUT YOU (ALBUM VERSION/REMIX VERSION) Janet Jackson
42 ( 33 ) SUCKA DJ Dimples D
43 ( 26 ) IRISH HEARTBEAT Billy Connolly
44 ( RE ) I CAN’T SAY GOODBYE Kim Wilde
45 ( 37 ) MARY HAD A LITTLE BOY Snap!
46 ( 28 ) THE STINGRAY MEGAMIX F.A.B. featuring Aqua Marina
47 ( 36 ) EASE ON BY Bass-O-Matic
48 ( 44 ) STEP BACK IN TIME Kylie Minogue
49 ( 49 ) HEY JUDE The Beatles
50 ( 50 ) WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER (1990 TK REMIX) Timmy Thomas

51 ( 46 ) LITTLE BROTHER Blue Pearl
52 ( 52 ) WELL DID YOU EVAH Deborah Harry & Iggy Pop
53 ( 47 ) MIRACLE Jon Bon Jovi
54 ( 48 ) STILL FEEL THE RAIN Stex
55 ( 54 ) PRAYING FOR TIME George Michael
56 ( 56 ) LET IT BE The Beatles
57 ( 53 ) A LITTLE TIME Beautiful South
58 ( 41 ) IMPOSSIBLE LOVE UB40
59 ( 34 ) MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY Slade
60 ( 60 ) EASIER TO WALK AWAY Elton John

61 ( 63 ) THE GIRL I USED TO KNOW Brother Beyond
62 ( 59 ) (WE WANT) THE SAME THING Belinda Carlisle
63 ( 55 ) TAKE MY BREATH AWAY Berlin
64 ( NEW ) ALL THIS TIME Sting
65 ( RE ) ARE YOU DREAMING Twenty 4 Seven
66 ( 64 ) YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND Big Fun and Sonia featuring Gary Barnacle
67 ( 66 ) ESCAPADE Janet Jackson
68 ( 58 ) RED HOT (REPUTATION) Gary Glitter & The Gang
69 ( 67 ) SACRIFICE/ HEALING HANDS Elton John
70 ( 71 ) ALL THE MAN THAT I NEED Whitney Houston

71 ( NEW ) THE ANNIVERSARY WALTZ PART 2 Status Quo
72 ( NEW ) JUST THIS SIDE OF LOVE Malandra Burrows
73 ( NEW ) GEORDIE BOYS Gazza
74 ( 73 ) MORE Sisters Of Mercy
75 ( 68 ) THE OBVIOUS CHILD Paul Simon

OLDIES PLAYLIST
1 IT MIGHT AS WELL RAIN UNTIL SEPTEMBER Carole King
2 FORGET ME NOT Eden Kane
3 IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME Yvonne Fair

13th January 1991

It’s 2 weeks on top for Enigma as Dusty’s album track from the Pet Shop Boys is up to 2, Daydreaming seeing Dusty rap. Even rapping she beats the shit out of most rappers, and a lot of singers. Belinda Carlisle grabs yet another top 10 with Summer Rain, and the highest new entry signals the start of the 1991 music scene as The KLF return for a 3rd hit at 13, or 4th including The Timelords, the wonderful 3 a.m. (Eternal). OTT, exciting, tongue-in-cheek and a wall of dance-sound with everything but the iamspamspamamisink thrown in, it’s taken 30 years for the lads to make their back catalogue available again (albeit only on streaming sites). They were quite happy to burn a million quid so they’ve never really played by the rules….

Not far behind, at 16, Jimmy Somerville decides to cover himself, as Bronski Beat’s Smalltown Boy gets re-done. Not as well, but enough to enter high. The London Boys are back, with Freedom, at 33, and Gloria Estefan returns after her coach crash accident which left her potentially paraiysed – I was in Florida when it happened – and the song Coming Out Of The Dark is basically her story of recovery. Ay 39, some archive Thin Lizzy material is released 5 years after Phil Lynott’s sad death, Dedication being a nice return for the band who had been absent almost a decade.

Lindy Leyton has another solo non-Beats-International track, Donna Summer’s old Breakaway minor hit gets a revamp, Fluke do something with Tears For Fears as Johnny Panic pops in at 56, EMF get a quick identikit follow-up, I Believe, and Kylie enters low yet again with her latest dance-floor pop stormer, What Do I Have To Do, and like t’others it’ll end up high. Quietly sneaking in at 91 it’s the very-marmite Queen chart-topper Innuendo. It got compared to Bohemian Rhapsody – to it’s detriment – but it’s actually rather fab in its own right, sprawling, and Spanish guitars included. We didn’t know that Freddie was seriously ill at the time. Rick Astley cries for help (from songwriters, presumably) at 74, and Prefab Sprout look ahead at 75. 

1 ( 1 ) SADENESS PART I Enigma
2 ( 7 ) DAYDREAMING Dusty Springfield
3 ( 3 ) YOU’VE LOST THAT LOVIN’ FEELIN’ The Righteous Brothers
4 ( 2 ) CRAZY Seal
5 ( 4 ) (I’VE HAD) THE TIME OF MY LIFE Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
6 ( 5 ) CRAZY Patsy Cline
7 ( 8 ) (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU/ MERRY CHRISTMAS DARLING Carpenters
8 ( 10 ) PREACHER MAN Bananarama
9 ( 6 ) WICKED GAME Chris Isaak
10 ( 12 ) SUMMER RAIN Belinda Carlisle

11 ( 9 ) ALL TOGETHER NOW The Farm featuring Pete Wylie
12 ( 20 ) MERCY MERCY ME/ I WANT YOU Robert Palmer
13 ( NEW ) 3 a.m (ETERNAL) The KLF featuring Ricardo Da Force 
14 ( 15 ) GONNA MAKE YOU SWEAT C+C Music Factory
15 ( 24 ) ALWAYS THE SUN (REMIX) The Stranglers
16 ( NEW ) SMALLTOWN BOY Jimmy Somerville
17 ( 14 ) BEING BORING Pet Shop Boys
18 ( 18 ) ICE ICE BABY Vanilla Ice
19 ( 21 ) SENSITIVITY Ralph Tresvant
20 ( 13 ) FREEDOM ’90 George Michael

21 ( 19 ) JUSTIFY MY LOVE Madonna
22 ( 30 ) HIPPYCHICK Soho
23 ( 23 ) A QUESTION OF U Prince
24 ( 16 ) WAIFS AND STRAYS Marc Almond
25 ( 28 ) INTERNATIONAL BRIGHT YOUNG THING Jesus Jones
26 ( 11 ) SAVIOUR’S DAY Cliff Richard
27 ( 22 ) HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE The Bee Gees
28 ( 33 ) A MATTER OF FACT Innocence
29 ( 26 ) ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER The Jimi Hendrix Experience
30 ( 17 ) THE GREASE MEGAMIX John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John

31 ( 29 ) MR. TAMBOURINE MAN (4 DIMENSIONS EP) The Byrds
32 ( 39 ) ALL TRUE MAN Alexander O’Neal
33 ( NEW ) FREEDOM The London Boys
34 ( 32 ) UNCHAINED MELODY The Righteous Brothers
35 ( 27 ) UNBELIEVABLE EMF
36 ( NEW ) COMING OUT OF THE DARK Gloria Estefan
37 ( 25 ) STAND AND FIGHT The Pack featuring Nigel Benn
38 ( 35 ) WAITING FOR THE DAY George Michael
39 ( NEW ) DEDICATION Thin Lizzy
40 ( 64 ) ALL THIS TIME Sting

41 ( 41 ) LOVE WILL NEVER DO WITHOUT YOU (ALBUM VERSION/REMIX VERSION) Janet Jackson
42 ( 38 ) DISAPPEAR INXS
43 ( 36 ) DON’T WORRY Kim Appleby
44 ( 44 ) I CAN’T SAY GOODBYE Kim Wilde
45 ( 70 ) ALL THE MAN THAT I NEED Whitney Houston
46 ( 46 ) THE STINGRAY MEGAMIX F.A.B. featuring Aqua Marina
47 ( 49 ) HEY JUDE The Beatles
48 ( NEW ) ECHO MY HEART Lindy Leyton
49 ( 61 ) THE GIRL I USED TO KNOW Brother Beyond
50 ( 50 ) WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER (1990 TK REMIX) Timmy Thomas

51 ( 31 ) PRAY MC Hammer
52 ( NEW ) BREAKAWAY (REMIX) Donna Summer
53 ( 56 ) LET IT BE The Beatles
54 ( 34 ) THE SKY’S THE LIMIT Fleetwood Mac
55 ( 55 ) PRAYING FOR TIME George Michael
56 ( NEW ) JOHNNY PANIC AND THE BIBLE OF DREAMS Fluke & Tears For Fears
57 ( 57 ) A LITTLE TIME Beautiful South
58 ( 40 ) SOLSBURY HILL Peter Gabriel
59 ( 48 ) STEP BACK IN TIME Kylie Minogue
60 ( 37 ) SITUATION Yazoo

61 ( 65 ) ARE YOU DREAMING Twenty 4 Seven
62 ( 42 ) SUCKA DJ Dimples D
63 ( 53 ) MIRACLE Jon Bon Jovi
64 ( 51 ) LITTLE BROTHER Blue Pearl
65 ( NEW ) I BELIEVE EMF
66 ( 67 ) ESCAPADE Janet Jackson
67 ( 66 ) YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND Big Fun and Sonia featuring Gary Barnacle
68 ( NEW ) WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO Kylie Minogue
69 ( 69 ) SACRIFICE/ HEALING HANDS Elton John
70 ( 62 ) (WE WANT) THE SAME THING Belinda Carlisle

71 ( NEW ) INNUENDO Queen
72 ( 63 ) TAKE MY BREATH AWAY Berlin
73 ( 43 ) IRISH HEARTBEAT Billy Connolly
74 ( NEW ) CRY FOR HELP Rick Astley
75 ( NEW ) CARNIVAL 2000 Prefab Sprout

oldies playlist
1 LIKE A PRAYER (LIVE IN BARCELONA) Madonna
2 LONG LIVE LOVE Sandie Shaw
3 HUMAN Human League

20th January 1991

It’s 3 weeks on top for Enigma as KLF challenge at 2, 3 a.m. equalling their Doctorin’ The Tardis 3 years earlier. Robert Palmer gets his biggest hit to date, too, as his Marvin Gaye mash-up cover is at 4. Gloria Estefan gets a big ballad climb to 12, Kylie rockets up 17 What Do I Have To Do? Just enjoy the popdance for the next 30 years, basically! Chris Isaak’s Blue Hotel is reissued and returns into the 40, a new peak, and the quirky Can I Kick It, brings A Tribe Called Quest into the 40 too.

The Go-go’s extend their run to 9 years as Cool Jerk brings Belinda back with the bandmates, in at 38, and KIm Appleby gets a good second solo entry, and I’m GLAD. Lower down there’s some Wiggling It, a bit of Pop eating itself, and we’re offshore with a big dish. The latter 3 I don’t recall, and that applies to ex-Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth’s newie at 75. One day I may have time to play my old 1991 tapes or youtube the videos. Probably not. It’s already been 30 years…..

1 ( 1 ) SADENESS PART I Enigma
2 ( 13 ) 3 a.m (ETERNAL) The KLF featuring Ricardo Da Force 
3 ( 3 ) YOU’VE LOST THAT LOVIN’ FEELIN’ The Righteous Brothers
4 ( 12 ) MERCY MERCY ME/ I WANT YOU Robert Palmer
5 ( 4 ) CRAZY Seal
6 ( 2 ) DAYDREAMING Dusty Springfield
7 ( 8 ) PREACHER MAN Bananarama
8 ( 6 ) CRAZY Patsy Cline
9 ( 9 ) WICKED GAME Chris Isaak
10 ( 7 ) (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU/ MERRY CHRISTMAS DARLING Carpenters

11 ( 10 ) SUMMER RAIN Belinda Carlisle
12 ( 36 ) COMING OUT OF THE DARK Gloria Estefan
13 ( 14 ) GONNA MAKE YOU SWEAT C+C Music Factory
14 ( 5 ) (I’VE HAD) THE TIME OF MY LIFE Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
15 ( 22 ) HIPPYCHICK Soho
16 ( 11 ) ALL TOGETHER NOW The Farm featuring Pete Wylie
17 ( 68 ) WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO Kylie Minogue
18 ( 19 ) SENSITIVITY Ralph Tresvant
19 ( 15 ) ALWAYS THE SUN (REMIX) The Stranglers
20 ( 16 ) SMALLTOWN BOY ’91 Jimmy Somerville

21 ( 25 ) INTERNATIONAL BRIGHT YOUNG THING Jesus Jones
22 ( 17 ) BEING BORING Pet Shop Boys
23 ( 18 ) ICE ICE BABY Vanilla Ice
24 ( RE ) MY LOVE IS A FIRE Donny Osmond
25 ( 21 ) JUSTIFY MY LOVE Madonna
26 ( 56 ) JOHNNY PANIC AND THE BIBLE OF DREAMS (FLUKE REMIX) Johnny Panic And The Bible Of Dreams aka Tears For Fears
27 ( 20 ) FREEDOM ’90 George Michael
28 ( NEW ) BLUE HOTEL Chris Isaak
29 ( 32 ) ALL TRUE MAN Alexander O’Neal
30 ( 24 ) WAIFS AND STRAYS Marc Almond

31 ( 27 ) HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE The Bee Gees
32 ( 48 ) ECHO MY HEART Lindy Leyton
33 ( 33 ) FREEDOM The London Boys
34 ( 29 ) ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER The Jimi Hendrix Experience
35 ( NEW ) CAN I KICK IT A Tribe Called Quest
36 ( RE ) STILL FEEL THE RAIN Stex
37 ( 34 ) UNCHAINED MELODY The Righteous Brothers
38 ( NEW ) COOL JERK The Go-go’s
39 ( 39 ) DEDICATION Thin Lizzy
40 ( 23 ) A QUESTION OF U Prince

41 ( 31 ) MR. TAMBOURINE MAN (4 DIMENSIONS EP) The Byrds
42 ( 38 ) WAITING FOR THE DAY George Michael
43 ( 49 ) THE GIRL I USED TO KNOW Brother Beyond
44 ( 41 ) LOVE WILL NEVER DO WITHOUT YOU (ALBUM VERSION/REMIX VERSION) Janet Jackson
45 ( NEW ) G.L.A.D. Kim Appleby
46 ( 52 ) BREAKAWAY (REMIX) Donna Summer
47 ( 47 ) HEY JUDE The Beatles
48 ( 35 ) UNBELIEVABLE EMF
49 ( 30 ) THE GREASE MEGAMIX John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John
50 ( 50 ) WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER (1990 TK REMIX) Timmy Thomas

51 ( 26 ) SAVIOUR’S DAY Cliff Richard
52 ( 37 ) STAND AND FIGHT The Pack featuring Nigel Benn
53 ( NEW ) WIGGLE IT 2 In A Room
54 ( 53 ) LET IT BE The Beatles
55 ( 43 ) DON’T WORRY Kim Appleby
56 ( 61 ) ARE YOU DREAMING Twenty 4 Seven
57 ( 28 ) A MATTER OF FACT Innocence
58 ( 40 ) ALL THIS TIME Sting
59 ( 55 ) PRAYING FOR TIME George Michael
60 ( NEW ) X, Y AND ZEE Pop Will Eat Itself

61 ( 46 ) THE STINGRAY MEGAMIX F.A.B. featuring Aqua Marina
62 ( 71 ) INNUENDO Queen
63 ( 42 ) DISAPPEAR INXS
64 ( 65 ) I BELIEVE EMF
65 ( 57 ) A LITTLE TIME Beautiful South
66 ( 66 ) ESCAPADE Janet Jackson
67 ( 67 ) YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND Big Fun and Sonia featuring Gary Barnacle
68 ( NEW ) MISS AMERICA Big Dish
69 ( 59 ) STEP BACK IN TIME Kylie Minogue
70 ( 75 ) CARNIVAL 2000 Prefab Sprout

71 ( 69 ) SACRIFICE/ HEALING HANDS Elton John
72 ( NEW ) I CAN’T TAKE THE POWER Offshore
73 ( 74 ) CRY FOR HELP Rick Astley
74 ( 63 ) MIRACLE Jon Bon Jovi
75 ( NEW ) A L’IL AIN’T ENOUGH David Lee Roth

Oldies Playlist
1 DON’T LET HIM TOUCH YOU The Angelettes
2 DESPERATE DAN Lt. Pigeon
3 BORN TOO LATE The Poni-Tails

27th January 1991

It’s 3 weeks on top for Enigma’s Sadness, as the UK label had it, and Robert Palmer climbs to 2 for a career-best highpoint with his Marvin Gaye cover. Gloria Estefan knocks off another top 5 ballad with Coming Out Of The Dark, but there aren’t many more top 5 biggies to come – just one cover I think – while Kylie is just getting her string of top 10’s started, 4 in a row and counting for the next 30 years on and occasionally off. Donny Osmond gets his 3rd solo top 10, averaging one a decade with his love a fire somewhat more mature than his previous love, Puppy, in 1972.

George Michael gets a 3rd from his Listen Without Prejudice as the lovely Heal The Pain is in at 20, and Kim Appleby gets a second solo top 40, she’s G.L.A.D about that. Queen’s fab Innuendo hits the top 40, the definition of “grower” that one, takes quite a few listens to register properly. UB40’s latest cover is The Temptations 60’s The Way You Do The Things You Do, following where Hall & Oates (& The Temptations themselves) had been before, and INXS assist old mate Jimmy Barnes to get a hit, Good Times.

Praise debut with a great track, Only You, a World-Music vibe to it, and retro-soul brings Kenny Thomas an Outstanding entry, as he kicks off his string of decent records that have largely been forgotten this century. Michael Jackson writes, produces and sings on Do The Bartman, as The Simpsons take over pop culture, and incredibly 30 years later they are STILL going, having outlasted Michael Jackson and some members of the cast, and many many guest stars. Not his greatest moment though! Inga follows-up her chart-topper, ditto Maria McKee and her near-chart-topper, and that’s that for this week.

1 ( 1 ) SADENESS PART I Enigma
2 ( 4 ) MERCY MERCY ME/ I WANT YOU Robert Palmer
3 ( 2 ) 3 a.m (ETERNAL) The KLF featuring Ricardo Da Force 
4 ( 12 ) COMING OUT OF THE DARK Gloria Estefan
5 ( 3 ) YOU’VE LOST THAT LOVIN’ FEELIN’ The Righteous Brothers
6 ( 7 ) PREACHER MAN Bananarama
7 ( 17 ) WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO Kylie Minogue
8 ( 24 ) MY LOVE IS A FIRE Donny Osmond
9 ( 9 ) WICKED GAME Chris Isaak
10 ( 5 ) CRAZY Seal

11 ( 15 ) HIPPYCHICK Soho
12 ( 18 ) SENSITIVITY Ralph Tresvant
13 ( 6 ) DAYDREAMING Dusty Springfield
14 ( 10 ) (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU/ MERRY CHRISTMAS DARLING Carpenters
15 ( 28 ) BLUE HOTEL Chris Isaak
16 ( 21 ) INTERNATIONAL BRIGHT YOUNG THING Jesus Jones
17 ( 8 ) CRAZY Patsy Cline
18 ( 11 ) SUMMER RAIN Belinda Carlisle
19 ( 14 ) (I’VE HAD) THE TIME OF MY LIFE Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
20 ( NEW ) HEAL THE PAIN George Michael

21 ( 16 ) ALL TOGETHER NOW The Farm featuring Pete Wylie
22 ( 13 ) GONNA MAKE YOU SWEAT C+C Music Factory
23 ( 45 ) G.L.A.D. Kim Appleby
24 ( 20 ) SMALLTOWN BOY ’91 Jimmy Somerville
25 ( 26 ) JOHNNY PANIC AND THE BIBLE OF DREAMS (FLUKE REMIX) Johnny Panic And The Bible Of Dreams aka Tears For Fears
26 ( 38 ) COOL JERK The Go-go’s
27 ( 35 ) CAN I KICK IT A Tribe Called Quest
28 ( 32 ) ECHO MY HEART Lindy Leyton
29 ( 22 ) BEING BORING Pet Shop Boys
30 ( 39 ) DEDICATION Thin Lizzy

31 ( 23 ) ICE ICE BABY Vanilla Ice
32 ( 72 ) I CAN’T TAKE THE POWER Offshore
33 ( 46 ) BREAKAWAY (REMIX) Donna Summer
34 ( 19 ) ALWAYS THE SUN (REMIX) The Stranglers
35 ( 25 ) JUSTIFY MY LOVE Madonna
36 ( 31 ) HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE The Bee Gees
37 ( 60 ) X, Y AND ZEE Pop Will Eat Itself
38 ( 34 ) ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER The Jimi Hendrix Experience
39 ( 62 ) INNUENDO Queen
40 ( 27 ) FREEDOM ’90 George Michael

41 ( 30 ) WAIFS AND STRAYS Marc Almond
42 ( 37 ) UNCHAINED MELODY The Righteous Brothers
43 ( 53 ) WIGGLE IT 2 In A Room
44 ( 42 ) WAITING FOR THE DAY George Michael
45 ( 29 ) ALL TRUE MAN Alexander O’Neal
46 ( 44 ) LOVE WILL NEVER DO WITHOUT YOU (ALBUM VERSION/REMIX VERSION) Janet Jackson
47 ( 64 ) I BELIEVE EMF
48 ( 47 ) HEY JUDE The Beatles
49 ( NEW ) THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO UB40
50 ( 50 ) WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER (1990 TK REMIX) Timmy Thomas

51 ( 41 ) MR. TAMBOURINE MAN (4 DIMENSIONS EP) The Byrds
52 ( 43 ) THE GIRL I USED TO KNOW Brother Beyond
53 ( NEW ) GOOD TIMES Jimmy Barnes & INXS
54 ( NEW ) ONLY YOU Praise
55 ( 54 ) LET IT BE The Beatles
56 ( 36 ) STILL FEEL THE RAIN Stex
57 ( 33 ) FREEDOM The London Boys
58 ( NEW ) OUTSTANDING Kenny Thomas
59 ( NEW ) DO THE BARTMAN The Simpsons featuring Michael Jackson
60 ( 59 ) PRAYING FOR TIME George Michael

61 ( 55 ) DON’T WORRY Kim Appleby
62 ( 48 ) UNBELIEVABLE EMF
63 ( 52 ) STAND AND FIGHT The Pack featuring Nigel Benn
64 ( 49 ) THE GREASE MEGAMIX John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John
65 ( NEW ) HIGH ENOUGH Damn Yankees
66 ( 66 ) ESCAPADE Janet Jackson
67 ( 67 ) YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND Big Fun and Sonia featuring Gary Barnacle
68 ( 65 ) A LITTLE TIME Beautiful South
69 ( 61 ) THE STINGRAY MEGAMIX F.A.B. featuring Aqua Marina
70 ( NEW ) THINKING ABOUT YOUR BODY 2 Mad

71 ( 73 ) CRY FOR HELP Rick Astley
72 ( 71 ) SACRIFICE/ HEALING HANDS Elton John
73 ( NEW ) DO I HAVE TO? Inga
74 ( NEW ) FORGET ME NOTS Tongue ‘N’ Cheek
75 ( NEW ) BREATHE Maria McKee

playlist records
1 “Only Yesterday” Carpenters
2 BOYS OF SUMMER Don Henley
3 UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME Aretha Franklin
4 BANG A BOOMERANG Abba

My Top 100 of 1989

(Based on chart points “sales” from my charts)

This is an update of all new tracks that peaked in my personal charts during 1989, including remixes as new tracks and not including any sales from oldies or original runs of remixes. NOTE: weeks on chart and highest position are only for 1989, havent added others years to them yet.

With a Youtube link for the most-interesting or best in each batch of 10…!

In the bottom ten there’s a first of 2 from quirky Yello and legend Tina Turner who was at her commercial peak in the 80’s. Blazing saddles is great fun, referencing one of the funniest movies of all-time, from Mel Brooks & Richard Prior. There’s a Rocky Horror remix of a cover that didn’t catch on for a while, but was a club success. Another fab movie and stage show musical. Bananarama’s & French & Saunders (& Kathy Burke) forgotten Comic Relief Beatles cover was also great fun, the video was hilarious, but the non-comedy other side of Help! is great in it’s own right, with just the ‘Nanas. 808 State was a terrific instrumental, Fuzzbox’s joyous brand of pop was great for 12 months, US hit The Way To Your Heart is one I need to play to remind myself of, and The Four Tops comeback (yet again) Indestructible was also 60’s worthy. That leaves 2 Chaka Khan remixes, updated for the new dance scene. The originals, as almost always, are better. 

And the pick is….

91 (6 12) THE WAY TO YOUR HEART Soulsister 282850
92 (7 10) INDESTRUCTIBLE The Four Tops featuring Smokey Robinson 281850
93 (5 10) AIN’T NOBODY ’89 Rufus featuring Chaka Khan 277600
94 (4 9) I’M EVERY WOMAN ’89 Chaka Khan 269050
95 (9 11) PINK SUNSHINE Fuzzbox 266750
96 (10 9) THE TIME WARP (REMIX) Damian 265500
97 (5 7) PACIFIC – 707 808 State 264450
98 (4 9) HELP! Bananarama and La Na Nee Nee Noo Noo 263100
99 (9 10) I DON’T WANT TO LOSE YOU Tina Turner 260750
100 (7 9) BLAZING SADDLES Yello 255300

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So we have the madness that is Edelweiss revamping Lynn Anderson’s Rose Garden for the Alps, and also great fun. Can you imagine the 2021 music scene having fun? In any way? Me neither. The best you get is playful (hi Dua Lipa, Kylie…). The late London Boys Euro-anthem strides in, the good side of Eurocheese, and Bobby Brown has one of his best single with On Our Own. 

Cliff was in his best period in the ’79/’89 era as he pops in with his last non-Christmas pretty decent ballad, Lean On You, and fellow pop-legend George Harrison has a goodie with Cheer Down, very Jeff Lynne-sounding (because he produced it), and the flop Downtown from One 2 Many has a good enough run to feature, as does the House dance track from Ten City. 

Jeff Wayne’s magnificent 1978 War Of The Worlds anthem gets tarted up and survives, but it’s not as good as the original (I’ll stop saying that, just take it for granted), and the great Tears For Fears have a dramatic ballad with assistance from Oleta Adams, Woman In Chains. But my pick is the fab, under-rated Lightning Seeds aka Ian Broudie, who kick-started a wonderful run of singles for almost a decade with this track, Pure, tuneful and as fresh as a daisy. 

81 (3 11) THAT’S THE WAY LOVE IS Ten City 316050
82 (6 8) EVE OF THE WAR (DEEPSPACE MIX) Jeff Wayne’s War Of The Worlds featuring Justin Heyward 314150
83 (5 9) WOMAN IN CHAINS Tears For Fears featuring Oleta Adams 313700
84 (5 10) PURE The LIghtning Seeds 313150
85 (9 12) DOWNTOWN One 2 Many 298350
86 (7 8) CHEER DOWN George Harrison 297850
87 (6 15) LEAN ON YOU Cliff Richard 297700
88 (7 12) ON OUR OWN Bobby Brown 293850
89 (6 10) LONDON NIGHTS The London Boys 287800
90 (5 12) BRING ME EDELWEISS Edelweiss 287700

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First of 2 for Neneh Cherry popping in with her debut Buffalo Stance, “know wot ah meeeean!”, c’mon Mable do a duet with mum! First of 2 for Liza Minelli too with the Pet Shop Boys produced and written Don’t Drop Bombs, which would have been good advice as it promptly bombed, undeservedly for the show-legend and Chris n Neil just post-Imperial-Phase. 

Richard Marx specialised in ballads, and this was his best slushy ballad, though not his best track (that’s Hazard), and Malcolm McLaren was still into morphing modern pop with classical/opera/country/whatever and came up with a House/Strauss crossover, and as I love Strauss waltzes it appealed to me, perversely. First of 2 for Fine Young cannibals, the rocking Good Thing at 76, and the first of 2 for Joe Brown’s daughter Sam, covering Marvin Gaye’s Can I get A Witness from around the time her dad was going top 10.

The KLF have just made their back catalogue available again, and about bloody time too. I don;t know if Kylie Said To Jason is one they’ve let loose on the world, but it ought to be! Basically a pastiche of SAW, yet somehow much better that it sounds like it should be, Kylie Said To Jason. Traveling Wilburys makes it George Harrison & Jeff Lynne’s second appearance on the list with the great End Of The Line.

Ih Well, do a grooved-up dance version of Fleetwood Mac, and it works rather well, one I liked more than the original (yes it can happen now and again!), and talking of jJson Donovan he’s here with his not-that-bad-actually version of Sealed With A Kiss. Brian Hyland’s version is way better of course, it has charm and period-appeal, but this was at least bringing the song to a new audience. And my choice is….KLF!

71 (5 12) SEALED WITH A KISS Jason Donovan 353350
72 (5 13) OH WELL Oh Well 351100
73 (7 11) END OF THE LINE Traveling Wilbury’s 349350
74 (5 12) KYLIE SAID TO JASON The KLF 348800
75 (4 12) CAN I GET A WITNESS Sam Brown 344600
76 (5 12) GOOD THING Fine Young Cannibals 341700
77 (7 9) HOUSE OF THE BLUE DANUBE Malcolm McLaren 331250
78 (9 13) RIGHT HERE WAITING Richard Marx 329600
79 (6 14) DON’T DROP BOMBS Liza Minelli 319450
80 (9 7) BUFFALO STANCE Neneh Cherry 316900

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The next batch starts with a Bond theme for veteran Motown/soul star Gladys Knight who can still belt it out with passion, Licence To Kill was better than the film it came from. A cool Electribe 101 dance track is at 69 featuring future solo dance act Billie Ray Martin, Tell Me When The Fever Ended. The Bangles get the first of two on the rundown, with the under-rated Be With You, one of their best singles, and the second Neneh Cherry track is very different from the first, the moody Manchild at 67.

Inner City’s dance anthem Good Life was state of the soul art at the time and still sounds good at 66, while Michael Jackson’s single-only (for vinyl album buyers like me) Leave Me Alone is the first of 2 Bad tracks on the rundown 2 years after the album came out: this one has a great video, but the single isn’t his finest moment and is flattered somewhat. Coldcut also have 2 on the list, as does Lisa Stansfield, and their debut, the wonderful People Hold On is at 64.

Tracie Spencer’s big US hit Symptoms Of True Love is one place higher, she was basically a child at the time (12 or 13 years old, I think) but this was a good slice of 80’s US pre-House dance. Prince has a quiet year-end, for my lists, with just the one track from the Batman movie soundtrack, which comprised his work over an entire album. Batdance was OK, the film samples were effective, but overall it’s a bit too disjointed to be one of his great records. Lastly, a minor hit in 1988, returned to a new peak for Midnight Oil, and their social commentary Beds Are Burning. Still relevant, still good.

and the pick is…

61 (6 13) BEDS ARE BURNING Midnight Oil 381250
62 (5 15) BATDANCE Prince 379800
63 (2 9) SYMPTOMS OF TRUE LOVE Tracie Spencer 371550
64 (3 9) PEOPLE HOLD ON Coldcut featuring Lisa Stansfield 371000
65 (8 11) LEAVE ME ALONE MIchael Jackson 370850
66 (4 10) GOOD LIFE Inner City 369500
67 (4 13) MANCHILD Neneh Cherry 365100
68 (4 13) BE WITH YOU The Bangles 364350
69 (4 8) TELL ME WHEN THE FEVER ENDED Electribe 101 362150
70 (7 14) LICENCE TO KILL Gladys Knight 361900

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We start with Martika’s dramatic Toy Soldiers, even a Prince gifted song couldn’t extend her career by much sadly, US hit Grayson Hugh (a holiday hit for me Ottawa/Niagara/Boston/New York touring) and another Kim Wilde Close cut. Holly Johnson had a brief chart-hitting solo post-Frankie Goes To Hollywood career, and Americanos was his best single, quite the shame he couldnt sustain it. 

S’Express’ run of hits continues with the fun Hey Music Lover, and the track that got revamped after they got big gives Texas a debut at 55, I Don’t Want a Lover has such a sense of space to it, while also echoing rootsy southern-USA rock. Malcolm McLaren has a second on the list with Something’s Jumpin In Your Shirt, and ex-Nana Siobhan teams with Marcella Detroit for a second chart run of success with fab debut You’re History, quirky and stand-out thanks to Marcella’s unusual vocals. 

That leaves two famous tracks, Tina Turner’s solo anthem The Best, with those sax riffs and pounding rhythms, and Kylie & Jason’s love-fest ballad, which is a great song despite all the cheesy-naffness accusations, and it was great having a male-female duet back as a format, now pretty much a dead format. 

and the pick is….

51 (2 9) ESPECIALLY FOR YOU Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan 439100
52 (6 9) THE BEST Tina Turner 438700
53 (3 13) YOU’RE HISTORY Shakespear’s Sister 435350
54 (4 11) SOMETHING’S JUMPIN’ IN YOUR SHIRT Malcolm McLaren featuring The Bootzilla Orchestra and Lisa Marie 405150
55 (11 11) I DON’T WANT A LOVER Texas 403650
56 (5 12) HEY MUSIC LOVER S’Express 396600
57 (5 13) LOVE IN THE NATURAL WAY Kim Wilde 389950
58 (4 12) AMERICANOS Holly Johnson 386000
59 (4 17) TALK IT OVER Grayson Hugh 384700
60 (6 11) TOY SOLDIERS Martika 381350

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The Blow Monkeys main man does a cool House dance duet with soulstress Kym Mazelle, Wait, and Eurythmics are heading towards the tail end of their great 80’s phase with a nice ballad Don’t Ask Me Why at 49, and Phil Collins Motown-ish Two Hearts from the Buster movie also makes the year-end 50 thanks to a recent chart boost revival, while a remix of M’s wonderful 1979 number 2, Pop Musik, does a decade-on one-better in hitting the top spot. 

Roxette debut with The Look, and they’ll be back in 1990 big-time, Janet Jackson’s title album track with great rhythms punches in at 45 where the lead track Miss You Much missed the list by much, another track that boosted it’s chart sales in 2020 jumps in at 44 for Yello’s second, Of Course I’m Lyin’. Oh no I’m not! 

Belinda Carlisle’s second year of Year-End 100’s continues with the catchy Leave A Light On, and Fine Young cannibals best track is at 42, She Drives Me Crazy. Love those guitar riffs! Which leaves the track to just miss out on the top 40…poor old Kate Bush, though that makes 10 years of regular appearances on year-end lists for the unique wondrous Ms Bush, The Sensual World being her latest seductive offering.

and the choice this time is….

41 (3 15) THE SENSUAL WORLD Kate Bush 477350
42 (5 12) SHE DRIVES ME CRAZY Fine Young Cannibals 470700
43 (3 15) LEAVE A LIGHT ON Belinda Carlisle 468800
44 (4 9) OF COURSE I’M LYING Yello 457350
45 (3 11) RHYTHM NATION Janet Jackson 456550
46 (4 14) THE LOOK Roxette 454800
47 (1 17) POP MUSIK ’89 M 449350
48 (5 8) TWO HEARTS Phil Collins 449150
49 (4 16) DON’T ASK ME WHY Eurythmics 448950
50 (2 14) WAIT Robert Howard and Kym Mazelle 448550

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Liza Minelli gets a 2nd slot at 40 with a Pet Shop Boys-produced single, the fab Losing My Mind, a cover of a showtune by Stephen Sondheim from Follies. It sounds pure PSB though. Then it’s Macca’s 2 singles off his album collaboration with Elvis Costello, an interesting mix of the 2 styles, although the melodic strength of This One was very Beatles-ey circa 1967. Cher has another big ol rock diva comeback, astride massive cannons in the video, and another USA trip biggie.

The UK Record of 1989 manages to bring Italian House act Black Box to 36 for the year, with Ride On Time being one of the best tracks of the year and on a par with some tracks which topped my charts where they had to make do with 3 as I was out the country for part of it’s UK run on top which dented it’s chart positions a bit as I didn’t get to hear it for over 2 weeks. Ya Kid K sings on Technotronic’s debut fab hit, Pump Up The Jam, and the Madonna inrush starts at 34 with Cherish, which had a lovely video and was big around the time I was on a boat watching Whales and dolphins. See the video for the link…

Then Madonna’s back again at 33, by virtue of Express Yourself topping my chart where Cherish was forced to peak at 5 and had a longer chart run. In retrospect I think that’s the right order, actually. We then have the little-known wonderful ballad from Swing Out Sister, Forever Blue was just a very minor chart hit, annoyingly. Pure class. That leaves Bobby Brown and his best track, Every Little Step at 31, with the possible exception of the fab Two Can Play That Game.

And the pick is….

31 (1 18) EVERY LITTLE STEP Bobby Brown 609575
32 (4 19) FOREVER BLUE Swing Out Sister 590300
33 (1 14) EXPRESS YOURSELF Madonna 581250
34 (5 18) CHERISH Madonna 576600
35 (3 15) PUMP UP THE JAM Technotronic featuring Felly (Ya Kid K) 514025
36 (3 16) RIDE ON TIME Black Box 512300
37 (3 17) IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME Cher 511350
38 (1 13) MY BRAVE FACE Paul McCartney 492750
39 (2 12) THIS ONE Paul McCartney 491300
40 (2 13) LOSING MY MIND Liza Minelli 482000

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The Bangles biggest track is at 30, Eternal Flame being the Big Ballad in their pretty good poprock back catalogue, and the 2nd of the year on the list. Let’s not mention that cover version. The Bee Gees commercial fortunes fade in and fade out depending on what’s popular at any given time, and I fail to see any drop in quality regardless, though they were in a more sombre reflective mood following the early death of younger brother Andy Gibb, such as One at 29. Waiting For A Star To Fall is a big ol’ slick pop tune, and the various sampling hitmakers in later years haven’t improved on the original. On the contrary I got sick of the hook to the detriment of the original.

Kon Kan, well, what can you say about a record that samples Rose Garden, a country classic, and turns it into pure cheese? Well done, actually! Still catchy and amusing. Stevie Nicks a legend these days, but shockingly Rooms On Fire was her only significant UK single solo hit. Absolutely criminal, her stuff outside Fleetwood Mac was often as good as her songs within! Rooms On Fire is her best solo record, possible exception of Edge Of Seventeen. Gloria Estefan gets a second of the year with the rather nice Can’t Stay Away From You, classy ballading.

Jason Donovan was mostly at the disposable end of SAW songs and productions, but they did bung him the odd pop gem, and this was the best one, When You Come Back To Me at 24. Back To Life announced Soul II Soul as a significant black soul music force, cos it’s great, though contrary to popular opinion they weren’t the first British black-music-based act to cross over worldwide, but they did move the style on influentially. 

Sydney Youngblood came out of nowhere doing his own thing, was big for a few months, and then faded into obscurity, and this was a radio monster of the time, If Only I Could. Liberian Girl was one of the sweeter songs off Bad, and it’s odd including a 2-year old track in 1989’s list, but I didn’t allow album tracks in 1987, or else the entire album would have made my charts and lost out on several number ones like this one. Maybe. The video is fun, spotting famous people, though it signalled the increasing ego and divorce from reality that was MJ’s future. 

and the pick is…

21 (1 19) LIBERIAN GIRL Michael Jackson 759650
22 (1 17) IF ONLY I COULD Sydney Youngblood 753550
23 (3 22) BACK TO LIFE Soul II Soul featuring Caron Wheeler 708550
24 (2 10) WHEN YOU COME BACK TO ME Jason Donovan 706800
25 (3 15) CAN’T STAY AWAY FROM YOU Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine 705350
26 (1 16) ROOMS ON FIRE Stevie Nicks 697900
27 (2 15) I BEG YOUR PARDON Kon Kan 639000
28 (2 12) WAITING FOR A STAR TO FALL Boy Meets Girl 627650
29 (4 24) ONE The Bee Gees 619400
30 (2 14) ETERNAL FLAME The Bangles 618200

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So we start with double Dusty at the bottom end of the top 20 of 1989, hot on the heels of her monster Pet Shop Boys duet in 1987, Chris & Neil had done an album with Dusty & Liza, which explains their relatively low-profile 1989. Both tracks were themed on the Scandal movie about the Profumo Affair, In Private a cheerful upbeat popdance tune, and the even-better news-event lyrics ballad Nothing Has Been Proved, on which Dusty showed she was still the best at interpreting. Nobody could sing like Dusty, still the greatest-ever, soulful, female pop singer – she just knew how to work the lyrics flawlessly, she really worked at getting perfection. Her live version (with Burt Bacharach) of A House Is Not A Home in 1970 is jaw-droppingly great.

Not to be outdone, Madonna also has 2 in the top 20, at the top of her game, and 4 on the list, starting with the sweetest record she ever made, the UK-only Xmassy single Dear Jessie (the US went for the less-good Keep It Together off Like A Prayer), all swirling strings and childhood lyrics, just adorable. 4 places higher at 14, her title track didn’t top the chart like 2 of the other album cuts, but has done better over-all. It’s a classic, only under-rated due to my grandma dying when it came out, and it was just too sad for me to cope with, what with the funeral and loss. I took refuge in 60’s oldies in happier times.

Talking of loss, and the greatest female singer of all-time, we lost the greatest male-singer of all-time in late 1988, but Jeff Lynne had joined with the brilliant Roy Orbison to gift a new album and lead single, the fab You Got It, at 17. OK, it wasn’t in the same timeless league as Runnin’ Scared, In Dreams, It’s Over and oodles of others when he was on the top of the vocal world (Roy could SING-EXCLAMATION-MARK, he had range and power and emotion), but it was a fab goodbye, as was the album. Living In A Box, meanwhile, do an about-turn after their big self-titled debut did the biz in 1987, they go all slushy…and make it sound great. Room In Your Heart is a great song.

Sam Brown, 60’s pop star Joe Brown’s daughter, had released a soulful show-stopper in 1988 but it hadn’t caught on in the charts (though it did with me), but second-time round did the trick, and Stop became the huge ballad hit it deserved to be, an amazing vocal performance on a great song, and her second on the 100. Donna Summer had been a bit out of sorts in the pop wilderness for a few years, after her ground-breaking debut and hit run of singles and albums, but SAW did us all a favour and gave her some rehabilitation and a makeover that was still dance diva, the fab This Time I Know It’s For Real, her final great single.

That leaves another 1988 hold-over that had not been the big hit it should have been, the sheer power of Sweet Child O’ Mine was a breath of fresh air, Guns ‘n’ Roses statement of intent that the overblown pomp-rock that dominated had just been served notice of eviction by a young punky rock act with attitude. Kim Wilde had a great 1988, and the 4th track off it started the year as the biggest single, and was also rather sweetly sad and touching, Four Letter Word taking the tempo right down after a brace of exciting uptempo hits.

…and the pick is….

11 (1 13) FOUR LETTER WORD Kim Wilde 999150
12 (1 12) SWEET CHILD O’ MINE Guns ‘n’ Roses 967500
13 (1 20) THIS TIME I KNOW IT’S FOR REAL Donna Summer 961450
14 (2 16) LIKE A PRAYER Madonna 868700
15 (1 16) STOP Sam Brown 866600
16 (1 14) ROOM IN YOUR HEART Living In A Box 822050
17 (1 21) YOU GOT IT Roy Orbison 817200
18 (1 15) DEAR JESSIE Madonna 813550
19 (1 25) NOTHING HAS BEEN PROVED Dusty Springfield 780250
20 (1 17) IN PRIVATE Dusty Springfield 766600

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So the top 10 starts with Pet Shops Boys cover of It’s Alright, a terrific, optimistic, socially-minded song at 10. That makes it 5 years in a row they make the year-end top 10. The second Bee Gees song in the countdown is at 9, a complete flop, but I found it quite lyrically touching, being as it was clearly influenced by their downbeat and sorrowful mood after their younger brother Andy had died aged 30. At 8, Kate Bush is back with a second top 100 entry, This Woman’s Work, a heartbreaking gem about the sometimes burdens of women, again immensely touching.

At 7, and clearly a year in which women were getting an increasing share of the pop music limelight, Lisa Stansfield gets a second with her smash All Around The World, still her signature song, all sophisticated soul harking back to Barry White and the early 70’s Philly Soul era. At 6, Sheena Easton was gifted a brilliant Prince song, her best record by a million miles, sexy, building to a climax, bursting with attitude…and 101 remains unloved by everyone but me. Play her biggest hit 9 To 5 (Morning Train) then this. No comparison. 

Top 5, another flop, twice over it topped my chart, in this version and a revamp in the early 90’s, and this old-fashioned slow soul ballad still couldn’t grab a hit, leaving Distant Cousins one of the many many pop music wannabes that never got the got the hit they deserved. Top female song of the year? Gloria Estefan’s I Don’t Want To Lose You. I’d loved her ballads leading up to it, bought the new album, and it just clicked with me. In retrospect, my least fave of the top 10, but still a good sad love ballad.

Top solo star of the year is Elton John at 2 and 3, thanks largely to both tracks getting a massive reissued UK double-A-side boost in 1990 which topped the charts. as with The Bee Gees though, my rating of Elton songs was unrelated to commercial success and I was fresh off seeing Elton in concert at Wembley Arena. Healing hands topped my chart, and then Sacrifice did the same, with a boost in early 1990 as it was a big airplay hit in Florida during a holiday there. Then the UK caught up and they both benefitted on this list from that. Healing Hands is gospel-rock and inspirational, Sacrifice is overplayed and I’ve gone off it in the years since, though it’s still sweet.

Top spot then, they did it in 1985, and have it again in 1989, Tears For Fears monster-length Beatles-inspired Sowing The Seeds Of Love. I bought the CD single in New York City Tower records, I bought the album, and I loved the 60’s vibes, the positivity and optimism, and the singalong anthem chorus. It may well still be my fave track of 1989.

and the choice is…

1 (1 21) SOWING THE SEEDS OF LOVE Tears For Fears 1975150
2 (1 11) SACRIFICE Elton John 1963100
3 (1 18) HEALING HANDS Elton John 1657200
4 (1 25) I DON’T WANT TO LOSE YOU Gloria Estefan 1424200
5 (1 11) YOU USED TO Distant Cousins 1215100
6 (1 16) “101”” Sheena Easton 1176050
7 (1 13) ALL AROUND THE WORLD Lisa Stansfield 1171500
8 (1 55) THIS WOMAN’S WORK Kate Bush 1149750
9 (1 22) ORDINARY LIVES The Bee Gees 1114250
10 (1 15) IT’S ALRIGHT Pet Shop Boys 1005300

My November 1990 Charts

Me & my niece in 1990 Florida

4th November 1990

It’s The Jimi Hendrix Experience on top for a second week as an entirely oldies to 3 stops George Michael, Kylie & Kim Appleby getting a 1,2,3 – which, to be fair, they all deserved as all 3 are fab. Kylie gets a second top 5 in a row, though, The Charlatans do an about-turn and hit a new peak of 7 with Then, and Jimmy Somerville goes where Nina Simone went with her version of The Bee Gees song 21 years earlier – top 10. Highest new entry is Dusty Springfield, taken from the Reputation album – 4th single off it and a bizarre choice when Pet Shop Boys’ Daydreamin’ was never released: when asked why not, Dusty replied “ask the boys”. Still, it’s a great album and track anyway, her 5th top 10 of new material in the 80’s comeback period, and 8th in total. 

In a very busy week for new entries, The La’s 1989 minor entry comes back bigger at 16 with the classic There She Goes; Happy Mondays go top 20 with a Kinky Afro; Jon Bon Jovi smashes in at 19 with Miracle, his solo stuff proving more popular with me than more recent band singles; Blue Pearl have stooped dancing naked in the rain and sing about Little Brother, a minor follow-up I preferred, under-rated! The Beloved keep the ball rolling, and It’s Alright Now at 35, as Robert Palmer has an unlikely team-up with UB40 to cover a Bob Dylan song to good effect, giving them both top 40’s in 3 decades.

Dream Warriors debut Daisy-age stylee with the fab Bombastic Jazz Style, as defined by them at 42, Was (Not Was) feel better than James Brown – it’s not bragging, it’s a reference to his I Feel Good – Danielle Dax (possibly an earlier host of Jadzia Dax, or possibly not) covers The Beatles, Sinead O’Connor has 3 babies (I’m fairly sure she didn’t), Black Box attempt to ruin Earth, Wind & Fire’s fabulous Fantasy, but fall short of being awful, just, and Aswad bounce back with a Smile.

Finally, Hall & Oates re-enter with So Close at 39 cos I saw them in concert this week, with fab assistance from 70’s folk/disco/showtune singer Linda Lewis. Tellingly, they showed their roots in soul music by covering Marvin Gaye & The O’Jays and impressing me with those more than most of their own material, which is pretty strong anyway.

1 ( 1 ) ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER The Jimi Hendrix Experience
2 ( 2 ) UNCHAINED MELODY The Righteous Brothers
3 ( 6 ) TAKE MY BREATH AWAY Berlin
4 ( 3 ) WAITING FOR THE DAY George Michael
5 ( 10 ) STEP BACK IN TIME Kylie Minogue
6 ( 8 ) DON’T WORRY Kim Appleby
7 ( 43 ) THEN The Charlatans
8 ( 5 ) LOVE WILL NEVER DO WITHOUT YOU (ALBUM VERSION/REMIX VERSION) Janet Jackson
9 ( 16 ) TO LOVE SOMEBODY Jimmy Somerville
10 ( NEW ) ARRESTED BY YOU Dusty Springfield

11 ( 4 ) THE OBVIOUS CHILD Paul Simon
12 ( 14 ) NEW POWER GENERATION Prince
13 ( 9 ) (WE WANT) THE SAME THING Belinda Carlisle
14 ( 7 ) A LITTLE TIME Beautiful South
15 ( 30 ) KINKY AFRO Happy Mondays
16 ( NEW ) THERE SHE GOES The La’s
17 ( 26 ) CLOSE TO ME (REMIX) The Cure
18 ( 13 ) SO HARD Pet Shop Boys
19 ( NEW ) MIRACLE Jon Bon Jovi
20 ( 11 ) WORKING MAN Rita McNeil

21 ( 12 ) IT’S A SHAME (MY SISTER) Monie Love featuring True Image
22 ( 37 ) SUCKA DJ Dimples D
23 ( 15 ) MORE Sisters Of Mercy
24 ( 17 ) DRESSED FOR SUCCESS Roxette
25 ( 20 ) I’VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT YOU Londonbeat
26 ( 23 ) PRAYING FOR TIME George Michael
27 ( 39 ) CAN’T STOP After 7
28 ( 18 ) FASCINATING RHYTHM Bass-O-Matic
29 ( 19 ) BLUE VELVET Bobby Vinton
30 ( 32 ) DON’T ASK ME Public Image Ltd

31 ( 21 ) SHOW ME HEAVEN Maria McKee
32 ( 22 ) GOOD MORNING BRITAIN Aztec Camera featuring Mick Jones
33 ( NEW ) LITTLE BROTHER Blue Pearl
34 ( 33 ) THIEVES IN THE TEMPLE Prince
35 ( NEW ) IT’S ALRIGHT NOW The Beloved
36 ( 31 ) GHETTO CHILD (REMIX) The Detroit Spinners
37 ( 38 ) WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER (1990 TK REMIX) Timmy Thomas
38 ( 57 ) HEART AND SOUL No Sweat
39 ( RE ) SO CLOSE Daryl Hall & John Oates
40 ( NEW ) I’LL BE YOUR BABY TONIGHT Robert Palmer & UB40

41 ( 45 ) YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND Big Fun and Sonia featuring Gary Barnacle
42 ( NEW ) MY DEFINITION OF A BOMBASTIC JAZZ STYLE Dream Warriors
43 ( 51 ) I’M YOUR BABY TONIGHT Whitney Houston
44 ( 25 ) I CAN’T STAND IT Twenty 4 Seven featuring Captain Hollywood
45 ( 27 ) KEEP OUR LOVE ALIVE Stevie Wonder
46 ( 36 ) AFRICA Toto
47 ( 34 ) GROOVE IS IN THE HEART Deee-Lite
48 ( 40 ) CRYING IN THE RAIN a-ha
49 ( 48 ) LET IT BE The Beatles
50 ( 46 ) SACRIFICE/ HEALING HANDS Elton John

51 ( 63 ) I’M DOIN’ FINE Jason Donovan
52 ( 64 ) HEY JUDE The Beatles
53 ( 52 ) ESCAPADE Janet Jackson
54 ( NEW ) I FEEL BETTER THAN JAMES BROWN Was (Not Was)
55 ( 28 ) MOTHER UNIVERSE The Soup Dragons
56 ( 54 ) RIDING INTO BLUE Inga
57 ( 49 ) WE’VE GOTTA GET OUT OF THIS PLACE The Animals
58 ( 24 ) YOU GOTTA LOVE SOMEONE Elton John
59 ( 59 ) ONLY YOUR LOVE Bananarama
60 ( 55 ) BLACK VELVET Alannah Myles

61 ( 53 ) LISTEN TO YOUR HEART/ DANGEROUS Roxette
62 ( 44 ) TOM’S DINER DNA featuring Suzanne Vega
63 ( 56 ) KING OF WISHFUL THINKING Go West
64 ( 29 ) BE TENDER WITH ME BABY Tina Turner
65 ( NEW ) TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS Danielle Dax
66 ( 58 ) LET IT ALL HANG OUT ’90 Jonathan King AKA JK25
67 ( 71 ) THIS WOMAN’S WORK Kate Bush
68 ( 65 ) HOLD ON Wilson Philips
69 ( NEW ) THREE BABIES Sinead O’Connor
70 ( 47 ) (I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT YOUR) LOVE AND AFFECTION Nelson

71 ( 70 ) ENJOY THE SILENCE Depeche Mode
72 ( 42 ) CULT OF SNAP Snap!
73 ( 62 ) THE JOKER The Steve Miller Band
74 ( NEW ) FANTASY Black Box
75 ( NEW ) SMILE Aswad

HALL & OATES LIVE AT BOURNEMOUTH INTERNATIONAL CENTRE
1 She’s Gone
2 Maneater
3 What’s Going On
4 Backstabbers
5 I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)

LINDA LEWIS LIVE AT BOURNEMOUTH INTERNATIONAL CENTRE
1 For What It’s Worth

11th November 1990

It’s a 3rd week on top for Hendrix’s Dylan cover as The La’s is the biggest new(ish) challenger for the top spot, up to 3 with the fab There She Goes, while yet another oldie returns at 10 – Donna Summer’s terrific Jon & Vangelis cover of State Of Independence gets a 2nd shot in the top 10 8 years on. In at 19, it’s the brilliant haunting beauty of Chris Isaak’s Wicked Game, which fit in perfectly with the music backdrop of the bizarre, enthralling Twin Peaks TV series, which throws off a hit performer from the show in the form of Julee Cruise entering at 35 with Falling – the vocal version of the ethereal instrumental theme tune.

Was (Not Was) grab another top 40 hit, Dream Warriors a first, and Whitney returns after failing to get so high for some time. New entries are bombarding in, though, in the pre-christmas rush, with Madonna’s new & controversially naughty Justify My Love (assisted by Lenny Kravitz), in at 40, EMF’s debut with the still-popular Unbelievable at 45, Marc Almond’s latest goodie, Waifs & Strays at 47, and 1991 hit (remixed) Sunshine On A Rainy Day gives Zoe an early bit of chart action before actual UK chart action, in at 56.

A cover of Johnny Wakelin’s pounding 1976 biggie In Zaire pops in at 60, Queen & Bowie drop at 64 under a pseudonym (Vanilla Ice wasn’t reeally a Florida white rapper was he?) and a lyric change to Ice Ice Baby, collaborate & listen! Mory Kante gets a follow-up 2 years on to Ye Ke Ye Ke, and JJ debuts with Slide Away. Not the Oasis song. 

1 ( 1 ) ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER The Jimi Hendrix Experience
2 ( 2 ) UNCHAINED MELODY The Righteous Brothers
3 ( 16 ) THERE SHE GOES The La’s
4 ( 5 ) STEP BACK IN TIME Kylie Minogue
5 ( 6 ) DON’T WORRY Kim Appleby
6 ( 3 ) TAKE MY BREATH AWAY Berlin
7 ( 4 ) WAITING FOR THE DAY George Michael
8 ( 9 ) TO LOVE SOMEBODY Jimmy Somerville
9 ( 8 ) LOVE WILL NEVER DO WITHOUT YOU (ALBUM VERSION/REMIX VERSION) Janet Jackson
10 ( NEW ) STATE OF INDEPENDENCE Donna Summer

11 ( 19 ) MIRACLE Jon Bon Jovi
12 ( 12 ) NEW POWER GENERATION Prince
13 ( 10 ) ARRESTED BY YOU Dusty Springfield
14 ( 15 ) KINKY AFRO Happy Mondays
15 ( 13 ) (WE WANT) THE SAME THING Belinda Carlisle
16 ( 7 ) THEN The Charlatans
17 ( 11 ) THE OBVIOUS CHILD Paul Simon
18 ( 14 ) A LITTLE TIME Beautiful South
19 ( NEW ) WICKED GAME Chris Isaak
20 ( 22 ) SUCKA DJ Dimples D

21 ( 18 ) SO HARD Pet Shop Boys
22 ( 33 ) LITTLE BROTHER Blue Pearl
23 ( 54 ) I FEEL BETTER THAN JAMES BROWN Was (Not Was)
24 ( 23 ) MORE Sisters Of Mercy
25 ( 39 ) SO CLOSE Daryl Hall & John Oates
26 ( 17 ) CLOSE TO ME (REMIX) The Cure
27 ( 27 ) CAN’T STOP After 7
28 ( 42 ) MY DEFINITION OF A BOMBASTIC JAZZ STYLE Dream Warriors
29 ( 26 ) PRAYING FOR TIME George Michael
30 ( 40 ) I’LL BE YOUR BABY TONIGHT Robert Palmer & UB40

31 ( 20 ) WORKING MAN Rita McNeil
32 ( 21 ) IT’S A SHAME (MY SISTER) Monie Love featuring True Image
33 ( 25 ) I’VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT YOU Londonbeat
34 ( 31 ) SHOW ME HEAVEN Maria McKee
35 ( NEW ) FALLING Julee Cruise
36 ( 34 ) THIEVES IN THE TEMPLE Prince
37 ( 37 ) WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER (1990 TK REMIX) Timmy Thomas
38 ( 28 ) FASCINATING RHYTHM Bass-O-Matic
39 ( 43 ) I’M YOUR BABY TONIGHT Whitney Houston
40 ( NEW ) JUSTIFY MY LOVE Madonna

41 ( 29 ) BLUE VELVET Bobby Vinton
42 ( 24 ) DRESSED FOR SUCCESS Roxette
43 ( 41 ) YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND Big Fun and Sonia featuring Gary Barnacle
44 ( 35 ) IT’S ALRIGHT NOW The Beloved
45 ( NEW ) UNBELIEVABLE EMF
46 ( 36 ) GHETTO CHILD (REMIX) The Detroit Spinners
47 ( NEW ) WAIFS AND STRAYS Marc Almond
48 ( 32 ) GOOD MORNING BRITAIN Aztec Camera featuring Mick Jones
49 ( 75 ) SMILE Aswad
50 ( 49 ) LET IT BE The Beatles

51 ( 52 ) HEY JUDE The Beatles
52 ( 30 ) DON’T ASK ME Public Image Ltd
53 ( 50 ) SACRIFICE/ HEALING HANDS Elton John
54 ( 53 ) ESCAPADE Janet Jackson
55 ( 46 ) AFRICA Toto
56 ( NEW ) SUNSHINE ON A RAINY DAY Zoe
57 ( 38 ) HEART AND SOUL No Sweat
58 ( NEW ) RELEASE ME Wilson Philips
59 ( 56 ) RIDING INTO BLUE Inga
60 ( NEW ) IN ZAIRE African Business

61 ( 60 ) BLACK VELVET Alannah Myles
62 ( 48 ) CRYING IN THE RAIN a-ha
63 ( 47 ) GROOVE IS IN THE HEART Deee-Lite
64 ( NEW ) ICE ICE BABY Vanilla Ice
65 ( 44 ) I CAN’T STAND IT Twenty 4 Seven featuring Captain Hollywood
66 ( 59 ) ONLY YOUR LOVE Bananarama
67 ( 67 ) THIS WOMAN’S WORK Kate Bush
68 ( 57 ) WE’VE GOTTA GET OUT OF THIS PLACE The Animals
69 ( NEW ) BANQUERO Mory Kante
70 ( 61 ) LISTEN TO YOUR HEART/ DANGEROUS Roxette

71 ( 63 ) KING OF WISHFUL THINKING Go West
72 ( 71 ) ENJOY THE SILENCE Depeche Mode
73 ( NEW ) SLIDE AWAY JJ
74 ( 74 ) FANTASY Black Box
75 ( 68 ) HOLD ON Wilson Philips

PLAYLIST OLDIES/ALBUMS
1 “BEHAVIOUR” Pet Shop Boys
2 “REPUTATION” Dusty Springfield
3 BETCHA BY GOLLY WOW The Stylistics

18th November 1990

It’s straight in at 1 for the second single off Behaviour, the gorgeous Being Boring, giving the Pet Shop Boys an 11th Chart-topper, putting them one behind ELO, and some way short of Michael Jackson, Abba and The Beatles in all-time number of chart-toppers. It’s also 6 in a row. That means Chris Isaak’s brilliant Wicked Game is held off the top despite a rise of 17 places. Jon Bon Jovi gets a first solo top 10, and a 3rd in total, that’s a Miracle! Madonna is on 9 chart-toppers and keen to cactn up with the Pet Shop Boys, shooting up to 9 with Justify My Love. 

EMF and Vanilla Ice have big climbs into the top 30, and Donny Osmond enters at 30 some 18 years since Puppy Love kicked off the solo run, My Love Is A Fire. Probably need some penicillin, Donny! Mory Kante gets a 2nd top 40, and The Proclaimers cover Roger Miller’s fab King Of The Road, some 24 years on from my kiddie love of the original, and are rewarded with a decent track entering at 38. F.A.B. follow-up Thunderbirds with Stingray – any 60’s kid LOVES both TV themes. Those who watched TV at any rate. 

Inspiral Carpets do an EP, AC/DC make it 12 years since debut with Money Talks, and they are back in my current charts an incredible 30 years on, while topping the UK album charts. The Traveling Wilburys keep the singles coming, INXS appear then Disappear at 60, Rod & Tina team-up and attempt to ruin a Motown classic. They don’t quite succeed, but it’s a close call. Marvin & Kim can’t be beat. Bobby Vinton makes it two early 60’s oldies, and footballer Gazza teams up with his local lads Lindisfarne to bring Fog On The Tyne into the chart. As the track was never a classic anyway, not too much to worry about ruining. Still, even with the bar set low it’s worse than the 1972 original, and not a patch on Lindisfarne’s great 70’s hits. 

1 ( NEW ) BEING BORING Pet Shop Boys
2 ( 19 ) WICKED GAME Chris Isaak
3 ( 5 ) DON’T WORRY Kim Appleby
4 ( 1 ) ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER The Jimi Hendrix Experience
5 ( 2 ) UNCHAINED MELODY The Righteous Brothers
6 ( 10 ) STATE OF INDEPENDENCE Donna Summer
7 ( 11 ) MIRACLE Jon Bon Jovi
8 ( 3 ) THERE SHE GOES The La’s
9 ( 40 ) JUSTIFY MY LOVE Madonna
10 ( 7 ) WAITING FOR THE DAY George Michael

11 ( 4 ) STEP BACK IN TIME Kylie Minogue
12 ( 8 ) TO LOVE SOMEBODY Jimmy Somerville
13 ( 6 ) TAKE MY BREATH AWAY Berlin
14 ( 20 ) SUCKA DJ Dimples D
15 ( 47 ) WAIFS AND STRAYS Marc Almond
16 ( 9 ) LOVE WILL NEVER DO WITHOUT YOU (ALBUM VERSION/REMIX VERSION) Janet Jackson
17 ( 45 ) UNBELIEVABLE EMF
18 ( 13 ) ARRESTED BY YOU Dusty Springfield
19 ( 35 ) FALLING Julee Cruise
20 ( 28 ) MY DEFINITION OF A BOMBASTIC JAZZ STYLE Dream Warriors

21 ( 12 ) NEW POWER GENERATION Prince
22 ( 18 ) A LITTLE TIME Beautiful South
23 ( 23 ) I FEEL BETTER THAN JAMES BROWN Was (Not Was)
24 ( 64 ) ICE ICE BABY Vanilla Ice
25 ( 17 ) THE OBVIOUS CHILD Paul Simon
26 ( 22 ) LITTLE BROTHER Blue Pearl
27 ( 15 ) (WE WANT) THE SAME THING Belinda Carlisle
28 ( 16 ) THEN The Charlatans
29 ( 14 ) KINKY AFRO Happy Mondays
30 ( NEW ) MY LOVE IS A FIRE Donny Osmond

31 ( 21 ) SO HARD Pet Shop Boys
32 ( 69 ) BANQUERO Mory Kante
33 ( 24 ) MORE Sisters Of Mercy
34 ( 29 ) PRAYING FOR TIME George Michael
35 ( 30 ) I’LL BE YOUR BABY TONIGHT Robert Palmer & UB40
36 ( 73 ) SLIDE AWAY JJ
37 ( 25 ) SO CLOSE Daryl Hall & John Oates
38 ( NEW ) KING OF THE ROAD The Proclaimers
39 ( 49 ) SMILE Aswad
40 ( 37 ) WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER (1990 TK REMIX) Timmy Thomas

41 ( 34 ) SHOW ME HEAVEN Maria McKee
42 ( 32 ) IT’S A SHAME (MY SISTER) Monie Love featuring True Image
43 ( 33 ) I’VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT YOU Londonbeat
44 ( 43 ) YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND Big Fun and Sonia featuring Gary Barnacle
45 ( NEW ) STINGRAY F.A.B.
46 ( 36 ) THIEVES IN THE TEMPLE Prince
47 ( NEW ) ISLAND HEAD EP Inspiral Carpets
48 ( NEW ) MONEY TALKS AC/DC
49 ( 56 ) SUNSHINE ON A RAINY DAY Zoe
50 ( NEW ) SHE’S MY BABY The Traveling Wilburys

51 ( 51 ) HEY JUDE The Beatles
52 ( 50 ) LET IT BE The Beatles
53 ( 26 ) CLOSE TO ME (REMIX) The Cure
54 ( 27 ) CAN’T STOP After 7
55 ( 31 ) WORKING MAN Rita McNeil
56 ( 54 ) ESCAPADE Janet Jackson
57 ( 46 ) GHETTO CHILD (REMIX) The Detroit Spinners
58 ( 53 ) SACRIFICE/ HEALING HANDS Elton John
59 ( 38 ) FASCINATING RHYTHM Bass-O-Matic
60 ( NEW ) DISAPPEAR INXS

61 ( 42 ) DRESSED FOR SUCCESS Roxette
62 ( NEW ) SPIT IN THE RAIN Del Amitri
63 ( 44 ) IT’S ALRIGHT NOW The Beloved
64 ( 41 ) BLUE VELVET Bobby Vinton
65 ( NEW ) HANDS ACROSS THE OCEAN The Mission
66 ( 74 ) FANTASY Black Box
67 ( 55 ) AFRICA Toto
68 ( 59 ) RIDING INTO BLUE Inga
69 ( 67 ) THIS WOMAN’S WORK Kate Bush
70 ( 60 ) IN ZAIRE African Business

71 ( NEW ) STRANDED Heart
72 ( 61 ) BLACK VELVET Alannah Myles
73 ( NEW ) IT TAKES TWO Rod Stewart & Tina Turner
74 ( NEW ) ROSES ARE RED Bobby Vinton
75 ( NEW ) FOG ON THE TYNE Gazza & Lindisfarne

Playlist/ Oldies
1 MOONLIGHT FEELS RIGHT Starbuck
2 ”Behaviour” Pet Shop Boys
3 “Listen Without Prejudice” George Michael

25th November 1990

It’s another case of a great Pet Shop Boys single getting knocked off the top after one week due to a classic oldie, this time The Bee Gees wonderful re-issued How Deep Is Your Love which went top 3 in 1977, but got held off the top spot. 13 years later it becomes their 5th number one. It’s not the only classic oldie to chart, either, as my chart is opened up to charting albums and tracks that haven’t charted before, allowing Led Zep’s 1971 epic Stairway To Heaven to enter at 4, their first-ever entry 19 years late (never a UK single). It also allows Sleeping With The Past track Durban Deep in at 33 for Elton John.

Vanilla Ice takes Ice Ice Baby into the top 10, and Dimples D is a Sucka DJ at 10. Lots of climbs for currently charting tracks as I bought the latest NOW album on CD, boosting the ones that sounded fresh. INXS, AC/DC & FAB bring some alphabet activity into the top 40 with climbers, and Cathy Dennis debuts with her fabulous Just Another Dream at 37, a hit in 1991. The list of big songs she’s going to co-write would have been surprising late in 1990! At 42, and still touring at Xmas to sell-out crowds, it’s Gary Glitter telling us he has a Red Hot Reputation. Not anywhere near as red hot as it will be, though not quite as anticipated. 

Deee-Lite get a 3rd chart entry of 1990, and we move back to the Flower Power & Merseybeat 60’s as novelty oldie Kinky Boots from The Avengers stars Patrick MacNee & Honour Blackman finally gets to be a hit. It’s daft but a charming early 60’s period piece. Hippie Donovan, and template for early Marc Bolan & T.Rex, is back as The Singing Corner cover his 1968 childhood fave of mine Jennifer Juniper. The band (duo) is an alias for Trevor and Simon, whimsical kiddie TV presenters. Soul II Soul return, this time with Kym Mazelle guesting. If Kym had a penny for every guest vocal she did…

Snap! stretch out the run of 1990 hits with Mary Had A Little Boy at 63, but the formula was wearing thinner. Kim Wilde Can’t Say Goodbye at 74. Given she still charts with new stuff in the 21st century for me, I’m more than happy she can’t. Jive Bunny manage to chart by ruining a batch of Xmas classics. I wonder if this starts the decline in popularity for Wizzard and Slade’s perennial faves. As it’s listed on my playlist and So Hard is still charting, B side It Must be Obvious gets a bonus Pet Shop Boys chart entry (though as it’s not officially a single it won’t ruin any run of chart-toppers – if the next single hits the top spot!).

1 ( NEW ) HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE The Bee Gees
2 ( 2 ) WICKED GAME Chris Isaak
3 ( 1 ) BEING BORING Pet Shop Boys
4 ( NEW ) STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN Led Zeppelin
5 ( 3 ) DON’T WORRY Kim Appleby
6 ( 4 ) ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER The Jimi Hendrix Experience
7 ( 9 ) JUSTIFY MY LOVE Madonna
8 ( 5 ) UNCHAINED MELODY The Righteous Brothers
9 ( 24 ) ICE ICE BABY Vanilla Ice
10 ( 14 ) SUCKA DJ Dimples D

11 ( 10 ) WAITING FOR THE DAY George Michael
12 ( 8 ) THERE SHE GOES The La’s
13 ( 17 ) UNBELIEVABLE EMF
14 ( 6 ) STATE OF INDEPENDENCE Donna Summer
15 ( 26 ) LITTLE BROTHER Blue Pearl
16 ( 7 ) MIRACLE Jon Bon Jovi
17 ( 20 ) MY DEFINITION OF A BOMBASTIC JAZZ STYLE Dream Warriors
18 ( 11 ) STEP BACK IN TIME Kylie Minogue
19 ( 19 ) FALLING Julee Cruise
20 ( 16 ) LOVE WILL NEVER DO WITHOUT YOU (ALBUM VERSION/REMIX VERSION) Janet Jackson

21 ( 15 ) WAIFS AND STRAYS Marc Almond
22 ( 12 ) TO LOVE SOMEBODY Jimmy Somerville
23 ( 23 ) I FEEL BETTER THAN JAMES BROWN Was (Not Was)
24 ( 38 ) KING OF THE ROAD The Proclaimers
25 ( 13 ) TAKE MY BREATH AWAY Berlin
26 ( 30 ) MY LOVE IS A FIRE Donny Osmond
27 ( 27 ) (WE WANT) THE SAME THING Belinda Carlisle
28 ( 22 ) A LITTLE TIME Beautiful South
29 ( 25 ) THE OBVIOUS CHILD Paul Simon
30 ( 32 ) BANQUERO Mory Kante

31 ( 45 ) STINGRAY F.A.B.
32 ( 18 ) ARRESTED BY YOU Dusty Springfield
33 ( NEW ) DURBAN DEEP Elton John
34 ( 21 ) NEW POWER GENERATION Prince
35 ( 39 ) SMILE Aswad
36 ( 48 ) MONEY TALKS AC/DC
37 ( NEW ) JUST ANOTHER DREAM Cathy Dennis
38 ( 28 ) THEN The Charlatans
39 ( 60 ) DISAPPEAR INXS
40 ( 31 ) SO HARD Pet Shop Boys

41 ( 34 ) PRAYING FOR TIME George Michael
42 ( NEW ) RED HOT REPUTATION Gary Glitter
43 ( 49 ) SUNSHINE ON A RAINY DAY Zoe
44 ( 40 ) WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER (1990 TK REMIX) Timmy Thomas
45 ( NEW ) POWER OF LOVE Deee-Lite
46 ( 33 ) MORE Sisters Of Mercy
47 ( 47 ) ISLAND HEAD EP Inspiral Carpets
48 ( 44 ) YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND Big Fun and Sonia featuring Gary Barnacle
49 ( NEW ) KINKY BOOTS Patrick MacNee & Honour Blackman
50 ( NEW ) JENNIFER JUNIPER The Singing Corner featuring Donovan

51 ( 46 ) THIEVES IN THE TEMPLE Prince
52 ( 51 ) HEY JUDE The Beatles
53 ( 52 ) LET IT BE The Beatles
54 ( 41 ) SHOW ME HEAVEN Maria McKee
55 ( NEW ) MISSING YOU Soul II Soul featuring Kym Mazelle
56 ( 29 ) KINKY AFRO Happy Mondays
57 ( 56 ) ESCAPADE Janet Jackson
58 ( 37 ) SO CLOSE Daryl Hall & John Oates
59 ( 35 ) I’LL BE YOUR BABY TONIGHT Robert Palmer & UB40
60 ( 43 ) I’VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT YOU Londonbeat

61 ( 42 ) IT’S A SHAME (MY SISTER) Monie Love featuring True Image
62 ( 58 ) SACRIFICE/ HEALING HANDS Elton John
63 ( NEW ) MARY HAD A LITTLE BOY Snap!
64 ( 36 ) SLIDE AWAY JJ
65 ( 50 ) SHE’S MY BABY The Traveling Wilburys
66 ( 59 ) FASCINATING RHYTHM Bass-O-Matic
67 ( 57 ) GHETTO CHILD (REMIX) The Detroit Spinners
68 ( NEW ) TIME TO MAKE THE FLOOR BURN Megabass
69 ( 73 ) IT TAKES TWO Rod Stewart & Tina Turner
70 ( 69 ) THIS WOMAN’S WORK Kate Bush

71 ( NEW ) ALL TOGETHER NOW The Farm featuring Pete Wylie
72 ( 53 ) CLOSE TO ME (REMIX) The Cure
73 ( 64 ) BLUE VELVET Bobby Vinton
74 ( NEW ) CAN’T SAY GOODBYE Kim Wilde
75 ( NEW ) LET’S SWING AGAIN Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers
76 ( NEW ) IT MUST BE OBVIOUS Pet Shop Boys

playlist records
1 “Behaviour” Pet Shop Boys
2 LIKE A PRAYER Madonna
3 IT MUST BE OBVIOUS Pet Shop Boys

My October 1970 Retro Charts

Mum far upper left, dad far right, on a boozy night out with the RAF lads, probably a Darts match at an RAF Changi forces club

3rd October 1970

It’s 2 weeks on top for Dusty’s How Can I Be Sure as Carpenters reach a new peak as 50 years later they are selling pretty well on UK itunes due to a cover version in an ad, I think. Their classy album track Crescent Noon continues to please, sparse arrangement (just piano and vocal) building to a more lush arrangement. Dusty & Karen, 2 of the finest vocalists of all time, they knew how to present songs. Talking of fine vocalists, one of the greats takes a break from showtune faves like Don’t Rain On My Parade and tries her hand at a more contemporary, soul-tinged, pop sound with Laura Nyro’s Stoney End, and flies in at 8, the 3rd charting version in the retro countdown’s. This version is the one I knew at the time though, and still have the album it came from.

New at 39, surprisingly high, it’s a sweet old-fashioned whistlealong from Roger Whittaker, New World In The Morning, keeping his run of good singles going, while The 5th Dimension continue to rattle out singles at a furious pace before the previous ones have left the chart, this time Bacharach/David’s One Less Bell To Answer at 47, classy Easy Listening as ever. Christie follow-up Yellow River, where I haven’t been, with San Bernadino, where I have, though I’d guess none of us had been there in 1970. 

C.C.S. cover Led Zep quite cleverly as Top Of The Pops is about to have a theme tune and a makeover, not that I was aware of either at the time, and I didn’t get to hear the track until a year later. Don Fardon’s 1968 classic finally charts in the UK and pops back into my retro charts with Indian Reservation, Gary Puckett covers Dusty’s cover of Dionne Warwick’s version of I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself, a huge huge fave of mine when I was 6 (the Dusty version would have topped my hypothetical charts for sure). So, Bacharach’s got 4 songs on the list, he’s at 2 himself with Dusty, Dionne’s still in with her live cover of her first Bacaharch recording, and the track they all did is at 73 by another great vocalist, he of Young Girl & Lady Willpower among others.

Finally, Stevie Wonder drops his latest track as he starts his move into social commentary songs with not one of my faves of his, oddly, Heaven Help Us All! That leaves a reggae cover of Montego Bay to slide in at 50 – I must have heard the Rudies & Freddie Notes version as it’s on one of my reggae compilation albums, but I’d never noticed it before. Quite like it. 

1 ( 1 ) HOW CAN I BE SURE Dusty Springfield # 1
2 ( 2 ) A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME Dusty Springfield & Burt Bacharach # 1
3 ( 3 ) I’LL BE THERE The Jackson 5 # 1
4 ( 6 ) WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN Carpenters # 4
5 ( 4 ) I THINK I LOVE YOU The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 1
6 ( 7 ) IT’S ONLY MAKE BELIEVE Glen Campbell # 3
7 ( 5 ) SOMEBODY WANTS TO LOVE YOU The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 5
8 ( NEW ) STONEY END Barbra Streisand # 8
9 ( 8 ) AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH Diana Ross # 1
10 ( 17 ) CRESCENT NOON Carpenters # 10

11 ( 10 ) LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate # 1
12 ( 12 ) WOODSTOCK Matthews Southern Comfort # 4
13 ( 16 ) MAMA’S PEARL The Jackson 5 # 13
14 ( 20 ) MOVE ON UP Curtis Mayfield # 14
15 ( 9 ) ME AND MY LIFE The Tremeloes # 9
16 ( 11 ) INDIANA WANTS ME R. Dean Taylor # 3
17 ( 13 ) CRACKLIN’ ROSIE Neil Diamond # 3
18 ( 15 ) SPOOKY Dusty Springfield # 15
19 ( 21 ) GASOLINE ALLEY BRED The Hollies # 19
20 ( 30 ) RAINMAKER The Moods # 20

21 ( 14 ) RUBY TUESDAY Melanie # 6
22 ( 34 ) COME ON GET HAPPY The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 22
23 ( 18 ) WILD WORLD Jimmy Cliff # 10
24 ( 19 ) STILL WATER (LOVE) The Four Tops # 11
25 ( 22 ) MAKE IT WITH YOU Bread # 1
26 ( 23 ) SNOWBIRD Anne Murray # 1
27 ( 24 ) TEARS OF A CLOWN Smokey Robinson & The Miracles # 4
28 ( 40 ) UNGENA ZA UMWELINGU (UNITE THE WORLD) The Temptations # 28
29 ( 32 ) WHEN YOU GET RIGHT DOWN TO IT The Delfonics # 29
30 ( 39 ) GYPSY WOMAN Brian Hyland # 30

31 ( 27 ) PARANOID Black Sabbath # 27
32 ( 26 ) ON THE BEACH (IN THE SUMMERTIME) The 5th Dimension # 26
33 ( 36 ) IT DON’T MATTER TO ME Bread # 33
34 ( 31 ) (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU Carpenters # 1
35 ( 29 ) WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO MY SONG, MA Melanie # 5
36 ( 33 ) OUR WORLD Blue MInk # 29
37 ( 25 ) DON’T PLAY THAT SONG (YOU LIED) Aretha Franklin # 7
38 ( 43 ) ALL THESE THINGS The Uniques # 38
39 ( NEW ) NEW WORLD IN THE MORNING Roger Whittaker # 39
40 ( 37 ) YOU CAN GET IT IF YOU REALLY WANT Desmond Dekker # 14

41 ( 35 ) WE GOTTA GET YOU A WOMAN Todd Rundgren (aka The Runt) # 35
42 ( 49 ) MACARTHUR PARK Glen Campbell # 42
43 ( 38 ) SUGAR MAN Rodriguez # 3
44 ( 52 ) I’M BETTER OFF WITHOUT YOU The Main Ingredient # 44
45 ( 66 ) ONLY LOVE CAN BREAK YOUR HEART Neil Young # 45
46 ( 58 ) HELP ME FIND A WAY (TO SAY I LOVE YOU) Little Anthony & The Imperials # 46
47 ( NEW ) ONE LESS BELL TO ANSWER The 5th Dimension # 47
48 ( 45 ) THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD The Beatles # 1
49 ( 44 ) CANDIDA Dawn featuring Tony Orlando # 8
50 ( 42 ) WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO MY SONG, MA The New Seekers featuring Eve Graham # 5

51 ( 41 ) JOANNE Michael Nesmith & The First National Band # 10
52 ( NEW ) SAN BERNADINO Christie # 52
53 ( 46 ) LOLA The Kinks # 2
54 ( NEW ) WHOLE LOTTA LOVE C.C.S. # 54
55 ( 55 ) MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF (LIVE) Dionne Warwick # 55
56 ( 56 ) LOSERS WEEPERS Etta James featuring Minnie Ripperton # 56
57 ( 57 ) HUM ALONG AND DANCE The Temptations # 57
58 ( 59 ) FRESH AIR Quicksilver Messenger Service # 58
59 ( 60 ) MELLOW DREAMIN’ Young-Holt Unlimited # 59
60 ( 61 ) MR BOJANGLES Nitty Gritty Dirt Band # 60

61 ( 28 ) ALONE AGAIN OR Love # 13
62 ( 51 ) BLACK PEARL Horace Faith # 51
63 ( 64 ) GIRL I’VE GOT NEWS FOR YOU The Mardi Gras # 63
64 ( 53 ) LOVE UPRISING The Chi-Lites # 53
65 ( 54 ) IT’S A SHAME The (Detroit) Spinners # 4
66 ( 62 ) I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE Creedence Clearwater Revival # 62
67 ( 63 ) WIGHT IS WIGHT Sandie Shaw # 63
68 ( 65 ) EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL Ray Stevens # 1
69 ( NEW ) INDIAN RESERVATION Don Fardon # 69
70 ( 70 ) SHADY LADY Gene Pitney # 70

71 ( 71 ) WE ALL SUNG TOGETHER Grin featuring Nils Lofgren # 71
72 ( 72 ) HEED THE CALL Kenny Rogers & The First Edition # 72
73 ( NEW ) I JUST DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF Gary Puckett # 73
74 ( NEW ) HEAVEN HELP US ALL Stevie Wonder # 74
75 ( NEW ) MONTEGO BAY Freddie Notes & The Rudies # 75

Back in Singapore, in actual 1970 The Tremeloes had a 4th week on top with The Archies fave Sunshine, as heard in their TV show was top 5 as I became more of Chess-Club & Library kinda student than a Run-Around school boy as my new friends weren’t that into manically chasing round a school that frankly didn’t have the same number of hiding places RAF Seletar had. Unlike that one, which didn’t bother with boundary fences as it was located within the RAF base, RAF Changi Grammar wasn’t secured within a base, it was just a building off Changi Road, so fences were there, and we weren’t allowed out of the grounds. In the US PBS began broadcasting BBC shows on it’s debut, while on Singapore TV we already had that network owner’s Sesame Street. I might have been a bit outside the target audience, but I liked American shows, and the puppets were mildly amusing to me. 

6th Oct
Wot I Liked Then
1 ( 1 ) ME AND MY LIFE The Tremeloes
2 ( 2 ) (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU The Carpenters
3 ( 3 ) EL CONDOR PASA Simon And Garfunkel
4 ( 6 ) SUNSHINE The Archies
5 ( 4 ) YOU CAN GET IT IF YOU REALLY WANT Desmond Dekker
6 ( 5 ) AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH Diana Ross
7 ( 7 ) PARANOID Black Sabbath
8 ( NEW ) WOODSTOCK Matthews Southern Comfort
9 ( 9 ) THE WONDER OF YOU Elvis Presley
10 ( NEW ) RUBY TUESDAY Melanie

11 ( 10 ) LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate
12 ( 8 ) BAND OF GOLD Freda Payne
13 ( 11 ) WILD WORLD Jimmy Cliff
14 ( 14 ) BLACK NIGHT Deep Purple
15 ( 13 ) MAKE IT WITH YOU Bread
16 ( 12 ) WHICH WAY YOU GOING BILLY? The Poppy Family
17 ( 17 ) BALL OF CONFUSION The Temptations
18 ( NEW ) STILL WATERS (LOVE) The Four Tops
19 ( 15 ) TEARS OF A CLOWN Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
20 ( NEW ) GASOLINE ALLEY BRED The Hollies

10th October 1970

It’s a first week on top for Barbra Streisand and her Laura Nyro cover of Stoney End, Ms. S never being better than this track – though she would top my charts-of-the-time in 1977 with Evergreen – and presiding over a personal chart looking increasingly more like the Billboard Easy-Listening chart than ever – partly because the UK and US singles charts were quite quiet for me this week, so I cast the net into Billboard magazine and all the various World, Country, Soul & Easy-listening charts to make sure I wasn’t missing out on stuff I like, and partly because I loved Easy-listening then, and now.

Highest new entry, though, is Apple Records Badfinger at 4 with the fab No Matter What, the single out this week in the US some months before it hit in the UK, and a few weeks ahead of the No Dice album which I bought in the 70’s on vinyl – so expect a certain song to debut soon. In at 8, it’s the flop US single Home Lovin’ Man (soon to be a big UK hit) as Andy Williams TV show continues to loom large on Singapore TV (“can I have a cookie?”) a song written by UK pop-hitsters Roger Cook, Roger Greenaway & Tony Macauley (see Blue Mink and other big hits 3 years either side of 1970). 

The Jackson 5 get a 3rd top 10, The Temptations funk-it-up big into the 20, oh my word that intro! I can’t believe I didn’t know this great record until the other week. The 5th Dimension replace themselves inside the 40 with the Bacharach/David gem, and Jimmy Ruffin is back with an instant top 40, and the first Jimmy Ruffin song to date that I actually knew at the time, the fab It’s Wonderful. Neil Young gets a first top 40, ditto The main Ingredient, and C.C.S., all of whom will be back at a later date with more, while Glen Campbell’s run of top 40 entries continues with MacArthur Park filling the gap until Donna Summer covers it next.

In an extended chart, new entries from Buffy Sainte-Marie  & others keep the countdown months ahead of the UK charts in some cases – Soldier Blue was a First-Nation (or Indian as they were called at the time) anthem from the disturbing film Soldier Blue (starring Dustin Hoffman, and unscreened on TV in the UK for decades) which had come out weeks earlier. The Supremes & The Four Tops combine for some of that 5th Dimension-styled male/female smooth soul hit action with a cover of the US flop Ike & Tina classic song River Deep – Mountain High, as the falsetto smoothness of Robert John debuts with When The Party Is Over, 2 years ahead of his big US hit cover of Wimoweh/The Lion Sleeps Tonight and 9 years ahead of the fab Sad Eyes.

Frank Ifield is back (for me personally, that is, his early big hits were childhood faves) with a Retro-Countdown debut cover of Hitchin’ A Ride, which got airplay on Singapore radio as an album track and I recorded – having never heard the original song, it took my fancy and remains utterly obscure, unavailable on any format except the original Frank Ifield vinyl album which was listed as the next catalogue number on Decca after Get Yer Ya Ya’s Out, so I assume it would be a few weeks later than that came out. Meanwhile, talking of US variety shows I watched in Singapore, Dean Martin enters with Detroit City – a song I know very well but didn’t know I knew until yesterday (I thought it was called I Wanna Go Home – live and learn!).

Gene Chandler, early 60’s hitmaker, is back with a proto-disco goodie, Simply Call It Love (new to me), Martha Reeves keeps the hits coming, James Taylor is finally out to battle an inferior cover of Carolina In My Mind, Perry Como has a chart comeback with It’s Impossible, even though the laid-back 50’s crooner did nothing for me in the 70’s and actively annoyed me when he charted, I’ve mellowed a bit towards his stuff with age. Elvis does an awful cover of Dusty’s epic definitive version of You Don’t Have To say You Love Me, but it’s one I liked at the time before the Vegas churning-out of live covers of others hits became too much to tolerate, Crystal Gayle’s 1977 obsession with blue eyes starts much earlier than I anticipated, George Baker gets quirkier, and in Italy a certain song was hitting big for songwriter Lally Stott. Without the commas, it would be covered, and back huge in 1971. 

1 ( 8 ) STONEY END Barbra Streisand # 1
2 ( 1 ) HOW CAN I BE SURE Dusty Springfield # 1
3 ( 2 ) A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME Dusty Springfield & Burt Bacharach # 1
4 ( NEW ) NO MATTER WHAT Badfinger # 4
5 ( 3 ) I’LL BE THERE The Jackson 5 # 1
6 ( 5 ) I THINK I LOVE YOU The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 1
7 ( 4 ) WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN Carpenters # 4
8 ( NEW ) HOME LOVIN’ MAN Andy Williams # 8
9 ( 6 ) IT’S ONLY MAKE BELIEVE Glen Campbell # 3
10 ( 13 ) MAMA’S PEARL The Jackson 5 # 10

11 ( 14 ) MOVE ON UP Curtis Mayfield # 11
12 ( 12 ) WOODSTOCK Matthews Southern Comfort # 4
13 ( 9 ) AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH Diana Ross # 1
14 ( 7 ) SOMEBODY WANTS TO LOVE YOU The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 5
15 ( 11 ) LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate # 1
16 ( 10 ) CRESCENT NOON Carpenters # 10
17 ( 20 ) RAINMAKER The Moods # 17
18 ( 19 ) GASOLINE ALLEY BRED The Hollies # 18
19 ( 28 ) UNGENA ZA UMWELINGU (UNITE THE WORLD) The Temptations # 19
20 ( 22 ) COME ON GET HAPPY The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 20

21 ( 15 ) ME AND MY LIFE The Tremeloes # 9
22 ( 16 ) INDIANA WANTS ME R. Dean Taylor # 3
23 ( 17 ) CRACKLIN’ ROSIE Neil Diamond # 3
24 ( 18 ) SPOOKY Dusty Springfield # 15
25 ( 21 ) RUBY TUESDAY Melanie # 6
26 ( 47 ) ONE LESS BELL TO ANSWER The 5th Dimension # 26
27 ( 27 ) TEARS OF A CLOWN Smokey Robinson & The Miracles # 4
28 ( 39 ) NEW WORLD IN THE MORNING Roger Whittaker # 28
29 ( 33 ) IT DON’T MATTER TO ME Bread # 29
30 ( 25 ) MAKE IT WITH YOU Bread # 1

31 ( 26 ) SNOWBIRD Anne Murray # 1
32 ( 24 ) STILL WATER (LOVE) The Four Tops # 11
33 ( 23 ) WILD WORLD Jimmy Cliff # 10
34 ( NEW ) IT’S WONDERFUL (TO BE LOVED BY YOU) Jimmy Ruffin # 34
35 ( 42 ) MACARTHUR PARK Glen Campbell # 35
36 ( 34 ) (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU Carpenters # 1
37 ( 44 ) I’M BETTER OFF WITHOUT YOU The Main Ingredient # 37
38 ( 45 ) ONLY LOVE CAN BREAK YOUR HEART Neil Young # 38
39 ( 54 ) WHOLE LOTTA LOVE C.C.S. # 39
40 ( 37 ) DON’T PLAY THAT SONG (YOU LIED) Aretha Franklin # 7

41 ( 31 ) PARANOID Black Sabbath # 27
42 ( 46 ) HELP ME FIND A WAY (TO SAY I LOVE YOU) Little Anthony & The Imperials # 42
43 ( 35 ) WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO MY SONG, MA Melanie # 5
44 ( 52 ) SAN BERNADINO Christie # 44
45 ( 40 ) YOU CAN GET IT IF YOU REALLY WANT Desmond Dekker # 14
46 ( 55 ) MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF (LIVE) Dionne Warwick # 46
47 ( 32 ) ON THE BEACH (IN THE SUMMERTIME) The 5th Dimension # 26
48 ( 50 ) WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO MY SONG, MA The New Seekers featuring Eve Graham # 5
49 ( 30 ) GYPSY WOMAN Brian Hyland # 30
50 ( 48 ) THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD The Beatles # 1

51 ( 49 ) CANDIDA Dawn featuring Tony Orlando # 8
52 ( 57 ) HUM ALONG AND DANCE The Temptations # 52
53 ( 36 ) OUR WORLD Blue MInk # 29
54 ( 56 ) LOSERS WEEPERS Etta James featuring Minnie Ripperton # 54
55 ( 58 ) FRESH AIR Quicksilver Messenger Service # 55
56 ( 29 ) WHEN YOU GET RIGHT DOWN TO IT The Delfonics # 29
57 ( 59 ) MELLOW DREAMIN’ Young-Holt Unlimited # 57
58 ( 43 ) SUGAR MAN Rodriguez # 3
59 ( 60 ) MR BOJANGLES Nitty Gritty Dirt Band # 59
60 ( NEW ) SOLDIER BLUE Buffy Saint-Marie # 60

61 ( 38 ) ALL THESE THINGS The Uniques # 38
62 ( 70 ) SHADY LADY Gene Pitney # 62
63 ( 51 ) JOANNE Michael Nesmith & The First National Band # 10
64 ( 53 ) LOLA The Kinks # 2
65 ( 73 ) I JUST DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF Gary Puckett # 65
66 ( NEW ) RIVER DEEP – MOUNTAIN HIGH The Supremes & The Four Tops # 66
67 ( NEW ) WHEN THE PARTY IS OVER Robert John # 67
68 ( 75 ) MONTEGO BAY Freddie Notes & The Rudies # 68
69 ( 41 ) WE GOTTA GET YOU A WOMAN Todd Rundgren (aka The Runt) # 35
70 ( NEW ) HITCHIN’ A RIDE Frank Ifield # 70

71 ( NEW ) DETROIT CITY Dean Martin # 71
72 ( 74 ) HEAVEN HELP US ALL Stevie Wonder # 72
73 ( NEW ) SIMPLY CALL IT LOVE Gene Chandler # 73
74 ( NEW ) I GOTTA LET YOU GO Martha Reeves & The Vandellas # 74
75 ( NEW ) CAROLINA IN MY MIND James Taylor # 75
76 ( NEW ) IT’S IMPOSSIBLE Perry Como # 76
77 ( NEW ) YOU DON’T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME Elvis Presley # 77
78 ( NEW ) I CRIED (THE BLUE RIGHT OUT OF MY EYES) Crystal Gayle # 78
79 ( NEW ) MIDNIGHT George Baker Selection # 79
80 ( NEW ) CHIRPY, CHIRPY, CHEEP, CHEEP Lally Stott # 80

13th October 1970

In my charts of 50 years ago this week it’s The Carpenters taking the top spot for the first time as the tropical Singapore lifestyle dominated, with the classic Bacharach/ David song Close To You, while in the UK charts Woodstock was hitting it big for Matthews Southern Comfort. Singapore and Malaysia tended to be more pop and less rock-oriented in it’s charts – as in Western charts compiled by Rediffusion Record Shop and published in Billboard magazine. As I was at school at the time, I also had less radio-listening time, so these retro-compiled charts in the 70’s include stuff I got to hear 5 Years Later, rather than at the time, such as Patches entering for Clarence Carter, or around about 1971/72, such as What Have They Done To My Song, Ma from The New Seekers, debuting this week, along with the whistling Roger Whittaker.

1 ( 2 ) (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU The Carpenters
2 ( 1 ) ME AND MY LIFE The Tremeloes
3 ( 4 ) SUNSHINE The Archies
4 ( 8 ) WOODSTOCK Matthews Southern Comfort
5 ( 3 ) EL CONDOR PASA Simon And Garfunkel
6 ( 5 ) YOU CAN GET IT IF YOU REALLY WANT Desmond Dekker
7 ( 10 ) RUBY TUESDAY Melanie
8 ( 6 ) AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH Diana Ross
9 ( 7 ) PARANOID Black Sabbath
10 ( 9 ) THE WONDER OF YOU Elvis Presley

11 ( 18 ) STILL WATERS (LOVE) The Four Tops
12 ( 11 ) LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate
13 ( NEW ) LOOK WHAT THEY’VE DONE TO MY SONG, MA The New Seekers
14 ( 20 ) GASOLINE ALLEY BRED The Hollies
15 ( 12 ) BAND OF GOLD Freda Payne
16 ( NEW ) PATCHES Clarence Carter
17 ( 15 ) MAKE IT WITH YOU Bread
18 ( NEW ) NEW WORLD IN THE MORNING Roger Whittaker
19 ( 14 ) BLACK NIGHT Deep Purple
20 ( 19 ) TEARS OF A CLOWN Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

17th October 1970

It’s a new chart-topper from Badfinger as No Matter What gives them a first number one, though they are still guaranteed at least one more as songwriters of the song taken from the album. A stomping fave of mine at the time, as was T.Rex’s Ride A White Swan which debuts at 4. Bolan-mania was completely not a thing in Singapore, but this track was a regular on Two-Way Family Favourites, the Radio 2 request show which was broadcast on Forces radio networks abroad for ex-pats – as was Home Lovin’ Man, which rang a bell for anyone missing the UK, I think. T.Rex were the huge popstars when we returned, with 2 UK chart-toppers to catch-up on, and BTW one of my fave acts of all-time. Ride A White Swan was a good-natured morphing from Donovan-wannabee elfchild to Glamrock pioneer, and love that guitar riff.

Curtis Mayfield gets that solo top 10 as fully 6 of the top 10 is comprised of tracks that I associate with 1971, the UK was invariably that far behind US hits and releases – not that I mind, there’s so much classic stuff in 1971 a boost to 1970’s charts does both good. Notably, several of my first-compiled top 10 charts further below have failed to reach the same heights in these half-century re-visits. In a quiet week for newies, Mary Hopkin’s Errol Brown/Tony Wilson song, Think About Your Children enters modestly given I love both Mary & Hot Chocolate. Andy Kim does Phil Spector on a decent cover of The Ronettes’ Be My Baby, a massive childhood fave, and in at 72 Jim Ed Brown debuts with a future-Val Doonican-hit, Morning, a quirky little country-flavoured minor gem. 

White Plains cover already-charted Bobby Sherman’s Julie Do Ya Love Me, Quo grab a 4th chart entry, and The Who enter with the latest Tommy track 18 months after Pinball Wizard, See Me Feel Me/Listening To You, which The New Seekers covered in 1973 in a medley with Pinball Wizard – while the Pinball bit is a bit lacking compared to The Who’s or Elton John’s fab versions, oddly the second half of the medley is way better than this mellow-ish Roger Daltrey vocal original, the under-rated Peter Doyle/Eve Graham vocals take it up a major level on the histrionic scale. yes, I AM saying The New Seekers did a gutsier version than The Who, check out the remastered video. Rock fans everywhere find a fainting couch quickly….!

1 ( 4 ) NO MATTER WHAT Badfinger # 1
2 ( 2 ) HOW CAN I BE SURE Dusty Springfield # 1
3 ( 1 ) STONEY END Barbra Streisand # 1
4 ( NEW ) RIDE A WHITE SWAN T.Rex # 4
5 ( 3 ) A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME Dusty Springfield & Burt Bacharach # 1
6 ( 5 ) I’LL BE THERE The Jackson 5 # 1
7 ( 6 ) I THINK I LOVE YOU The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 1
8 ( 8 ) HOME LOVIN’ MAN Andy Williams # 8
9 ( 11 ) MOVE ON UP Curtis Mayfield # 9
10 ( 10 ) MAMA’S PEARL The Jackson 5 # 10

11 ( 7 ) WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN Carpenters # 4
12 ( 9 ) IT’S ONLY MAKE BELIEVE Glen Campbell # 3
13 ( 18 ) GASOLINE ALLEY BRED The Hollies # 13
14 ( 17 ) RAINMAKER The Moods # 14
15 ( 12 ) WOODSTOCK Matthews Southern Comfort # 4
16 ( 13 ) AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH Diana Ross # 1
17 ( 14 ) SOMEBODY WANTS TO LOVE YOU The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 5
18 ( 20 ) COME ON GET HAPPY The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 18
19 ( 19 ) UNGENA ZA UMWELINGU (UNITE THE WORLD) The Temptations # 19
20 ( 15 ) LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate # 1

21 ( 16 ) CRESCENT NOON Carpenters # 10
22 ( 26 ) ONE LESS BELL TO ANSWER The 5th Dimension # 22
23 ( 29 ) IT DON’T MATTER TO ME Bread # 23
24 ( 22 ) INDIANA WANTS ME R. Dean Taylor # 3
25 ( 23 ) CRACKLIN’ ROSIE Neil Diamond # 3
26 ( 21 ) ME AND MY LIFE The Tremeloes # 9
27 ( 34 ) IT’S WONDERFUL (TO BE LOVED BY YOU) Jimmy Ruffin # 27
28 ( 28 ) NEW WORLD IN THE MORNING Roger Whittaker # 28
29 ( 35 ) MACARTHUR PARK Glen Campbell # 29
30 ( 24 ) SPOOKY Dusty Springfield # 15

31 ( 25 ) RUBY TUESDAY Melanie # 6
32 ( 27 ) TEARS OF A CLOWN Smokey Robinson & The Miracles # 4
33 ( 37 ) I’M BETTER OFF WITHOUT YOU The Main Ingredient # 33
34 ( 30 ) MAKE IT WITH YOU Bread # 1
35 ( 31 ) SNOWBIRD Anne Murray # 1
36 ( 44 ) SAN BERNADINO Christie # 36
37 ( 38 ) ONLY LOVE CAN BREAK YOUR HEART Neil Young # 37
38 ( 39 ) WHOLE LOTTA LOVE C.C.S. # 38
39 ( 46 ) MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF (LIVE) Dionne Warwick # 39
40 ( 42 ) HELP ME FIND A WAY (TO SAY I LOVE YOU) Little Anthony & The Imperials # 40

41 ( 36 ) (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU Carpenters # 1
42 ( 32 ) STILL WATER (LOVE) The Four Tops # 11
43 ( 33 ) WILD WORLD Jimmy Cliff # 10
44 ( 52 ) HUM ALONG AND DANCE The Temptations # 44
45 ( 55 ) FRESH AIR Quicksilver Messenger Service # 45
46 ( 40 ) DON’T PLAY THAT SONG (YOU LIED) Aretha Franklin # 7
47 ( 57 ) MELLOW DREAMIN’ Young-Holt Unlimited # 47
48 ( 59 ) MR BOJANGLES Nitty Gritty Dirt Band # 48
49 ( 54 ) LOSERS WEEPERS Etta James featuring Minnie Ripperton # 49
50 ( 43 ) WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO MY SONG, MA Melanie # 5

51 ( 41 ) PARANOID Black Sabbath # 27
52 ( 50 ) THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD The Beatles # 1
53 ( 45 ) YOU CAN GET IT IF YOU REALLY WANT Desmond Dekker # 14
54 ( 60 ) SOLDIER BLUE Buffy Saint-Marie # 54
55 ( 62 ) SHADY LADY Gene Pitney # 55
56 ( 48 ) WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO MY SONG, MA The New Seekers featuring Eve Graham # 5
57 ( 67 ) WHEN THE PARTY IS OVER Robert John # 57
58 ( 51 ) CANDIDA Dawn featuring Tony Orlando # 8
59 ( 65 ) I JUST DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF Gary Puckett # 59
60 ( 66 ) RIVER DEEP – MOUNTAIN HIGH The Supremes & The Four Tops # 60

61 ( 47 ) ON THE BEACH (IN THE SUMMERTIME) The 5th Dimension # 26
62 ( 68 ) MONTEGO BAY Freddie Notes & The Rudies # 62
63 ( 58 ) SUGAR MAN Rodriguez # 3
64 ( 71 ) DETROIT CITY Dean Martin # 64
65 ( 73 ) SIMPLY CALL IT LOVE Gene Chandler # 65
66 ( 70 ) HITCHIN’ A RIDE Frank Ifield # 66
67 ( 72 ) HEAVEN HELP US ALL Stevie Wonder # 67
68 ( NEW ) THINK ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN Mary Hopkin # 68
69 ( 74 ) I GOTTA LET YOU GO Martha Reeves & The Vandellas # 69
70 ( 75 ) CAROLINA IN MY MIND James Taylor # 70

71 ( NEW ) BE MY BABY Andy Kim # 71
72 ( NEW ) MORNING Jim Ed Brown # 72
73 ( 76 ) IT’S IMPOSSIBLE Perry Como # 73
74 ( 79 ) MIDNIGHT George Baker Selection # 74
75 ( 78 ) I CRIED (THE BLUE RIGHT OUT OF MY EYES) Crystal Gayle # 75
76 ( 77 ) YOU DON’T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME Elvis Presley # 76
77 ( 63 ) JOANNE Michael Nesmith & The First National Band # 10
78 ( NEW ) JULIE DO YA LOVE ME White Plains # 78
79 ( NEW ) SEE ME FEEL ME/ LISTENING TO YOU The Who # 79
80 ( NEW ) IN MY CHAIR Status Quo # 80

20th Oct
wot I liked that week then

Snowbird enters at 1, and 50 years later it still reminds of a family visit to Suicide Village, to visit family friends, it was going round my head all day long and for weeks after, I was obsessed with it. The other memory of Suicide Village is of a terrorist bombing of 2 British Primary School kids attracted to a booby-trap with a flag stuck amongst overgrown vegetation on a large open space adjacent the community and main road. The terrorists seem to be Malaysian activists no doubt inspired by the ongoing wars in Viet-Nam, Cambodia & around the area. One of the kids died, and it was a spiteful action given the RAF was already in the process of pulling out of Singapore. We kids were all warned off flag bombs from that day forward – they attended the same school as my brother, and the small kids were more at risk. I still ignored orders not to go into other areas to buy DC Comics, especially Legion Of Super-Heroes comics, my other main obsession. Yes, I would literally risk my life going on a bus to Katong and Siglap (in a minor way) to get super-hero comics. And now they feature in huge blockbuster movies. I feel justified…! 

Also new in, Jimmy Ruffin with his last great Motown-track, It’s Wonderful, though he would have reissued success again in 1970, and Bee Gees-assisted success in 1980, and War, Edwin Starr’s still-relevant histrionic cover of a Temptations track. Classic. 

1 ( NEW ) SNOWBIRD Anne Murray
2 ( 3 ) SUNSHINE The Archies
3 ( 1 ) (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU The Carpenters
4 ( 2 ) ME AND MY LIFE The Tremeloes
5 ( 4 ) WOODSTOCK Matthews Southern Comfort
6 ( 7 ) RUBY TUESDAY Melanie
7 ( 5 ) EL CONDOR PASA Simon And Garfunkel
8 ( 6 ) YOU CAN GET IT IF YOU REALLY WANT Desmond Dekker
9 ( 12 ) LOOK WHAT THEY’VE DONE TO MY SONG, MA The New Seekers
10 ( 16 ) PATCHES Clarence Carter

11 ( NEW ) IT’S WONDERFUL (TO BE LOVED BY YOU) Jimmy Ruffin
12 ( 10 ) THE WONDER OF YOU Elvis Presley
13 ( 13 ) GASOLINE ALLEY BRED The Hollies
14 ( 8 ) AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH Diana Ross
15 ( 11 ) STILL WATERS (LOVE) The Four Tops
16 ( 9 ) PARANOID Black Sabbath
17 ( 18 ) NEW WORLD IN THE MORNING Roger Whittaker
18 ( 14 ) BAND OF GOLD Freda Payne
19 ( 20 ) TEARS OF A CLOWN Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
20 ( NEW ) WAR Edwin Starr

24th October 1970

It’s a first week on top for T.Rex, as Ride A White Swan kick-starts Bolan-domination of the next 2 years. It’ll be more a case of “will any T.Rex track fail to top my chart, and if so which ones?” through to The Groover in 1973. Some will def top my chart, though. That keeps off The Supremes brilliant Stoned Love, entering at 2 and becoming their biggest since Love Child topped in 1968, and a track I first-heard and taped off Alan Freeman’s End-of-year rundown of all the top 3’s of 1971. Bread get a second top 20, Jimmy Ruffin keeps his run going, and ditto The 5th Dimension. 

Replacing themselves in the top 20, with the first of 2 new entries from both the new The Partridge Family Album and the first series of the TV show, I Can Hear Your Heartbeat is in at 19, thumpingly decent pop that should have been a single, while the quirky Bandala enters lower down – both heavily plugged on the show. The album is a bit schizophrenic, with useless muzak from session singers mixed in with great pop tracks they made when they discovered actor David Cassidy could sing, and was a huge teen idol draw. 

Other newies, a 1967 career-goodbye belated release from The Turtles as they opt to become Flo & Eddie (due to contractual obligations they couldnt use the band name) and assist the likes of T.Rex, such as backing vocals on Get It On; a Neil Diamond mid-60’s reissue which is still better than his actual new one – a pointless cover of He Ain’t Heavy..He’s My Brother; Engelbert crooning back with a Bee Gees gifted-song; Cat Stevens’ Father & Son, a huge 90’s hit for Boyzone, possibly why I’ve never rated as highly as most seem to do. 

1 ( 4 ) RIDE A WHITE SWAN T.Rex # 1
2 ( NEW ) STONED LOVE The Supremes # 2
3 ( 1 ) NO MATTER WHAT Badfinger # 1
4 ( 2 ) HOW CAN I BE SURE Dusty Springfield # 1
5 ( 3 ) STONEY END Barbra Streisand # 1
6 ( 8 ) HOME LOVIN’ MAN Andy Williams # 6
7 ( 5 ) A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME Dusty Springfield & Burt Bacharach # 1
8 ( 7 ) I THINK I LOVE YOU The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 1
9 ( 6 ) I’LL BE THERE The Jackson 5 # 1
10 ( 9 ) MOVE ON UP Curtis Mayfield # 9

11 ( 10 ) MAMA’S PEARL The Jackson 5 # 10
12 ( 14 ) RAINMAKER The Moods # 12
13 ( 11 ) WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN Carpenters # 4
14 ( 23 ) IT DON’T MATTER TO ME Bread # 14
15 ( 12 ) IT’S ONLY MAKE BELIEVE Glen Campbell # 3
16 ( 19 ) UNGENA ZA UMWELINGU (UNITE THE WORLD) The Temptations # 16
17 ( 27 ) IT’S WONDERFUL (TO BE LOVED BY YOU) Jimmy Ruffin # 17
18 ( 22 ) ONE LESS BELL TO ANSWER The 5th Dimension # 18
19 ( NEW ) I CAN FEEL YOUR HEARTBEAT The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 19
20 ( 15 ) WOODSTOCK Matthews Southern Comfort # 4

21 ( 16 ) AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH Diana Ross # 1
22 ( 18 ) COME ON GET HAPPY The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 18
23 ( 13 ) GASOLINE ALLEY BRED The Hollies # 13
24 ( 20 ) LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate # 1
25 ( 17 ) SOMEBODY WANTS TO LOVE YOU The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 5
26 ( 28 ) NEW WORLD IN THE MORNING Roger Whittaker # 26
27 ( 24 ) INDIANA WANTS ME R. Dean Taylor # 3
28 ( 36 ) SAN BERNADINO Christie # 28
29 ( 21 ) CRESCENT NOON Carpenters # 10
30 ( 33 ) I’M BETTER OFF WITHOUT YOU The Main Ingredient # 30

31 ( 25 ) CRACKLIN’ ROSIE Neil Diamond # 3
32 ( 26 ) ME AND MY LIFE The Tremeloes # 9
33 ( 40 ) HELP ME FIND A WAY (TO SAY I LOVE YOU) Little Anthony & The Imperials # 33
34 ( 37 ) ONLY LOVE CAN BREAK YOUR HEART Neil Young # 34
35 ( 38 ) WHOLE LOTTA LOVE C.C.S. # 35
36 ( 30 ) SPOOKY Dusty Springfield # 15
37 ( 29 ) MACARTHUR PARK Glen Campbell # 29
38 ( 34 ) MAKE IT WITH YOU Bread # 1
39 ( 35 ) SNOWBIRD Anne Murray # 1
40 ( 45 ) FRESH AIR Quicksilver Messenger Service # 40

41 ( 31 ) RUBY TUESDAY Melanie # 6
42 ( 32 ) TEARS OF A CLOWN Smokey Robinson & The Miracles # 4
43 ( 39 ) MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF (LIVE) Dionne Warwick # 39
44 ( 44 ) HUM ALONG AND DANCE The Temptations # 44
45 ( 41 ) (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU Carpenters # 1
46 ( 47 ) MELLOW DREAMIN’ Young-Holt Unlimited # 46
47 ( 48 ) MR BOJANGLES Nitty Gritty Dirt Band # 47
48 ( NEW ) BANDALA The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 48
49 ( 42 ) STILL WATER (LOVE) The Four Tops # 11
50 ( 43 ) WILD WORLD Jimmy Cliff # 10

51 ( 54 ) SOLDIER BLUE Buffy Saint-Marie # 51
52 ( 57 ) WHEN THE PARTY IS OVER Robert John # 52
53 ( 46 ) DON’T PLAY THAT SONG (YOU LIED) Aretha Franklin # 7
54 ( 59 ) I JUST DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF Gary Puckett # 54
55 ( 55 ) SHADY LADY Gene Pitney # 55
56 ( 52 ) THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD The Beatles # 1
57 ( 60 ) RIVER DEEP – MOUNTAIN HIGH The Supremes & The Four Tops # 57
58 ( 50 ) WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO MY SONG, MA Melanie # 5
59 ( 62 ) MONTEGO BAY Freddie Notes & The Rudies # 59
60 ( 64 ) DETROIT CITY Dean Martin # 60

61 ( 53 ) YOU CAN GET IT IF YOU REALLY WANT Desmond Dekker # 14
62 ( 65 ) SIMPLY CALL IT LOVE Gene Chandler # 62
63 ( 56 ) WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO MY SONG, MA The New Seekers featuring Eve Graham # 5
64 ( 68 ) THINK ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN Mary Hopkin # 64
65 ( 67 ) HEAVEN HELP US ALL Stevie Wonder # 65
66 ( 66 ) HITCHIN’ A RIDE Frank Ifield # 66
67 ( 70 ) CAROLINA IN MY MIND James Taylor # 67
68 ( 71 ) BE MY BABY Andy Kim # 68
69 ( 69 ) I GOTTA LET YOU GO Martha Reeves & The Vandellas # 69
70 ( 72 ) MORNING Jim Ed Brown # 70

71 ( 58 ) CANDIDA Dawn featuring Tony Orlando # 8
72 ( 74 ) MIDNIGHT George Baker Selection # 72
73 ( 75 ) I CRIED (THE BLUE RIGHT OUT OF MY EYES) Crystal Gayle # 73
74 ( NEW ) ME ABOUT YOU The Turtles # 74
75 ( NEW ) DO IT Neil Diamond # 75
76 ( 78 ) JULIE DO YA LOVE ME White Plains # 76
77 ( NEW ) SWEETHEART Engelbert Humperdinck # 77
78 ( 79 ) SEE ME FEEL ME/ LISTENING TO YOU The Who # 78
79 ( NEW ) FATHER AND SON Cat Stevens # 79
80 ( 80 ) IN MY CHAIR Status Quo # 80

27th Oct 1970
Wot I liked then
1 ( 1 ) SNOWBIRD Anne Murray
2 ( 2 ) SUNSHINE The Archies
3 ( 4 ) ME AND MY LIFE The Tremeloes
4 ( 3 ) (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU The Carpenters
5 ( 10 ) PATCHES Clarence Carter
6 ( 9 ) LOOK WHAT THEY’VE DONE TO MY SONG, MA The New Seekers
7 ( 11 ) IT’S WONDERFUL (TO BE LOVED BY YOU) Jimmy Ruffin
8 ( 5 ) WOODSTOCK Matthews Southern Comfort
9 ( 7 ) EL CONDOR PASA Simon And Garfunkel
10 ( 8 ) YOU CAN GET IT IF YOU REALLY WANT Desmond Dekker

11 ( 12 ) THE WONDER OF YOU Elvis Presley
12 ( 17 ) NEW WORLD IN THE MORNING Roger Whittaker
13 ( 14 ) AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH Diana Ross
14 ( 6 ) RUBY TUESDAY Melanie
15 ( NEW ) INDIAN RESERVATION Don Fardon
16 ( 16 ) PARANOID Black Sabbath
17 ( 13 ) GASOLINE ALLEY BRED The Hollies
18 ( 15 ) STILL WATERS (LOVE) The Four Tops
19 ( 18 ) BAND OF GOLD Freda Payne
20 ( 20 ) WAR Edwin Starr

31st October 1970

It’s a first week on top for The Supremes minus Diana Ross, levelling up with solo Di on 3 chart-toppers, this time with the wonderful Stoned Love, a track I got to hear at the end of 1971 for the first time. Joining in on the “early-comers” as far as my chart experiences of the times go, it’s new at 6 for flop Python Lee Jackson track In A Broken Dream with guest vocals from Rod The Mod. 2 years later, Rod Stewart was huge and this came out again as a UK top 3 single as I lived near Lincoln. It’s a fab rock ballad, love the guitar, and even love Rod’s way-off-key vocals, quite endearing. Rod’s first top 10, of many. 

Not far behind, and an album track on Abraxus that didn’t get a single outing until 1973, and a UK hit in late 1974 when I lived in Gloucester, the fab instrumental Sam Ba Ti, one of Santana’s greatest moments enters at 11, way higher than the official single a Black Magic Woman cover, which sneaks in at 79. At 17, and one I associate with 1971 Singapore, Lynn Anderson’s definitive cover of Joe South’s Rose Garden. So good it got sampled by Kon Kan and hit all over again as I Beg Your Pardon in 1988/9. 

Just watched the TV show “Soul Club” clip of Bandala, The Partridge Family featured song up into the 40, the plot based around a booking in a Black area in Detroit – 4 reasons to watch this: the song’s great; “cowbells” Shirley Jones anticipating SNL’s Blue Oyster Cult sketch; Richard Prior; and the fab Louis Gossett Jr recently starring in the TV series of Watchmen and still brilliant. 

In at 58, Chairmen Of The Board funk it up with Pay To The Piper, one of theirs I don’t actually know, and it’s rather good! Donnie Elbert debuts at 73, Can’t Get Over Losing You 2 years ahead of his fab Supremes cover which topped my charts in 1972, Where Did Our Love Go, and his fab cover of The Four Tops’ Can’t Help Myself hit 2, both better than the originals and both groups together on River Deep up to 50. Aretha helps The Dixie Flyers to a 3rd chart credit as they back her on her good cover of Elton’s Border Song, Jimi Hendrix’ posthumous Voodoo Chile sneaks in – I’m aware of it, have heard it over the years since 1975, but never been a fave, so maybe more plays will do the trick. And Pickettywitch just manage a mention. 

1 ( 2 ) STONED LOVE The Supremes # 1
2 ( 1 ) RIDE A WHITE SWAN T.Rex # 1
3 ( 3 ) NO MATTER WHAT Badfinger # 1
4 ( 6 ) HOME LOVIN’ MAN Andy Williams # 4
5 ( 4 ) HOW CAN I BE SURE Dusty Springfield # 1
6 ( NEW ) IN A BROKEN DREAM Python Lee Jackson featuring Rod Stewart # 6
7 ( 7 ) A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME Dusty Springfield & Burt Bacharach # 1
8 ( 5 ) STONEY END Barbra Streisand # 1
9 ( 8 ) I THINK I LOVE YOU The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 1
10 ( 9 ) I’LL BE THERE The Jackson 5 # 1

11 ( NEW ) SAMBA PA TI Santana # 11
12 ( 10 ) MOVE ON UP Curtis Mayfield # 9
13 ( 11 ) MAMA’S PEARL The Jackson 5 # 10
14 ( 13 ) WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN Carpenters # 4
15 ( 17 ) IT’S WONDERFUL (TO BE LOVED BY YOU) Jimmy Ruffin # 15
16 ( 19 ) I CAN FEEL YOUR HEARTBEAT The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 16
17 ( NEW ) ROSE GARDEN Lynn Anderson # 17
18 ( 12 ) RAINMAKER The Moods # 12
19 ( 14 ) IT DON’T MATTER TO ME Bread # 14
20 ( 15 ) IT’S ONLY MAKE BELIEVE Glen Campbell # 3

21 ( 18 ) ONE LESS BELL TO ANSWER The 5th Dimension # 18
22 ( 16 ) UNGENA ZA UMWELINGU (UNITE THE WORLD) The Temptations # 16
23 ( 21 ) AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH Diana Ross # 1
24 ( 20 ) WOODSTOCK Matthews Southern Comfort # 4
25 ( 22 ) COME ON GET HAPPY The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 18
26 ( 23 ) GASOLINE ALLEY BRED The Hollies # 13
27 ( 24 ) LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate # 1
28 ( 28 ) SAN BERNADINO Christie # 28
29 ( 35 ) WHOLE LOTTA LOVE C.C.S. # 29
30 ( 33 ) HELP ME FIND A WAY (TO SAY I LOVE YOU) Little Anthony & The Imperials # 30

31 ( 27 ) INDIANA WANTS ME R. Dean Taylor # 3
32 ( 25 ) SOMEBODY WANTS TO LOVE YOU The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 5
33 ( 34 ) ONLY LOVE CAN BREAK YOUR HEART Neil Young # 33
34 ( 26 ) NEW WORLD IN THE MORNING Roger Whittaker # 26
35 ( 31 ) CRACKLIN’ ROSIE Neil Diamond # 3
36 ( 48 ) BANDALA The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 36
37 ( 32 ) ME AND MY LIFE The Tremeloes # 9
38 ( 54 ) I JUST DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF Gary Puckett # 38
39 ( 52 ) WHEN THE PARTY IS OVER Robert John # 39
40 ( 40 ) FRESH AIR Quicksilver Messenger Service # 40

41 ( 38 ) MAKE IT WITH YOU Bread # 1
42 ( 39 ) SNOWBIRD Anne Murray # 1
43 ( 29 ) CRESCENT NOON Carpenters # 10
44 ( 30 ) I’M BETTER OFF WITHOUT YOU The Main Ingredient # 30
45 ( 51 ) SOLDIER BLUE Buffy Saint-Marie # 45
46 ( 42 ) TEARS OF A CLOWN Smokey Robinson & The Miracles # 4
47 ( 41 ) RUBY TUESDAY Melanie # 6
48 ( 45 ) (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU Carpenters # 1
49 ( 36 ) SPOOKY Dusty Springfield # 15
50 ( 57 ) RIVER DEEP – MOUNTAIN HIGH The Supremes & The Four Tops # 50

51 ( 62 ) SIMPLY CALL IT LOVE Gene Chandler # 51
52 ( 37 ) MACARTHUR PARK Glen Campbell # 29
53 ( 44 ) HUM ALONG AND DANCE The Temptations # 44
54 ( 64 ) THINK ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN Mary Hopkin # 54
55 ( 49 ) STILL WATER (LOVE) The Four Tops # 11
56 ( 50 ) WILD WORLD Jimmy Cliff # 10
57 ( 67 ) CAROLINA IN MY MIND James Taylor # 57
58 ( NEW ) PAY TO THE PIPER Chairmen Of The Board # 58
59 ( 65 ) HEAVEN HELP US ALL Stevie Wonder # 59
60 ( 60 ) DETROIT CITY Dean Martin # 60

61 ( 56 ) THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD The Beatles # 1
62 ( 68 ) BE MY BABY Andy Kim # 62
63 ( 46 ) MELLOW DREAMIN’ Young-Holt Unlimited # 46
64 ( 47 ) MR BOJANGLES Nitty Gritty Dirt Band # 47
65 ( 72 ) MIDNIGHT George Baker Selection # 65
66 ( 74 ) ME ABOUT YOU The Turtles # 66
67 ( 59 ) MONTEGO BAY Freddie Notes & The Rudies # 59
68 ( 70 ) MORNING Jim Ed Brown # 68
69 ( 75 ) DO IT Neil Diamond # 69
70 ( 53 ) DON’T PLAY THAT SONG (YOU LIED) Aretha Franklin # 7

71 ( 43 ) MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF (LIVE) Dionne Warwick # 39
72 ( 73 ) I’VE CRIED (THE BLUE RIGHT OUT OF MY EYES) Crystal Gayle # 72
73 ( NEW ) CAN’T GET OVER LOSING YOU Donnie Elbert # 73
74 ( 58 ) WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO MY SONG, MA Melanie # 5
75 ( NEW ) BORDER SONG (HOLY MOSES) Aretha Franklin with The Dixie Flyers # 75
76 ( 55 ) SHADY LADY Gene Pitney # 55
77 ( 79 ) FATHER AND SON Cat Stevens # 77
78 ( NEW ) VOODOO CHILE The Jimi Hendrix Experience # 78
79 ( NEW ) BLACK MAGIC WOMAN Santana # 79
80 ( NEW ) BABY I WON’T LET YOU DOWN Pickettywitch # 80

Retro Then
1 ( 1 ) SNOWBIRD Anne Murray
2 ( 3 ) ME AND MY LIFE The Tremeloes
3 ( 2 ) SUNSHINE The Archies
4 ( 4 ) (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU The Carpenters
5 ( 7 ) IT’S WONDERFUL (TO BE LOVED BY YOU) Jimmy Ruffin
6 ( NEW ) SAN BERNADINO Christie
7 ( 5 ) PATCHES Clarence Carter
8 ( 6 ) LOOK WHAT THEY’VE DONE TO MY SONG, MA The New Seekers
9 ( 9 ) EL CONDOR PASA Simon And Garfunkel
10 ( 10 ) YOU CAN GET IT IF YOU REALLY WANT Desmond Dekker

11 ( 15 ) INDIAN RESERVATION Don Fardon
12 ( 8 ) WOODSTOCK Matthews Southern Comfort
13 ( 12 ) NEW WORLD IN THE MORNING Roger Whittaker
14 ( 14 ) RUBY TUESDAY Melanie
15 ( 13 ) AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH Diana Ross
16 ( NEW ) JULIE DO YA LOVE ME White Plains
17 ( 16 ) PARANOID Black Sabbath
18 ( NEW ) FIRE AND RAIN James Taylor
19 ( NEW ) THINK ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN Mary Hopkin
20 ( NEW ) VOODOO CHILE The Jimi Hendrix Experience

My Retro September 1970 Charts

Our kitchen 1970 Singapore

5th September 1970

It’s 2 weeks on top for The Partridge Family as the B side shoots up to 20, giving David Cassidy two top 20’s as a song he will take to the UK number one enters at 6, a gorgeous version by Dusty Springfield which I love almost as much as the Cassidy version, and both versions more than the Young Rascals version which peaked at 5 in my 1967 retro charts. It’s a flawless song. Highest new entry is the biggest one yet by The Jackson 5, I’ll Be There at 2, their first ballad, and like I Think I Love You a song I associate hugely with tropical Singapore – only this one co-incidentally also popped up while I was wandering round Sentosa island on my only return visit in 1995. They must have played it just for me!

Dusty also returns with a B side, a cover of Classics IV’s Spooky which peaked at 16 in the ’67 retro charts, Dusty currently twice that at 32. Todd Rundgren is back, this time with a solo track after his band version of Hello It’s Me, We Gotta Get You A Woman is fab and in at 53, as The Chi-Lites enter with their original version of the soundalike hit version entering the US charts by Otis Leaville – his is good, but it’s the same label as Eugene Record’s, so obviously he had a hand in it, but the production isn’t as polished and the vocals not as good. Horace Faith debuts with a reggae version of the 1969 retro hit for Sonny Charles & The Checkmates’ Black Pearl, while CCR debut with a new album track version of Marvin Gaye’s chart-topping Grapevine 6 years ahead of it’s UK single release – it made my top 30 in 1976. 

1 ( 1 ) I THINK I LOVE YOU The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 1
2 ( NEW ) I’LL BE THERE The Jackson 5 # 2
3 ( 3 ) IT’S ONLY MAKE BELIEVE Glen Campbell # 3
4 ( 2 ) AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH Diana Ross # 1
5 ( 8 ) WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN Carpenters # 5
6 ( NEW ) HOW CAN I BE SURE Dusty Springfield # 6
7 ( 4 ) WOODSTOCK Matthews Southern Comfort # 4
8 ( 6 ) LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate # 1
9 ( 5 ) CRACKLIN’ ROSIE Neil Diamond # 3
10 ( 9 ) INDIANA WANTS ME R. Dean Taylor # 3

11 ( 10 ) RUBY TUESDAY Melanie # 6
12 ( 21 ) ME AND MY LIFE The Tremeloes # 12
13 ( 11 ) WILD WORLD Jimmy Cliff # 10
14 ( 7 ) DON’T PLAY THAT SONG (YOU LIED) Aretha Franklin # 7
15 ( 13 ) STILL WATER (LOVE) The Four Tops # 11
16 ( 12 ) WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO MY SONG, MA Melanie # 5
17 ( 15 ) TEARS OF A CLOWN Smokey Robinson & The Miracles # 4
18 ( 16 ) SNOWBIRD Anne Murray # 1
19 ( 17 ) MAKE IT WITH YOU Bread # 1
20 ( 39 ) SOMEBODY WANTS TO LOVE YOU The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 20

21 ( 14 ) YOU CAN GET IT IF YOU REALLY WANT Desmond Dekker # 14
22 ( 43 ) ALONE AGAIN OR Love # 22
23 ( 18 ) SUGAR MAN Rodriguez # 3
24 ( 24 ) (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU Carpenters # 1
25 ( 19 ) JOANNE Michael Nesmith & The First National Band # 10
26 ( 35 ) JIMMY MACK Martha & The Vandellas # 26
27 ( 36 ) CRESCENT NOON The Carpenters # 27
28 ( 34 ) COMES THE SUN The Archies # 28
29 ( 22 ) WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO MY SONG, MA The New Seekers featuring Eve Graham # 5
30 ( 25 ) CANDIDA Dawn featuring Tony Orlando # 8

31 ( 20 ) PATCHES Clarence Carter # 20
32 ( NEW ) SPOOKY Dusty Springfield # 32
33 ( 23 ) NICKEL SONG Melanie # 20
34 ( 26 ) YOU CAN GET IT IF YOU REALLY WANT Jimmy Cliff # 26
35 ( 27 ) IT’S A SHAME The (Detroit) Spinners # 4
36 ( 40 ) PARANOID Black Sabbath # 36
37 ( 38 ) ON THE BEACH (IN THE SUMMERTIME) The 5th Dimension # 37
38 ( 33 ) THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD The Beatles # 1
39 ( 31 ) LOLA The Kinks # 2
40 ( 52 ) OUR WORLD Blue Mink # 40

41 ( 32 ) RAINBOW Marmalade # 5
42 ( 29 ) I (WHO HAVE NOTHING) Tom Jones # 29
43 ( 28 ) CALICO GIRLFRIEND Michael Nesmith & The First National Band # 28
44 ( 37 ) EVERYTHING’S TUESDAY Chairmen Of The Board # 37
45 ( 47 ) GYPSY WOMAN Brian Hyland # 45
46 ( 48 ) IT’S SO EASY Andy Williams # 46
47 ( 57 ) SPANISH EYES Al Martino # 47
48 ( 30 ) GREY SEAL Elton John # 30
49 ( 59 ) WHEN YOU GET RIGHT DOWN TO IT The Delfonics # 49
50 ( 53 ) BLACK NIGHT Deep Purple # 50

51 ( 45 ) LADY D’ARBANVILLE Cat Stevens # 3
52 ( 44 ) DO YOU SEE MY LOVE (FOR YOU GROWING) Junior Walker & The All Stars # 10
53 ( NEW ) WE GOTTA GET YOU A WOMAN Todd Rundgren # 53
54 ( 42 ) STAY AWAY FROM ME (I LOVE YOU TOO MUCH) Major Lance # 34
55 ( 41 ) STAY JUST A LITTLE BIT LONGER Yvonne Fair # 30
56 ( 46 ) LIGHTS OF TUCSON Jim Campbell # 17
57 ( 49 ) SOLITARY MAN Neil Diamond # 9
58 ( 54 ) EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL Ray Stevens # 1
59 ( 67 ) RAINMAKER The Moods # 59
60 ( 60 ) (BABY) TURN ON TO ME The Impressions featuring Curtis Mayfield # 60

61 ( 56 ) YOUR SONG Elton John # 1
62 ( 64 ) EXPRESS YOURSELF Charles Wright & Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band # 62
63 ( 55 ) SAVE THE COUNTRY The 5th Dimension # 1
64 ( 66 ) DEEPER AND DEEPER Freda Payne # 64
65 ( 62 ) BORDER SONG Elton John # 1
66 ( 63 ) BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER Simon & Garfunkel # 1
67 ( 58 ) KINGSTON TOWN Lord Creator # 20
68 ( 68 ) WE CAN MAKE MUSIC Tommy Roe # 68
69 ( 69 ) ALL THESE THINGS The Uniques # 69
70 ( NEW ) LOVE UPRISING The Chi-Lites # 70

71 ( 71 ) LOVIN’ YOU BABY White Plains # 71
72 ( 75 ) I AIN’T GOT TIME ANYMORE Cliff Richard # 72
73 ( 73 ) CHERRY CHERRY Jonathan King # 73
74 ( NEW ) BLACK PEARL Horace Faith # 74
75 ( NEW ) I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE Creedence Clearwater Revival # 75

5th Sept
Wot I Liked Then

1 ( 1 ) YOU CAN GET IT IF YOU REALLY WANT Desmond Dekker
2 ( 2 ) LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate
3 ( 3 ) MAKE IT WITH YOU Bread
4 ( 4 ) THE WONDER OF YOU Elvis Presley
5 ( 15 ) WHICH WAY YOU GOING BILLY? The Poppy Family
6 ( 8 ) RAINBOW Marmalade
7 ( 17 ) MONTEGO BAY Bobby Bloom
8 ( 7 ) CECILIA Simon And Garfunkel
9 ( 10 ) GIVE ME JUST A LITTLE MORE TIME Chairmen Of The Board
10 ( 9 ) LOVE VIBRATIONS The Archies

11 ( 11 ) TEARS OF A CLOWN Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
12 ( NEW ) WILD WORLD Jimmy Cliff
13 ( 14 ) IT’S SO EASY Andy Williams
14 ( 12 ) NEANDERTHAL MAN Hotlegs
15 ( NEW ) BAND OF GOLD Freda Payne
16 ( 13 ) LOLA The Kinks
17 ( 16 ) THE LOVE YOU SAVE The Jackson 5
18 ( 20 ) I’LL SAY FOREVER MY LOVE Jimmy Ruffin
19 ( 18 ) I (WHO HAVE NOTHING) Tom Jones
20 ( NEW ) MAMA TOLD ME NOT TO COME Three Dog Night

12th September 1970

It’s a first week on top for The Jackson 5, as we get a first real look at the wonder that is young Michael Jackson’s flawless ability to sing and convey emotion on I’ll Be There – not that his brothers do a bad job, they don’t and Jermaine does a great job too, but Michael is in a league of his own. For useful comparison try the Mariah Carey version (amazing vocal range, zero ability to emote, it’s all about showing off not feeling). If you want a lesson in how to sing, look no further than Dusty Springfield, she LIVED the words and music and arranged them for maximum effect, still the greatest British female vocalist of all-time for me, it’s not even close. Co-incidentally Dusty is up to 3 with her brilliant version of How Can I Be Sure, 24 with her version of Spooky, and in at 4 with her version of Burt Bacharach’s A House Is Not A Home….

…which you won’t have ever heard, on the grounds that it’s never been released, but aired this week 50 years ago on a US TV special. There was a previous TV only version Dusty did in 1968, but in a lesson that she never gave the same performance twice, check this one out, which I first caught in Centre Stage, a Gran Canaria bar which specialises in musicals clips and gay icons – it was a “battle” between clips of Cilla & Dusty, and had this clip, and I’ve pretty much seen it once or twice a year in there for the last 17 years, and never fails to move me. I’m going to gush now, and say this is the greatest unreleased performance from TV, and the definitive version of this great song, including the Glee version which was fab, and the marvellous Dionne Warwick.

Other new stuff includes some Worldwide hits in the absence of other significant big US/UK chart entries, though we have The Hollies at 47 with the fab Gasoline Alley Bred a Greenaway/Cook/Macauley song to join Blue Mink’s songwriting credentials, David Gates gives Bread a second great ballad, It Don’t Matter To Me at 49, and not a hit but still fab and new out, Etta James belting it out on Losers Weepers at 62, almost a decade since her classic At Last, and backed by singers including Minnie Ripperton who I’ve credited just because she deserves it and for no other reason. A hit in Europe and Australasia, and inexplicably not in the UK, Wight Is Wight for Sandie Shaw enters at 67, Neil Young’s After The Goldrush album is out and the lead track debuts 4 years ahead of the wonderful Prelude cover, Young-Holt Unlimited grab another tasty Easy Listening instrumental, Tyrone Davis enters with another slab of soul, and finally top 10 in New Zealand Suzanne (no idea either) enters with her version of Yesterday When I Was Young, the English language version of a Charles Aznavour French hit song of the early 60’s that had been a US country hit for Roy Clark. And because I like circular commentary, Dusty recorded it in 1972, probably her last significant single release until Disco Dusty in 1979, and Baby Blue. 

1 ( 2 ) I’LL BE THERE The Jackson 5 # 1
2 ( 1 ) I THINK I LOVE YOU The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 1
3 ( 6 ) HOW CAN I BE SURE Dusty Springfield # 3
4 ( NEW ) A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME Dusty Springfield & Burt Bacharach # 4
5 ( 5 ) WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN Carpenters # 5
6 ( 3 ) IT’S ONLY MAKE BELIEVE Glen Campbell # 3
7 ( 4 ) AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH Diana Ross # 1
8 ( 8 ) LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate # 1
9 ( 12 ) ME AND MY LIFE The Tremeloes # 9
10 ( 7 ) WOODSTOCK Matthews Southern Comfort # 4

11 ( 9 ) CRACKLIN’ ROSIE Neil Diamond # 3
12 ( 20 ) SOMEBODY WANTS TO LOVE YOU The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 12
13 ( 10 ) INDIANA WANTS ME R. Dean Taylor # 3
14 ( 13 ) WILD WORLD Jimmy Cliff # 10
15 ( 11 ) RUBY TUESDAY Melanie # 6
16 ( 15 ) STILL WATER (LOVE) The Four Tops # 11
17 ( 22 ) ALONE AGAIN OR Love # 17
18 ( 14 ) DON’T PLAY THAT SONG (YOU LIED) Aretha Franklin # 7
19 ( 16 ) WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO MY SONG, MA Melanie # 5
20 ( 17 ) TEARS OF A CLOWN Smokey Robinson & The Miracles # 4

21 ( 18 ) SNOWBIRD Anne Murray # 1
22 ( 19 ) MAKE IT WITH YOU Bread # 1
23 ( 26 ) JIMMY MACK Martha & The Vandellas # 23
24 ( 32 ) SPOOKY Dusty Springfield # 24
25 ( 27 ) CRESCENT NOON The Carpenters # 25
26 ( 24 ) (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU Carpenters # 1
27 ( 21 ) YOU CAN GET IT IF YOU REALLY WANT Desmond Dekker # 14
28 ( 28 ) COMES THE SUN The Archies # 28
29 ( 23 ) SUGAR MAN Rodriguez # 3
30 ( 36 ) PARANOID Black Sabbath # 30

31 ( 25 ) JOANNE Michael Nesmith & The First National Band # 10
32 ( 29 ) WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO MY SONG, MA The New Seekers featuring Eve Graham # 5
33 ( 30 ) CANDIDA Dawn featuring Tony Orlando # 8
34 ( 40 ) OUR WORLD Blue MInk # 34
35 ( 37 ) ON THE BEACH (IN THE SUMMERTIME) The 5th Dimension # 35
36 ( 31 ) PATCHES Clarence Carter # 20
37 ( 47 ) SPANISH EYES Al Martino # 37
38 ( 33 ) NICKEL SONG Melanie # 20
39 ( 34 ) YOU CAN GET IT IF YOU REALLY WANT Jimmy Cliff # 26
40 ( 35 ) IT’S A SHAME The (Detroit) Spinners # 4

41 ( 39 ) LOLA The Kinks # 2
42 ( 38 ) THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD The Beatles # 1
43 ( 46 ) IT’S SO EASY Andy Williams # 43
44 ( 45 ) GYPSY WOMAN Brian Hyland # 44
45 ( 49 ) WHEN YOU GET RIGHT DOWN TO IT The Delfonics # 45
46 ( 53 ) WE GOTTA GET YOU A WOMAN Todd Rundgren # 46
47 ( NEW ) GASOLINE ALLEY BRED The Hollies # 47
48 ( 41 ) RAINBOW Marmalade # 5
49 ( NEW ) IT DON’T MATTER TO ME Bread # 49
50 ( 59 ) RAINMAKER The Moods # 50

51 ( 42 ) I (WHO HAVE NOTHING) Tom Jones # 29
52 ( 64 ) DEEPER AND DEEPER Freda Payne # 52
53 ( 51 ) LADY D’ARBANVILLE Cat Stevens # 3
54 ( 52 ) DO YOU SEE MY LOVE (FOR YOU GROWING) Junior Walker & The All Stars # 10
55 ( 43 ) CALICO GIRLFRIEND Michael Nesmith & The First National Band # 28
56 ( 70 ) LOVE UPRISING The Chi-Lites # 56
57 ( 69 ) ALL THESE THINGS The Uniques # 57
58 ( 44 ) EVERYTHING’S TUESDAY Chairmen Of The Board # 37
59 ( 74 ) BLACK PEARL Horace Faith # 59
60 ( 62 ) EXPRESS YOURSELF Charles Wright & Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band # 60

61 ( 58 ) EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL Ray Stevens # 1
62 ( NEW ) LOSERS WEEPERS Etta James featuring Minnie Ripperton # 62
63 ( 71 ) LOVIN’ YOU BABY White Plains # 63
64 ( 72 ) I AIN’T GOT TIME ANYMORE Cliff Richard # 64
65 ( 61 ) YOUR SONG Elton John # 1
66 ( 75 ) I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE Creedence Clearwater Revival # 66
67 ( NEW ) WIGHT IS WIGHT Sandie Shaw # 67
68 ( 68 ) WE CAN MAKE MUSIC Tommy Roe # 68
69 ( 66 ) BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER Simon & Garfunkel # 1
70 ( 65 ) BORDER SONG Elton John # 1

71 ( 63 ) SAVE THE COUNTRY The 5th Dimension # 1
72 ( NEW ) AFTER THE GOLDRUSH Neil Young # 72
73 ( NEW ) MELLOW DREAMIN’ Young-Holt Unlimited # 73
74 ( NEW ) YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS YOUNG Suzanne # 74
75 ( NEW ) LET ME BACK IN Tyrone Davis # 75

RETRO THEN
1 ( NEW ) ME AND MY LIFE The Tremeloes
2 ( 1 ) YOU CAN GET IT IF YOU REALLY WANT Desmond Dekker
3 ( 2 ) LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate
4 ( 4 ) THE WONDER OF YOU Elvis Presley
5 ( 5 ) WHICH WAY YOU GOING BILLY? The Poppy Family
6 ( 12 ) WILD WORLD Jimmy Cliff
7 ( 3 ) MAKE IT WITH YOU Bread
8 ( NEW ) AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH Diana Ross
9 ( 10 ) LOVE VIBRATIONS The Archies
10 ( 8 ) CECILIA Simon And Garfunkel

11 ( 6 ) RAINBOW Marmalade
12 ( 15 ) BAND OF GOLD Freda Payne
13 ( 11 ) TEARS OF A CLOWN Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
14 ( 9 ) GIVE ME JUST A LITTLE MORE TIME Chairmen Of The Board
15 ( NEW ) PARANOID Black Sabbath
16 ( 7 ) MONTEGO BAY Bobby Bloom
17 ( 14 ) NEANDERTHAL MAN Hotlegs
18 ( 16 ) LOLA The Kinks
19 ( 13 ) IT’S SO EASY Andy Williams
20 ( NEW ) BLACK NIGHT Deep Purple

19th September 1970

It’s Dusty presiding at 1 & 2 and also 17 in a chart where I genuinely expected all of the records from 1 to 14 to top my chart at some stage, had they all not been competing with each other, given so many of them topped my original charts or have hit the top in the years since. Except Dusty was severely under-appreciated and keeps herself off the top with a bit of bad timing, as the first-ever unavailable track, but a live performance of note of a Bacharach song gives Dusty a 3rd Retro chart-topper – and had I compiled them starting in 1963 there would have been at least another 3. Maybe I’ll do them for the 60th anniversary…

Bacharach has of course topped as songwriter and/or producer already – in 1969 with Bobbie Gentry, 1970 with Carpenters, and again oodles from 1963 to 1966, from whence the original version of Make It Easy On Yourself came, in the cover by The Walker Brothers. Dionne warwick was robbed of the original version as she was a session singer testing the song for other acts (until Bacharach realised she was so good she should be the primary artist for his material) – and in 1970 she cut a live version of her original demo, which charts at 58. Likewise, as primary fanboy songwriter Jimmy Webb gifted most of his best stuff to Glen Campbell you’d have thought MacArthur Park was a no-brainer for Glen’s fabulous singing range – but Richard Harris got it. Belatedly on his latest album dropping last week, it now charts as an album track.

Talking of Glen, The Partridge Family make a Glen Campbell sandwich of It’s Only Make Believe as it goes back up, Somebody Wants To Love You becomes a 2nd top 10 for the TV band, and I Think I Love You is forced down by the Dusty dominance, including Dusty’s version of How Can I Be Sure which I guarantee will top my 1972 retro charts, as it did in my current charts when David Cassidy died a few years ago. The Carpenters also make it 2 in the 20 as album track Crescent Moon continues to impress. 

Highest new entry at 21 is future single, current album track from The Jackson 5’s third (!!) album, Mama’s Pearl which I loved in mid-1971 when I caught an American top 10 rundown on a radio station in Singapore, they had two tracks featured, I loved them both. In at 30 is another album track, and future single in edited form, from Curtis Mayfield dropping his debut solo album away from The Impressions, which contains a 9-minute version of his classic Move On Up. I’ve had to chart that version on the basis that the single edit didn’t exist for a few months!

Todd Rundgren, Bread and The Delfonics all return to the top 40 with new tracks, as Gamble & Huff outdo themselves with another new entry, for classic doo-wop act Little Anthony & The Imperials – a very Delfonics-sounding production on Help me Find A Way – and a second chart entry for the band as Don’t Tie Me Down hit 24 in 1967, though they would have charted years earlier with Goin’ Out Of My Head in 1964, and also topped my chart for weeks in the 50’s with Tears On My Pillow, which I’ve always loved. The Temptations have a new social-conscience funk single out, and both sides are fab, albeit little-known, and classy. Nitty Gritty Dirt band return with a country cover of Mr Bojangles, already a chart hit here for Jerry Jeff Walker in 1969, and their third entry with the future US smash hit. 

Buddy Miles gets a second, James Brown a 4th, Quiksilver Messenger Service a debut, and finally it’s also a debut for New York band Mardi Gras (they drop the “The” in 1972 when they get a UK hit with the best cover of Too Busy Thinking Bout My Baby) who get a surprise French chart-topper this week in 1970 with Girl, I’ve Got News For You, which I didn’t know, but recognised the band name, who seem to have been wiped from history, though I recall them on Top Of The Pops in 1972 unless I’m having delusions. The follow-up was released in 1970 but took 2 years to hit the UK, so expect it later in the year cos I love it. 

1 ( 4 ) A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME Dusty Springfield & Burt Bacharach # 1
2 ( 3 ) HOW CAN I BE SURE Dusty Springfield # 2
3 ( 1 ) I’LL BE THERE The Jackson 5 # 1
4 ( 2 ) I THINK I LOVE YOU The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 1
5 ( 6 ) IT’S ONLY MAKE BELIEVE Glen Campbell # 3
6 ( 12 ) SOMEBODY WANTS TO LOVE YOU The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 6
7 ( 7 ) AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH Diana Ross # 1
8 ( 5 ) WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN Carpenters # 5
9 ( 9 ) ME AND MY LIFE The Tremeloes # 9
10 ( 8 ) LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate # 1

11 ( 10 ) WOODSTOCK Matthews Southern Comfort # 4
12 ( 11 ) CRACKLIN’ ROSIE Neil Diamond # 3
13 ( 17 ) ALONE AGAIN OR Love # 13
14 ( 13 ) INDIANA WANTS ME R. Dean Taylor # 3
15 ( 15 ) RUBY TUESDAY Melanie # 6
16 ( 14 ) WILD WORLD Jimmy Cliff # 10
17 ( 24 ) SPOOKY Dusty Springfield # 17
18 ( 16 ) STILL WATER (LOVE) The Four Tops # 11
19 ( 18 ) DON’T PLAY THAT SONG (YOU LIED) Aretha Franklin # 7
20 ( 25 ) CRESCENT NOON The Carpenters # 20

21 ( NEW ) MAMA’S PEARL The Jackson 5 # 21
22 ( 22 ) MAKE IT WITH YOU Bread # 1
23 ( 21 ) SNOWBIRD Anne Murray # 1
24 ( 20 ) TEARS OF A CLOWN Smokey Robinson & The Miracles # 4
25 ( 19 ) WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO MY SONG, MA Melanie # 5
26 ( 35 ) ON THE BEACH (IN THE SUMMERTIME) The 5th Dimension # 26
27 ( 30 ) PARANOID Black Sabbath # 27
28 ( 47 ) GASOLINE ALLEY BRED The Hollies # 28
29 ( 34 ) OUR WORLD Blue MInk # 29
30 ( NEW ) MOVE ON UP Curtis Mayfield # 30

31 ( 26 ) (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU Carpenters # 1
32 ( 23 ) JIMMY MACK Martha & The Vandellas # 23
33 ( 27 ) YOU CAN GET IT IF YOU REALLY WANT Desmond Dekker # 14
34 ( 29 ) SUGAR MAN Rodriguez # 3
35 ( 46 ) WE GOTTA GET YOU A WOMAN Todd Rundgren (aka The Runt) # 35
36 ( 37 ) SPANISH EYES Al Martino # 36
37 ( 49 ) IT DON’T MATTER TO ME Bread # 37
38 ( 31 ) JOANNE Michael Nesmith & The First National Band # 10
39 ( 50 ) RAINMAKER The Moods # 39
40 ( 45 ) WHEN YOU GET RIGHT DOWN TO IT The Delfonics # 40

41 ( 33 ) CANDIDA Dawn featuring Tony Orlando # 8
42 ( 32 ) WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO MY SONG, MA The New Seekers featuring Eve Graham # 5
43 ( 28 ) COMES THE SUN The Archies # 28
44 ( 39 ) YOU CAN GET IT IF YOU REALLY WANT Jimmy Cliff # 26
45 ( 42 ) THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD The Beatles # 1
46 ( 41 ) LOLA The Kinks # 2
47 ( 38 ) NICKEL SONG Melanie # 20
48 ( 40 ) IT’S A SHAME The (Detroit) Spinners # 4
49 ( 57 ) ALL THESE THINGS The Uniques # 49
50 ( 44 ) GYPSY WOMAN Brian Hyland # 44

51 ( 52 ) DEEPER AND DEEPER Freda Payne # 51
52 ( 36 ) PATCHES Clarence Carter # 20
53 ( 56 ) LOVE UPRISING The Chi-Lites # 53
54 ( NEW ) MACARTHUR PARK Glen Campbell # 54
55 ( 59 ) BLACK PEARL Horace Faith # 55
56 ( 48 ) RAINBOW Marmalade # 5
57 ( 62 ) LOSERS WEEPERS Etta James featuring Minnie Ripperton # 57
58 ( NEW ) MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF (LIVE) Dionne Warwick # 58
59 ( NEW ) UNGENA ZA UMWELINGU (UNITE THE WORLD) The Temptations # 59
60 ( 53 ) LADY D’ARBANVILLE Cat Stevens # 3

61 ( 54 ) DO YOU SEE MY LOVE (FOR YOU GROWING) Junior Walker & The All Stars # 10
62 ( 66 ) I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE Creedence Clearwater Revival # 62
63 ( 61 ) EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL Ray Stevens # 1
64 ( NEW ) HELP ME FIND A WAY (TO SAY I LOVE YOU) Little Anthony & The Imperials # 64
65 ( 67 ) WIGHT IS WIGHT Sandie Shaw # 65
66 ( 73 ) MELLOW DREAMIN’ Young-Holt Unlimited # 66
67 ( NEW ) HUM ALONG AND DANCE The Temptations # 67
68 ( NEW ) MR BOJANGLES Nitty Gritty Dirt Band # 68
69 ( 72 ) AFTER THE GOLDRUSH Neil Young # 69
70 ( 65 ) YOUR SONG Elton John # 1

71 ( 74 ) YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS YOUNG Suzanne # 71
72 ( NEW ) GIRL I’VE GOT NEWS FOR YOU The Mardi Gras # 72
73 ( NEW ) FRESH AIR Quicksilver Messenger Service # 73
74 ( NEW ) DREAMS Buddy Miles # 74
75 ( NEW ) SUPERBAD PART 1 James Brown # 75

wot I liked that week then
1 ( 1 ) ME AND MY LIFE The Tremeloes
2 ( 2 ) YOU CAN GET IT IF YOU REALLY WANT Desmond Dekker
3 ( NEW ) (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU The Carpenters
4 ( 8 ) AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH Diana Ross
5 ( NEW ) EL CONDOR PASA Simon And Garfunkel
6 ( 4 ) THE WONDER OF YOU Elvis Presley
7 ( 3 ) LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate
8 ( 6 ) WILD WORLD Jimmy Cliff
9 ( 9 ) LOVE VIBRATIONS The Archies
10 ( 12 ) BAND OF GOLD Freda Payne

11 ( 15 ) PARANOID Black Sabbath
12 ( 7 ) MAKE IT WITH YOU Bread
13 ( 5 ) WHICH WAY YOU GOING BILLY? The Poppy Family
14 ( 11 ) RAINBOW Marmalade
15 ( 13 ) TEARS OF A CLOWN Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
16 ( 20 ) BLACK NIGHT Deep Purple
17 ( 17 ) NEANDERTHAL MAN Hotlegs
18 ( 14 ) GIVE ME JUST A LITTLE MORE TIME Chairmen Of The Board
19 ( 16 ) MONTEGO BAY Bobby Bloom
20 ( 19 ) IT’S SO EASY Andy Williams

26th September 1970

It’s still all about Dusty Springfield as How Can I Be Sure swaps places with A House Is Not A Home, giving the greatest British vocalist of all-time a 4th Retro chart-topper, while Spooky climbs to 15. The Partridge Family sitcom debuts on US TV this week and so in comes the theme tune, which is very short and very sweet, Come On Get Happy popping in at 34. I have the box set for season 1. By season 2 the sparkle had gone but as by then David Cassidy was a trans-Atlantic popstar they kept it going until 1974, making sure the golden goose couldn’t fly off and concentrate on his solo career.

The Jackson 5 get 2 top 20’s, and it wouldn’t be too long before they also had a TV show – a cartoon series with music. I haven’t seen it in decades, so that probably means it wasn’t that special, but I am curious. Curtis Mayfield meanwhile moves on up to 20 – he would eventually top my chart in 2001 giving Bran Van 3000 a helping vocal on Astounded. Brian Hyland gets Gypsy Woman a top 40 slot, and The Temptations keep up the run of hard-hitting social conscience funk tracks at 40. 

New entries from The Main Ingredient with a fab new-to-me Philly-Soul-sounding track that had the mid-70’s sound in 1970, I’m Better Off Without You at 52, as Neil Young makes it two tracks off After The Goldrush as another great song pops in at 66 – Only Love Can Break Your Heart peaked at 13 for The Mint Juleps in 1986, and Saint Etienne did as well in the 90’s. Gene Pitney returns with his Shady Lady, 70’s star Nils Lofgren pops in with his band Grin on a track I didn’t know, We All Sung Together, Kenny Rogers reaches the end of the First Edition days with Heed The Call (and the end of his best period, it was just the occasional decent gifted-by-other-pop-stars pop country tracks after this, such as Lady or Islands In The Stream). That leaves Julie Felix getting a second chart entry, this time with a Tony Wilson/Errol Brown song that they didn’t ever release as Hot Chocolate, Heaven Is Here.

1 ( 2 ) HOW CAN I BE SURE Dusty Springfield # 1
2 ( 1 ) A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME Dusty Springfield & Burt Bacharach # 1
3 ( 3 ) I’LL BE THERE The Jackson 5 # 1
4 ( 4 ) I THINK I LOVE YOU The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 1
5 ( 6 ) SOMEBODY WANTS TO LOVE YOU The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 5
6 ( 8 ) WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN Carpenters # 5
7 ( 5 ) IT’S ONLY MAKE BELIEVE Glen Campbell # 3
8 ( 7 ) AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH Diana Ross # 1
9 ( 9 ) ME AND MY LIFE The Tremeloes # 9
10 ( 10 ) LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate # 1

11 ( 14 ) INDIANA WANTS ME R. Dean Taylor # 3
12 ( 11 ) WOODSTOCK Matthews Southern Comfort # 4
13 ( 12 ) CRACKLIN’ ROSIE Neil Diamond # 3
14 ( 15 ) RUBY TUESDAY Melanie # 6
15 ( 17 ) SPOOKY Dusty Springfield # 15
16 ( 21 ) MAMA’S PEARL The Jackson 5 # 16
17 ( 20 ) CRESCENT NOON Carpenters # 17
18 ( 16 ) WILD WORLD Jimmy Cliff # 10
19 ( 18 ) STILL WATER (LOVE) The Four Tops # 11
20 ( 30 ) MOVE ON UP Curtis Mayfield # 20

21 ( 28 ) GASOLINE ALLEY BRED The Hollies # 21
22 ( 22 ) MAKE IT WITH YOU Bread # 1
23 ( 23 ) SNOWBIRD Anne Murray # 1
24 ( 24 ) TEARS OF A CLOWN Smokey Robinson & The Miracles # 4
25 ( 19 ) DON’T PLAY THAT SONG (YOU LIED) Aretha Franklin # 7
26 ( 26 ) ON THE BEACH (IN THE SUMMERTIME) The 5th Dimension # 26
27 ( 27 ) PARANOID Black Sabbath # 27
28 ( 13 ) ALONE AGAIN OR Love # 13
29 ( 25 ) WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO MY SONG, MA Melanie # 5
30 ( 39 ) RAINMAKER The Moods # 30

31 ( 31 ) (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU Carpenters # 1
32 ( 40 ) WHEN YOU GET RIGHT DOWN TO IT The Delfonics # 32
33 ( 29 ) OUR WORLD Blue MInk # 29
34 ( NEW ) COME ON GET HAPPY The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones & featuring David Cassidy # 34
35 ( 35 ) WE GOTTA GET YOU A WOMAN Todd Rundgren (aka The Runt) # 35
36 ( 37 ) IT DON’T MATTER TO ME Bread # 36
37 ( 33 ) YOU CAN GET IT IF YOU REALLY WANT Desmond Dekker # 14
38 ( 34 ) SUGAR MAN Rodriguez # 3
39 ( 50 ) GYPSY WOMAN Brian Hyland # 39
40 ( 59 ) UNGENA ZA UMWELINGU (UNITE THE WORLD) The Temptations # 40

41 ( 38 ) JOANNE Michael Nesmith & The First National Band # 10
42 ( 42 ) WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO MY SONG, MA The New Seekers featuring Eve Graham # 5
43 ( 49 ) ALL THESE THINGS The Uniques # 43
44 ( 41 ) CANDIDA Dawn featuring Tony Orlando # 8
45 ( 45 ) THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD The Beatles # 1
46 ( 46 ) LOLA The Kinks # 2
47 ( 44 ) YOU CAN GET IT IF YOU REALLY WANT Jimmy Cliff # 26
48 ( 51 ) DEEPER AND DEEPER Freda Payne # 48
49 ( 54 ) MACARTHUR PARK Glen Campbell # 49
50 ( 36 ) SPANISH EYES Al Martino # 36

51 ( 55 ) BLACK PEARL Horace Faith # 51
52 ( NEW ) I’M BETTER OFF WITHOUT YOU The Main Ingredient # 52
53 ( 53 ) LOVE UPRISING The Chi-Lites # 53
54 ( 48 ) IT’S A SHAME The (Detroit) Spinners # 4
55 ( 58 ) MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF (LIVE) Dionne Warwick # 55
56 ( 57 ) LOSERS WEEPERS Etta James featuring Minnie Ripperton # 56
57 ( 67 ) HUM ALONG AND DANCE The Temptations # 57
58 ( 64 ) HELP ME FIND A WAY (TO SAY I LOVE YOU) Little Anthony & The Imperials # 58
59 ( 73 ) FRESH AIR Quicksilver Messenger Service # 59
60 ( 66 ) MELLOW DREAMIN’ Young-Holt Unlimited # 60

61 ( 68 ) MR BOJANGLES Nitty Gritty Dirt Band # 61
62 ( 62 ) I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE Creedence Clearwater Revival # 62
63 ( 65 ) WIGHT IS WIGHT Sandie Shaw # 63
64 ( 72 ) GIRL I’VE GOT NEWS FOR YOU The Mardi Gras # 64
65 ( 63 ) EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL Ray Stevens # 1
66 ( NEW ) ONLY LOVE CAN BREAK YOUR HEART Neil Young # 66
67 ( 60 ) LADY D’ARBANVILLE Cat Stevens # 3
68 ( 71 ) YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS YOUNG Suzanne # 68
69 ( 69 ) AFTER THE GOLDRUSH Neil Young # 69
70 ( NEW ) SHADY LADY Gene Pitney # 70

71 ( NEW ) WE ALL SUNG TOGETHER Grin featuring Nils Lofgren # 71
72 ( NEW ) HEED THE CALL Kenny Rogers & The First Edition # 72
73 ( 74 ) DREAMS Buddy Miles # 73
74 ( 75 ) SUPERBAD PART 1 James Brown # 74
75 ( NEW ) HEAVEN IS HERE Julie Felix # 75

Wot I liked then
1 ( 1 ) ME AND MY LIFE The Tremeloes
2 ( 3 ) (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU The Carpenters
3 ( 5 ) EL CONDOR PASA Simon And Garfunkel
4 ( 2 ) YOU CAN GET IT IF YOU REALLY WANT Desmond Dekker
5 ( 4 ) AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH Diana Ross
6 ( NEW ) SUNSHINE The Archies
7 ( 11 ) PARANOID Black Sabbath
8 ( 10 ) BAND OF GOLD Freda Payne
9 ( 6 ) THE WONDER OF YOU Elvis Presley
10 ( 7 ) LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate

11 ( 8 ) WILD WORLD Jimmy Cliff
12 ( 13 ) WHICH WAY YOU GOING BILLY? The Poppy Family
13 ( 12 ) MAKE IT WITH YOU Bread
14 ( 16 ) BLACK NIGHT Deep Purple
15 ( 15 ) TEARS OF A CLOWN Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
16 ( 19 ) MONTEGO BAY Bobby Bloom
17 ( NEW ) BALL OF CONFUSION The Temptations
18 ( 18 ) GIVE ME JUST A LITTLE MORE TIME Chairmen Of The Board
19 ( RE ) 25 OR 6 TO 4 Chicago
20 ( NEW ) OUR WORLD Blue Mink

My December 1987 Charts

80’s fashions not all they could have been…

 

 

5th December 1987

It’s straight in on top for yet another 20th anniversary Beatles oldie reissue, my childhood fave Hello Goodbye. Loved it aged 9, loved it aged 29, love it aged 61. It’s pure uplifting joy, and featured as a fab video in their generally not-great Magical Mystery Tour TV musical. It had previously topped my chart in a special Beatles-Chart I had to compile in 1976 to stop 20-odd Beatles singles taking over my top 50 charts when they were all reissued in matching sleeves and sold very well. The theme of the week is loads of new entries setting up Christmas, and loads of sudden drastic drops…

Jellybean gets a first top 10, and Expose ditto following my purchase of a remixed version on 12″ for the track that had been in my charts since my September USA hols, now peaking at 9. Alison Moyet makes it a 6th solo top 10, or 13th including Yazoo, with the standard, Love Letters. Talking of old standards, the smooth family fave Nat ‘King’ Cole enters my chart over 20 years since he died with his fab When I Fall In Love at 17, spurred on by Rick Astley’s inferior cover (in at 66). Nat’s is the definitive version, it just is, no-one has that warm, smooth, cool vocal tone.

The highest new track is Eurythmics 60’s-referencing and pure gorgeousness that is Shame. The title sums up its getting lost in the Christmas-ballad overload that was 1987 and failing to make the UK top 40 despite being one of their finest singles. Shame! (ring bell) Shame! (ring bell) Shame! (ring bell)… Anyway in at 11 in a chart that appreciates fabness. The Bee Gees have ESP, presumably they knew it would shoot up into my top 30 having read my mind, while The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl enter at 33 with a perennial christmas classic, one of those you never actually get fed up with hearing each year. Fairytale Of New York would top my my chart – eventually – once it’s arguing drunks just oozed nostalgia.

Talking of christmas, Mel & Kim are back. Comedian Mel Smith & the fab Kim Wilde (off to see her again next week doing an acoustic Wilde Winter Songbook tour) that is. I was tempted to go and see her dad Marty in concert tonight, but I’m typing this instead, oops! Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree was already a seasonal regular courtesy of young Brenda Lee, and they’d done a comedy version for charity that didn’t get on your nerves when you heard it a few times. Result!

GG is back with part 3 of his debut hit – mostly to promote his annual Christmas/New Year tours which pulled in the punters (including me each year) cos they were such a huge party experience. Contrary to rewritten history, he was actually popular in the 70’s and 80’s. Dollar return with an Erasure cover, after a couple of years away from my charts, and extending their run to 9 years as a duo, or 12 years if including as a third of a sextet: take your pick. Climie Fisher get a quick follow-up to a great record that flopped, and mysteriously get a hit out of it – cos it wasn’t as good! Not bad, but not in the same league. Sneaking in at 76, by virtue of the record not being listed as coming out as a single and therefore not permitted in my chart, instead topping my Playlist 3, but retroactively allowed to feature just because it’s brilliant – Taylor Dayne’s terrific bop Tell It To My Heart, fitting in with the Expose dance sounds that would influence Pet Shop Boys before long.

1 ( NEW ) HELLO GOODBYE The Beatles
2 ( 1 ) THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL Michael Jackson
3 ( 3 ) LITTLE LIES Fleetwood Mac
4 ( 2 ) YOU WIN AGAIN The Bee Gees
5 ( 6 ) ALWAYS ON MY MIND Pet Shop Boys
6 ( 4 ) CRITICIZE Alexander O’Neal
7 ( 10 ) LETTER FROM AMERICA The Proclaimers
8 ( 12 ) WHO FOUND WHO Jellybean featuring Lisa Fiorillo
9 ( 55 ) LET ME BE THE ONE/ (REMIX) Expose
10 ( 27 ) LOVE LETTERS Alison Moyet

11 ( NEW ) SHAME Eurythmics
12 ( 8 ) BAD Michael Jackson
13 ( 16 ) I’VE BEEN IN LOVE BEFORE Cutting Crew
14 ( 7 ) KID The Pretenders
15 ( 20 ) ONCE UPON A LONG AGO Paul McCartney
16 ( 42 ) DEVIL’S BALL Double
17 ( NEW ) WHEN I FALL IN LOVE Nat ‘King’ Cole
18 ( 24 ) I COULD NEVER TAKE THE PLACE OF YOUR MAN Prince
19 ( 26 ) SATELLITE The Hooters
20 ( 5 ) MONY MONY (US SINGLE VERSION/LIVE VERSION/HUNG LIKE A PONY REMIX) Billy Idol

21 ( 9 ) CHINA IN YOUR HAND T’Pau
22 ( 11 ) PAID IN FULL Eric B & Rakim
23 ( 38 ) THE ONE I LOVE R.E.M.
24 ( 13 ) NOTHING’S GONNA CHANGE Labi Siffre
25 ( 15 ) DINNER WITH GERSHWIN Donna Summer
26 ( 22 ) WHAT HAVE I DONE (TO DESERVE THIS) Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield
27 ( 25 ) SUGAR SUGAR (CANDYFLOSS MIX)/(ORIGINAL VERSION) The Archies
28 ( 75 ) ESP The Bee Gees
29 ( 44 ) TO BE REBORN Boy George
30 ( 30 ) I WANNA BE YOUR PROPERTY Blue Mercedes

31 ( 14 ) (I’VE HAD THE) TIME OF MY LIFE Jennifer Warnes & Bill Medley
32 ( 17 ) GOT MY MIND SET ON YOU George Harrison
33 ( NEW ) FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl
34 ( 36 ) I WON’T CRY Glen Goldsmith
35 ( 23 ) RENT Pet Shop Boys
36 ( NEW ) ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE Mel (Smith) & Kim (Wilde)
37 ( 37 ) FAMILY MAN Fleetwood Mac
38 ( 28 ) I FOUND SOMEONE Cher
39 ( 39 ) TURN BACK THE CLOCK Johnny Hates Jazz
40 ( 71 ) THE LOOK OF LOVE Madonna

41 ( 21 ) HERE I GO AGAIN Whitesnake
42 ( 53 ) HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH Belinda Carlisle
43 ( 19 ) KING WITHOUT A CROWN ABC
44 ( 49 ) THERE AIN’T NOTHIN’ LIKE SHAGGING The Tams
45 ( 32 ) I SAY NOTHING Voice Of The Beehive
46 ( 33 ) PUMP UP THE VOLUME M/A/R/R/S
47 ( 54 ) WHAT DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THOSE EYES AT ME FOR? Shakin’ Stevens
48 ( 40 ) FAMILY AFFAIR/RUNNIN’ AWAY Sly & The Family Stone
49 ( 18 ) SHO YOU RIGHT Barry White
50 ( NEW ) ROCK AND ROLL PART 3 Gary Glitter

51 ( 45 ) CARS (E REG MODEL)/ ARE ‘FRIENDS’ ELECTRIC Gary Numan & Tubeway Army
52 ( NEW ) HOUSE ARREST Krush
53 ( 29 ) GROOVE Donny Osmond
54 ( 67 ) IDEAL WORLD The Christians
55 ( 51 ) MY BAG Lloyd Cole & The Commotions
56 ( 34 ) LOVE IN THE FIRST DEGREE Bananarama
57 ( 31 ) SOME GUYS HAVE ALL THE LUCK Maxi Priest
58 ( 73 ) ANGEL EYES Wet Wet Wet
59 ( 59 ) NEED YOU TONIGHT INXS
60 ( 50 ) HOLIDAY The Other Ones

61 ( 58 ) LOVE POWER Dionne Warwick & Jeffrey Osbourne
62 ( 35 ) BUILD The Housemartins
63 ( 46 ) I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW Tiffany
64 ( 60 ) SO EMOTIONAL Whitney Houston
65 ( 41 ) WHEN THE FINGERS POINT The Christians
66 ( NEW ) WHEN I FALL IN LOVE Rick Astley
67 ( 66 ) ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE The Beatles
68 ( 68 ) HUMAN Human League
69 ( 43 ) FAITH George Michael
70 ( NEW ) CHILDREN SAY Level 42

71 ( 64 ) WHEN SMOKEY SINGS ABC
72 ( 56 ) LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING Climie Fisher
73 ( NEW ) HYSTERIA Def Leppard
74 ( NEW ) O L’AMOUR Dollar
75 ( NEW ) RISE TO THE OCCASION Climie Fisher
76 ( NEW ) TELL IT TO MY HEART Taylor Dayne

5th Dec
PLAYIST OLDIES

1 TELL IT TO MY HEART Taylor Dayne
2 SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION T.Rex
3 DOWNTOWN Petula Clark

 

12th December 1987

It’s 2 weeks on top for the mighty Fabs, still holding off Pet Shop Boys Always On My Mind, still not available to buy but almost on top (bearing in mind I bought the charity single at 20 this week, I think that’s a given!). Dusty’s duet with Neil & Chris is still in the charts and on the back of that she gets reactivated chart action with classic early 60’s hit I Only Want To Be With You in at 5. Long a childhood fave, it had already charted for Bay City Rollers in 1976 and The Tourists in 1979, the latter version making my top 10 and starring…Dave Stewart & Annie Lennox, who just happen to be up to 4 with Shame. I love a Musical Connections anecdote.

Up 30 to 7 Fleetwood Mac make it 3 top 10’s out of 4 from Tango In The Night, the flop Family Man doing better here than in the real world, and ditto ESP up to 12 for The Bee Gees, both following-up chart-toppers. The Pogues & Kirsty go top 20 for the first time – and not for the last time! Mel & Kim go top 20 for the first time – and the last time as a duet. I’ll be seeing Kim day after tomorrow and I’m hoping she does Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree as Ive never seen her do that one. Cher meanwhile leaps into the 20 for her first solo top 20 in, gasp, 13 years! The gaps won’t be that long again until the 21st century.

Jellybean gets a quick 3rd top 40 hit with a spruced-up cover of a 1969 Santana latin track, Springsteen gets another hit at 41 with Tunnel Of Love, SAW do it alone again and are Packjammed With The Party Posse this time, presumably avoiding any roadblocks on the way. Sneaking in with a slightly amusing mickey-take of the Pet Shop Boys It’s A Sin, Jonathan King returns for possibly the last chart entry in his 22-year-career (I was mad on Everyone’s Gone To The Moon as a kid, and would have charted it high hypothetically) with Cat Stevens Wild World. It’s supposed to underline the melodic similarity between the 2 songs, though actually it serves to show they aren’t much alike apart from one short melody line. I mean it has ALL the same notes, but not necessarily in the right order….

Finally the Nanas get a 3rd SAW-track in a row in 1987, the lesser I Can’t Help It following on two smashes, and taylor Dayne is stuck at 76 as she’s still not officially announced as a UK single but is topping my fave non-single playlist (she would otherwise be very high in the chart).

1 ( 1 ) HELLO GOODBYE The Beatles
2 ( 5 ) ALWAYS ON MY MIND Pet Shop Boys
3 ( 2 ) THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL Michael Jackson
4 ( 11 ) SHAME Eurythmics
5 ( NEW ) I ONLY WANT TO BE WITH YOU Dusty Springfield
6 ( 3 ) LITTLE LIES Fleetwood Mac
7 ( 37 ) FAMILY MAN Fleetwood Mac
8 ( 4 ) YOU WIN AGAIN The Bee Gees
9 ( 7 ) LETTER FROM AMERICA The Proclaimers
10 ( 10 ) LOVE LETTERS Alison Moyet

11 ( 9 ) LET ME BE THE ONE/ (REMIX) Expose
12 ( 28 ) ESP The Bee Gees
13 ( 6 ) CRITICIZE Alexander O’Neal
14 ( 17 ) WHEN I FALL IN LOVE Nat ‘King’ Cole
15 ( 8 ) WHO FOUND WHO Jellybean featuring Lisa Fiorillo
16 ( 33 ) FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl
17 ( 18 ) I COULD NEVER TAKE THE PLACE OF YOUR MAN Prince
18 ( 12 ) BAD Michael Jackson
19 ( 38 ) I FOUND SOMEONE Cher
20 ( 36 ) ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE Mel (Smith) & Kim (Wilde)

21 ( 15 ) ONCE UPON A LONG AGO Paul McCartney
22 ( 40 ) THE LOOK OF LOVE Madonna
23 ( 23 ) THE ONE I LOVE R.E.M.
24 ( 13 ) I’VE BEEN IN LOVE BEFORE Cutting Crew
25 ( 16 ) DEVIL’S BALL Double
26 ( 14 ) KID The Pretenders
27 ( 29 ) TO BE REBORN Boy George
28 ( 27 ) SUGAR SUGAR (CANDYFLOSS MIX)/(ORIGINAL VERSION) The Archies
29 ( 26 ) WHAT HAVE I DONE (TO DESERVE THIS) Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield
30 ( 19 ) SATELLITE The Hooters

31 ( 22 ) PAID IN FULL Eric B & Rakim
32 ( 39 ) TURN BACK THE CLOCK Johnny Hates Jazz
33 ( 20 ) MONY MONY (US SINGLE VERSION/LIVE VERSION/HUNG LIKE A PONY REMIX) Billy Idol
34 ( NEW ) JINGO Jellybean
35 ( 42 ) HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH Belinda Carlisle
36 ( 31 ) (I’VE HAD THE) TIME OF MY LIFE Jennifer Warnes & Bill Medley
37 ( 35 ) RENT Pet Shop Boys
38 ( 32 ) GOT MY MIND SET ON YOU George Harrison
39 ( 54 ) IDEAL WORLD The Christians
40 ( 44 ) THERE AIN’T NOTHIN’ LIKE SHAGGING The Tams

41 ( NEW ) TUNNEL OF LOVE Bruce Springsteen
42 ( 21 ) CHINA IN YOUR HAND T’Pau
43 ( 24 ) NOTHING’S GONNA CHANGE Labi Siffre
44 ( 52 ) HOUSE ARREST Krush
45 ( 47 ) WHAT DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THOSE EYES AT ME FOR? Shakin’ Stevens
46 ( 25 ) DINNER WITH GERSHWIN Donna Summer
47 ( 58 ) ANGEL EYES Wet Wet Wet
48 ( 30 ) I WANNA BE YOUR PROPERTY Blue Mercedes
49 ( 70 ) CHILDREN SAY Level 42
50 ( 50 ) ROCK AND ROLL PART 3 Gary Glitter

51 ( 48 ) FAMILY AFFAIR/RUNNIN’ AWAY Sly & The Family Stone
52 ( 46 ) PUMP UP THE VOLUME M/A/R/R/S
53 ( 41 ) HERE I GO AGAIN Whitesnake
54 ( 51 ) CARS (E REG MODEL)/ ARE ‘FRIENDS’ ELECTRIC Gary Numan & Tubeway Army
55 ( NEW ) PACKJAMMED (WITH THE PARTY POSSE) Stock Aitken Waterman
56 ( 55 ) MY BAG Lloyd Cole & The Commotions
57 ( 45 ) I SAY NOTHING Voice Of The Beehive
58 ( 34 ) I WON’T CRY Glen Goldsmith
59 ( 59 ) NEED YOU TONIGHT INXS
60 ( 43 ) KING WITHOUT A CROWN ABC

61 ( 66 ) WHEN I FALL IN LOVE Rick Astley
62 ( NEW ) JUST TO GET BY Babakoto
63 ( 61 ) LOVE POWER Dionne Warwick & Jeffrey Osbourne
64 ( 57 ) SOME GUYS HAVE ALL THE LUCK Maxi Priest
65 ( 60 ) HOLIDAY The Other Ones
66 ( 63 ) I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW Tiffany
67 ( 67 ) ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE The Beatles
68 ( 68 ) HUMAN Human League
69 ( 49 ) SHO YOU RIGHT Barry White
70 ( 53 ) GROOVE Donny Osmond

71 ( 62 ) BUILD The Housemartins
72 ( NEW ) WILD WORLD Jonathan King
73 ( 65 ) WHEN THE FINGERS POINT The Christians
74 ( 72 ) LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING Climie Fisher
75 ( NEW ) I CAN’T HELP IT Bananarama
76 ( 76 ) TELL IT TO MY HEART Taylor Dayne

Playlist oldies and album tracks of that week
1 TELL IT TO MY HEART Taylor Dayne
2 SOME OF YOUR LOVIN’ Dusty Springfield
3 WEDDING BELLS Godley & Creme

 

 

20th December 1987

It’s a first week on top for my Xmas chart-topper of the year, and Pet Shop Boys’ Always On My Mind outdoes the Elvis version while giving them a 6th number one inside 24 months. Only the likes of Abba, Beatles, Roy Wood & Wizzard had managed that to date. Meanwhile it’s a big ol’ ballad xmas, with little new and modest chart moves, though Fairytale Of New York also makes the Xmas top 10, the first of many occasions, and the Nat ‘King’ Cole standard also becomes one of the oldest recordings to make my top 10 at 35 years old. The only older is Laurel & Hardy’s Trail Of The Lonesome Pine which did it Xmas 1975 with a 1937 recording. Both records would be smashed eventually, though the only charted recording older than Laurel & Hardy is Winifred Shaw’s The Lullaby Of Broadway from 1935 which charted in 1976.

Taylor Dayne finally gets released and is rewarded with a massive climb to 17 (or a new entry ignoring the bonus weeks at 76) for the fab Tell It To My Heart. Jellybean takes Jingo to 2 consecutive top 20 singles, Springsteen makes it 12 years of top 40’s, and Simply Red join the classic blues cover trend and nick Ella Fitzgerald’s Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye, in at 36. New Order are touched by the hand of God, which can get you 6 months inside these days, Wally Jump Junior covers Archie Bell & The Drells House-style, and The Smiths get another quick entry as the clock ticks on their career.

1 ( 2 ) ALWAYS ON MY MIND Pet Shop Boys
2 ( 1 ) HELLO GOODBYE The Beatles
3 ( 4 ) SHAME Eurythmics
4 ( 3 ) THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL Michael Jackson
5 ( 5 ) I ONLY WANT TO BE WITH YOU Dusty Springfield
6 ( 7 ) FAMILY MAN Fleetwood Mac
7 ( 16 ) FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl
8 ( 14 ) WHEN I FALL IN LOVE Nat ‘King’ Cole
9 ( 10 ) LOVE LETTERS Alison Moyet
10 ( 6 ) LITTLE LIES Fleetwood Mac

11 ( 20 ) ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE Mel (Smith) & Kim (Wilde)
12 ( 12 ) ESP The Bee Gees
13 ( 8 ) YOU WIN AGAIN The Bee Gees
14 ( 9 ) LETTER FROM AMERICA The Proclaimers
15 ( 11 ) LET ME BE THE ONE/ (REMIX) Expose
16 ( 19 ) I FOUND SOMEONE Cher
17 ( 76 ) TELL IT TO MY HEART Taylor Dayne
18 ( 15 ) WHO FOUND WHO Jellybean featuring Lisa Fiorillo
19 ( 22 ) THE LOOK OF LOVE Madonna
20 ( 34 ) JINGO Jellybean

21 ( 18 ) BAD Michael Jackson
22 ( 13 ) CRITICIZE Alexander O’Neal
23 ( 35 ) HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH Belinda Carlisle
24 ( 23 ) THE ONE I LOVE R.E.M.
25 ( 17 ) I COULD NEVER TAKE THE PLACE OF YOUR MAN Prince
26 ( 32 ) TURN BACK THE CLOCK Johnny Hates Jazz
27 ( 41 ) TUNNEL OF LOVE Bruce Springsteen
28 ( 24 ) I’VE BEEN IN LOVE BEFORE Cutting Crew
29 ( 39 ) IDEAL WORLD The Christians
30 ( 28 ) SUGAR SUGAR (CANDYFLOSS MIX)/(ORIGINAL VERSION) The Archies

31 ( 29 ) WHAT HAVE I DONE (TO DESERVE THIS) Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield
32 ( 25 ) DEVIL’S BALL Double
33 ( 21 ) ONCE UPON A LONG AGO Paul McCartney
34 ( 44 ) HOUSE ARREST Krush
35 ( 26 ) KID (REMIX) The Pretenders
36 ( NEW ) EV’RY TIME WE SAY GOODBYE Simply Red
37 ( 47 ) ANGEL EYES Wet Wet Wet
38 ( 49 ) CHILDREN SAY Level 42
39 ( 33 ) MONY MONY (US SINGLE VERSION/LIVE VERSION/HUNG LIKE A PONY REMIX) Billy Idol
40 ( 37 ) RENT Pet Shop Boys

41 ( 31 ) PAID IN FULL Eric B & Rakim
42 ( 40 ) THERE AIN’T NOTHIN’ LIKE SHAGGING The Tams
43 ( 30 ) SATELLITE The Hooters
44 ( 38 ) GOT MY MIND SET ON YOU George Harrison
45 ( 55 ) PACKJAMMED (WITH THE PARTY POSSE) Stock Aitken Waterman
46 ( 36 ) (I’VE HAD THE) TIME OF MY LIFE Jennifer Warnes & Bill Medley
47 ( 27 ) TO BE REBORN Boy George
48 ( 66 ) I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW Tiffany
49 ( 42 ) CHINA IN YOUR HAND T’Pau
50 ( 62 ) JUST TO GET BY Babakoto

51 ( 51 ) FAMILY AFFAIR/RUNNIN’ AWAY Sly & The Family Stone
52 ( 54 ) CARS (E REG MODEL)/ ARE ‘FRIENDS’ ELECTRIC Gary Numan & Tubeway Army
53 ( 45 ) WHAT DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THOSE EYES AT ME FOR? Shakin’ Stevens
54 ( NEW ) TOUCHED BY THE HAND OF GOD New Order
55 ( 52 ) PUMP UP THE VOLUME M/A/R/R/S
56 ( 56 ) MY BAG Lloyd Cole & The Commotions
57 ( 57 ) I SAY NOTHING Voice Of The Beehive
58 ( NEW ) TIGHTEN UP Wally Jump Junior & The Criminal Element
59 ( 59 ) NEED YOU TONIGHT INXS
60 ( 61 ) WHEN I FALL IN LOVE Rick Astley

61 ( 48 ) I WANNA BE YOUR PROPERTY Blue Mercedes
62 ( 53 ) HERE I GO AGAIN Whitesnake
63 ( 63 ) LOVE POWER Dionne Warwick & Jeffrey Osbourne
64 ( 50 ) ROCK AND ROLL PART 3 Gary Glitter
65 ( 46 ) DINNER WITH GERSHWIN Donna Summer
66 ( 75 ) I CAN’T HELP IT Bananarama
67 ( 67 ) ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE The Beatles
68 ( 68 ) HUMAN Human League
69 ( 65 ) HOLIDAY The Other Ones
70 ( RE ) RISE TO THE OCCASION Climie Fisher

71 ( 43 ) NOTHING’S GONNA CHANGE Labi Siffre
72 ( NEW ) LAST NIGHT I DREAMT SOMEBODY LOVES ME The Smiths
73 ( RE ) O L’AMOUR Dollar
74 ( 74 ) LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING Climie Fisher
75 ( 73 ) WHEN THE FINGERS POINT The Christians

 

27th December 1987

It’s 2 weeks on top for Pet Shop Boys in a very quiet post-Xmas chart, just a top 10 move for Cher – her first solo top 10 since Dark Lady in 1974 – and Taylor Dayne debuts inside the 10 too. New Order get the biggest climber to the top 30, Climie Fisher get the biggest climber in the chart, to 39, for a second top 40, and the highest new entry is Heart, There’s The Girl.

Other newies: Roger Waters gets a solo non-Floyd track, 8 years since topping with Another Brick, The Stranglers cover The Kinks, Billy Idol returns with Hot In The City, U2 get a 4th track off the Joshua Tree, and Los Lobos cover Ritchie Valens again, this time Donna some months after the original was reissued. In my playlist I was into Roy Orbison and Abba, beating the future chart-topping hits albums.

1 ( 1 ) ALWAYS ON MY MIND Pet Shop Boys
2 ( 2 ) HELLO GOODBYE The Beatles
3 ( 3 ) SHAME Eurythmics
4 ( 5 ) I ONLY WANT TO BE WITH YOU Dusty Springfield
5 ( 4 ) THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL Michael Jackson
6 ( 16 ) I FOUND SOMEONE Cher
7 ( 7 ) FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl
8 ( 8 ) WHEN I FALL IN LOVE Nat ‘King’ Cole
9 ( 6 ) FAMILY MAN Fleetwood Mac
10 ( 17 ) TELL IT TO MY HEART Taylor Dayne

11 ( 14 ) LETTER FROM AMERICA The Proclaimers
12 ( 12 ) ESP The Bee Gees
13 ( 9 ) LOVE LETTERS Alison Moyet
14 ( 10 ) LITTLE LIES Fleetwood Mac
15 ( 15 ) LET ME BE THE ONE/ (REMIX) Expose
16 ( 19 ) THE LOOK OF LOVE Madonna
17 ( 11 ) ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE Mel (Smith) & Kim (Wilde)
18 ( 20 ) JINGO Jellybean
19 ( 13 ) YOU WIN AGAIN The Bee Gees
20 ( 23 ) HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH Belinda Carlisle

21 ( 29 ) IDEAL WORLD The Christians
22 ( 26 ) TURN BACK THE CLOCK Johnny Hates Jazz
23 ( 34 ) HOUSE ARREST Krush
24 ( 18 ) WHO FOUND WHO Jellybean featuring Lisa Fiorillo
25 ( 27 ) TUNNEL OF LOVE Bruce Springsteen
26 ( 21 ) BAD Michael Jackson
27 ( 30 ) SUGAR SUGAR (CANDYFLOSS MIX)/(ORIGINAL VERSION) The Archies
28 ( 36 ) EV’RY TIME WE SAY GOODBYE Simply Red
29 ( 22 ) CRITICIZE Alexander O’Neal
30 ( 54 ) TOUCHED BY THE HAND OF GOD New Order

31 ( 38 ) CHILDREN SAY Level 42
32 ( 28 ) I’VE BEEN IN LOVE BEFORE Cutting Crew
33 ( 24 ) THE ONE I LOVE R.E.M.
34 ( NEW ) THERE’S THE GIRL Heart
35 ( 37 ) ANGEL EYES Wet Wet Wet
36 ( 48 ) I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW Tiffany
37 ( 31 ) WHAT HAVE I DONE (TO DESERVE THIS) Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield
38 ( 58 ) TIGHTEN UP Wally Jump Junior & The Criminal Element
39 ( 70 ) RISE TO THE OCCASION Climie Fisher
40 ( 35 ) KID (REMIX) The Pretenders

41 ( 40 ) RENT Pet Shop Boys
42 ( 45 ) PACKJAMMED (WITH THE PARTY POSSE) Stock Aitken Waterman
43 ( 25 ) I COULD NEVER TAKE THE PLACE OF YOUR MAN Prince
44 ( 32 ) DEVIL’S BALL Double
45 ( NEW ) THE TIDE IS TURNING Roger Waters
46 ( 33 ) ONCE UPON A LONG AGO Paul McCartney
47 ( 41 ) PAID IN FULL Eric B & Rakim
48 ( 39 ) MONY MONY (US SINGLE VERSION/LIVE VERSION/HUNG LIKE A PONY REMIX) Billy Idol
49 ( 44 ) GOT MY MIND SET ON YOU George Harrison
50 ( 50 ) JUST TO GET BY Babakoto

51 ( 51 ) FAMILY AFFAIR/RUNNIN’ AWAY Sly & The Family Stone
52 ( NEW ) ALL DAY AND ALL OF THE NIGHT The Stranglers
53 ( 52 ) CARS (E REG MODEL)/ ARE ‘FRIENDS’ ELECTRIC Gary Numan & Tubeway Army
54 ( NEW ) HOT IN THE CITY Billy Idol
55 ( 55 ) PUMP UP THE VOLUME M/A/R/R/S
56 ( 56 ) MY BAG Lloyd Cole & The Commotions
57 ( 49 ) CHINA IN YOUR HAND T’Pau
58 ( 66 ) I CAN’T HELP IT Bananarama
59 ( 59 ) NEED YOU TONIGHT INXS
60 ( 60 ) WHEN I FALL IN LOVE Rick Astley

61 ( 63 ) LOVE POWER Dionne Warwick & Jeffrey Osbourne
62 ( 72 ) LAST NIGHT I DREAMT SOMEBODY LOVES ME The Smiths
63 ( 57 ) I SAY NOTHING Voice Of The Beehive
64 ( 64 ) ROCK AND ROLL PART 3 Gary Glitter
65 ( 67 ) ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE The Beatles
66 ( NEW ) IN GOD’S COUNTRY U2
67 ( 62 ) HERE I GO AGAIN Whitesnake
68 ( 68 ) HUMAN Human League
69 ( 69 ) HOLIDAY The Other Ones
70 ( 46 ) (I’VE HAD THE) TIME OF MY LIFE Jennifer Warnes & Bill Medley

71 ( 53 ) WHAT DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THOSE EYES AT ME FOR? Shakin’ Stevens
72 ( 74 ) LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING Climie Fisher
73 ( 73 ) O L’AMOUR Dollar
74 ( NEW ) DONNA Los Lobos
75 ( 42 ) THERE AIN’T NOTHIN’ LIKE SHAGGING The Tams

playlist oldies
1 OH PRETTY WOMAN Roy Orbison
2 THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL Abba
3 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU Abba

My September 1987 Charts

1st September 1987

It’s 5 weeks on top for the unstoppable Pet Shop Boys & Dusty, as Rick Astley climbs to 3, Prince to 7, Elvis brings If I Can Dream back into the top 10 18 years on, and Dionne Warwick gets her 2nd top 10 – she would have had loads more if I’d charted earlier though. Highest new entry is the gorgeous Little Lies, Christine McVie’s best song from Fleetwood Mac’s Tango In The Night, in at 35. In a couple of weeks I’d watch the rural video in a Californian coastal motel as I drifted into a daze after accidentally taking one of my mum’s sleeping pills instead of aspirin. That ruined the next day as I largely felt icky and didn’t appreciate the stunning coastal scenery between San Fransisco and Malibu. Moral: read the packaging.

Chris Rea returns, The Housemartins make it 3 in a row, Carly Simon follows-up her comeback hit, Mick Jagger gets another solo entry 2 years after the last ones, Bon Jovi roll on, Five Star start to lose the spark, and Natalie Cole jumps back into the rundown 12 years on since she debuted – with her late dad due to debut himself by Christmas!

1 ( 1 ) WHAT HAVE I DONE (TO DESERVE THIS) Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield
2 ( 2 ) SUGAR SUGAR (CANDYFLOSS MIX)/(ORIGINAL VERSION) The Archies
3 ( 5 ) NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP Rick Astley
4 ( 6 ) HEART AND SOUL T’Pau
5 ( 4 ) BRIDGE TO YOUR HEART Wax
6 ( 3 ) I JUST CAN’T STOP LOVING YOU Michael Jackson featuring Siedah Garrett
7 ( 10 ) U GOT THE LOOK Prince featuring Sheena Easton
8 ( 8 ) I HEARD A RUMOUR Bananarama
9 ( 18 ) IF I CAN DREAM/ LOVE ME TENDER Elvis Presley
10 ( 13 ) LOVE POWER Dionne Warwick & Jeffrey Osbourne

11 ( 7 ) TRUE FAITH New Order
12 ( 17 ) NEVER LET ME DOWN David Bowie
13 ( 19 ) WIPEOUT The Fat Boys & The Beach Boys
14 ( 24 ) WONDERFUL LIFE Black
15 ( 9 ) IF THERE WAS A MAN Pretenders For 007
16 ( 16 ) THE MOTIVE Then Jericho
17 ( 12 ) ALONE Heart
18 ( 27 ) HEY MATTHEW Karel Fialka
19 ( 14 ) SPY IN THE HOUSE OF LOVE Was (Not Was)
20 ( 23 ) LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING Climie Fisher

21 ( 11 ) ANIMAL Def Leppard
22 ( 28 ) WHAT TIME IS IT The Kane Gang
23 ( 33 ) CRAZY Icehouse
24 ( 21 ) PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE (REMIX) The Temptations
25 ( 30 ) HAPPY WHEN IT RAINS Jesus & Mary Chain
26 ( 20 ) WHO’S THAT GIRL Madonna
27 ( 35 ) PAPER IN FIRE John Cougar Mellencamp
28 ( 40 ) I NEED LOVE LL Cool J
29 ( 22 ) GIRLFRIEND IN A COMA The Smiths
30 ( 15 ) ROADBLOCK Stock Aitken & Waterman

31 ( 39 ) I’M IN IT FOR LOVE Donny Osmond
32 ( 38 ) SWEET LITTLE MYSTERY Wet Wet Wet
33 ( 25 ) ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE The Beatles
34 ( 29 ) IT’S A SIN Pet Shop Boys
35 ( NEW ) LITTLE LIES Fleetwood Mac
36 ( 32 ) SAY YOU REALLY WANT ME Kim Wilde
37 ( 44 ) HOURGLASS Squeeze
38 ( 34 ) I STILL HAVEN’T FOUND WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR U2
39 ( 75 ) THE NIGHT YOU MURDERED LOVE ABC
40 ( 43 ) ONLY IN MY DREAMS Debbie Gibson

41 ( 46 ) WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME U2
42 ( 37 ) HIGHER AND HIGHER (YOUR LOVE KEEPS LIFTING ME) Jackie Wilson
43 ( 36 ) JIVE TALKING Boogie Box High
44 ( 72 ) TOY BOY Sinitta
45 ( 49 ) JUST CALL Sherrick
46 ( 31 ) CHANGE David Grant
47 ( NEW ) LOVING YOU AGAIN Chris Rea
48 ( RE ) MAKING LOVE IN THE RAIN Herb Alpert featuring Lisa Keith
49 ( 70 ) SOME PEOPLE Cliff Richard
50 ( 52 ) SEATTLE Public Image Ltd

51 ( 42 ) FUNKYTOWN Pseudo Echo
52 ( 51 ) IT’S NOT UNUSUAL Tom Jones
53 ( 41 ) SOLD Boy George
54 ( 53 ) MY BOY LOLLIPOP Millie
55 ( 48 ) MARY’S PRAYER Danny Wilson
56 ( 45 ) THE RHYTHM DIVINE Yello featuring Shirley Bassey
57 ( 61 ) HUMAN Human League
58 ( 68 ) DOING IT ALL FOR MY BABY Huey Lewis & The News
59 ( 63 ) DIAMONDS Herb Alpert featuring Janet Jackson
60 ( 54 ) SWEETEST SMILE Black

61 ( 26 ) DEAR GOD XTC
62 ( 66 ) I GET THE SWEETEST FEELING Jackie Wilson
63 ( 69 ) THE PLEASURE PRINCIPLE Janet Jackson
64 ( 64 ) A DIFFERENT CORNER George Michael
65 ( NEW ) ME AND THE FARMER The Housemartins
66 ( 62 ) GET IT ON (’87 REMIX) T.Rex
67 ( 67 ) TIME WILL CRAWL David Bowie
68 ( NEW ) LIES Jonathan Butler
69 ( NEW ) THE STUFF THAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF Carly Simon
70 ( 73 ) PENNY LANE/STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER The Beatles

71 ( 55 ) YOY BOYZ MAKE BIG NOIZE Slade
72 ( NEW ) LET’S WORK Mick Jagger
73 ( NEW ) NEVER SAY GOODBYE Bon Jovi
74 ( NEW ) WHENEVER YOU’RE READY Five Star
75 ( NEW ) JUMP START Natalie Cole

1st Sept
PLAYIST OLDIES

1 LOVE IS ALL THAT MATTERS The Human League
2 IF IT WASN’T FOR THE REASON THAT I LOVED YOU Miki Anthony
3 THIRD FINGER LEFT HAND The Pearls

8th September 1987

It’s a first week on top for the 1987 12″ remix of the 1969 and 1970 chart-topper from The Archies, Sugar Sugar thus grabbing the record for oldest number one to return to the top – for now. Black make it two top 10’s in a row with the sublime Wonderful Life up 6, and Cliff rockets into the top 10 19 years into his chart career, Some People being one of his rather good cool pop tracks as opposed to one of his “oh dear, not weathered-well, that one” tracks. Bowie makes it 2 top 10’s in a row from his latest LP, and The Beach Boys extend their run of top 10’s to 19 years to the week.

Highest new entry is The Bee Gees going Depeche techno, and an abrupt change in sound with the fab You Win Again in at 12 19 years to the week since they also appeared in my first-ever chart. Second highest new entry is also a future UK chart-topper, the fab innovative M/A/R/R/S and Pump Up The Volume at 35, sampling gone mad and the sound of dance future. Little Lies leaps up 20 for Fleetwood Mac, the third top 20 off Tango In The Night, as John Cougar gets his 3rd top 20 in total.

Shaky is in at 40 with a good Supremes cover, Johnny Hates Jazz heroically follow-up at 43, and Madonna’s quality-control dips a bit with Causing A Commotion at 49. Levert at 53, debuting 15 years after The O’Jays were Backstabbing on top of my charts: Lead singer Eddie Levert was dad to two of the band. Thus joining the likes of John & Julian Lennon in trailblazing dads and sons independently in my charts. Cheryl Baker is the 2nd Bucks-Fizz solo charter, with the 1969 Amen Corner chart-topper, and 8 years on from her debut as part of UK Eurovision entrants Coco in those Bad Old Days.

The Communards return, Wendy & Lisa ditto, and sneaking in is the lead track on the brand new album from Michael Jackson – a little ditty called Bad: It would actually have been much higher, but I didn’t allow album tracks in or else this week most of the album (which I bought on vinyl) would have charted, followed next week by another new album clogging up the charts and kicking out at least 15 other records. So I’ve retrospectively given it a number 76, as these days I DO allow album tracks as I should have then. On the grounds that by the time album tracks became singles I’d often long-peaked over them.

1 ( 2 ) SUGAR SUGAR (CANDYFLOSS MIX)/(ORIGINAL VERSION) The Archies
2 ( 1 ) WHAT HAVE I DONE (TO DESERVE THIS) Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield
3 ( 4 ) HEART AND SOUL T’Pau
4 ( 3 ) NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP Rick Astley
5 ( 5 ) BRIDGE TO YOUR HEART Wax
6 ( 14 ) WONDERFUL LIFE Black
7 ( 7 ) U GOT THE LOOK Prince featuring Sheena Easton
8 ( 49 ) SOME PEOPLE Cliff Richard
9 ( 12 ) NEVER LET ME DOWN David Bowie
10 ( 13 ) WIPEOUT The Fat Boys & The Beach Boys

11 ( 6 ) I JUST CAN’T STOP LOVING YOU Michael Jackson featuring Siedah Garrett
12 ( NEW ) YOU WIN AGAIN The Bee Gees
13 ( 20 ) LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING Climie Fisher
14 ( 18 ) HEY MATTHEW Karel Fialka
15 ( 35 ) LITTLE LIES Fleetwood Mac
16 ( 16 ) THE MOTIVE Then Jericho
17 ( 8 ) I HEARD A RUMOUR Bananarama
18 ( 10 ) LOVE POWER Dionne Warwick & Jeffrey Osbourne
19 ( 22 ) WHAT TIME IS IT The Kane Gang
20 ( 27 ) PAPER IN FIRE John Cougar Mellencamp

21 ( 17 ) ALONE Heart
22 ( 28 ) I NEED LOVE LL Cool J
23 ( 15 ) IF THERE WAS A MAN Pretenders For 007
24 ( 9 ) IF I CAN DREAM/ LOVE ME TENDER Elvis Presley
25 ( 11 ) TRUE FAITH New Order
26 ( 24 ) PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE (REMIX) The Temptations
27 ( 21 ) ANIMAL Def Leppard
28 ( 39 ) THE NIGHT YOU MURDERED LOVE ABC
29 ( 19 ) SPY IN THE HOUSE OF LOVE Was (Not Was)
30 ( 37 ) HOURGLASS Squeeze

31 ( 32 ) SWEET LITTLE MYSTERY Wet Wet Wet
32 ( 26 ) WHO’S THAT GIRL Madonna
33 ( 47 ) LOVING YOU AGAIN Chris Rea
34 ( 34 ) IT’S A SIN Pet Shop Boys
35 ( NEW ) PUMP UP THE VOLUME M/A/R/R/S
36 ( 72 ) LET’S WORK Mick Jagger
37 ( 40 ) ONLY IN MY DREAMS Debbie Gibson
38 ( 50 ) SEATTLE Public Image Ltd
39 ( 33 ) ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE The Beatles
40 ( NEW ) COME SEE ABOUT ME Shakin’ Stevens

41 ( 41 ) WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME U2
42 ( 38 ) I STILL HAVEN’T FOUND WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR U2
43 ( NEW ) I DON’T WANT TO BE A HERO Johnny Hates Jazz
44 ( 44 ) TOY BOY Sinitta
45 ( 30 ) ROADBLOCK Stock Aitken & waterman
46 ( 25 ) HAPPY WHEN IT RAINS Jesus & Mary Chain
47 ( 42 ) HIGHER AND HIGHER (YOUR LOVE KEEPS LIFTING ME) Jackie Wilson
48 ( 58 ) DOING IT ALL FOR MY BABY Huey Lewis & The News
49 ( NEW ) CAUSING A COMMOTION Madonna
50 ( 65 ) ME AND THE FARMER The Housemartins

51 ( 48 ) MAKING LOVE IN THE RAIN Herb Alpert featuring Lisa Keith
52 ( 23 ) CRAZY Icehouse
53 ( NEW ) CASANOVA Levert
54 ( 52 ) IT’S NOT UNUSUAL Tom Jones
55 ( 69 ) THE STUFF THAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF Carly Simon
56 ( 43 ) JIVE TALKING Boogie Box High
57 ( 29 ) GIRLFRIEND IN A COMA The Smiths
58 ( 36 ) SAY YOU REALLY WANT ME Kim Wilde
59 ( 57 ) HUMAN Human League
60 ( 31 ) I’M IN IT FOR LOVE Donny Osmond

61 ( 55 ) MARY’S PRAYER Danny Wilson
62 ( 54 ) MY BOY LOLLIPOP Millie
63 ( 62 ) I GET THE SWEETEST FEELING Jackie Wilson
64 ( 59 ) DIAMONDS Herb Alpert featuring Janet Jackson
65 ( 64 ) A DIFFERENT CORNER George Michael
66 ( NEW ) STUCK ON YOU Dee Lewis
67 ( 68 ) LIES Jonathan Butler
68 ( 51 ) FUNKYTOWN Pseudo Echo
69 ( 53 ) SOLD Boy George
70 ( NEW ) HALF AS NICE Cheryl Baker

71 ( 45 ) JUST CALL Sherrick
72 ( 75 ) JUMP START Natalie Cole
73 ( 70 ) PENNY LANE/STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER The Beatles
74 ( NEW ) TOMORROW The Communards
75 ( NEW ) WATERFALL Wendy and Lisa
76 ( NEW ) BAD Michael Jackson

Playlist oldies and album tracks of that week
1 BAD Michael Jackson
2 I BELIEVE (IN LOVE) Hot Chocolate
3 LONELY DAYS The Bee Gees

15th September 1987

It’s a second week on top for the Archies, presiding over my second flight to California – this time with my parents who had never been, but always wanted to go. I just managed to catch the new chart rundown before leaving, so there are some UK new entries – but there’s an invasion of stuff I heard on radio stations on the car stereo, as well as the new Michael Jackson album which I copied onto cassette to play in the car – I didn’t allow album tracks in my charts back then…but the bottom three all would have featured much higher had I not been limited to just listing them for my “playlist” list. So I’ve retospectively given them a slot.

Little Lies climbs fast into the top 3, a big radio hit in the States, and Climie Fisher just sneaks into the top 10, as do The Bee Gees. US radio was amazing back then: stations galore, all with differing records on rotation, DJ’s who seemed professional. I just couldnt understand why the UK had so few radio stations, and still can’t (outside London). It’s almost as if the authorities have a problem with commercial radio…

M/A/R/R/S shoot into the 20, and the highest new entry is Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam at 18, big on LA radio with Lost In Emotion. I found the exact same beach-apartment block I stayed in in 1979 with other Uni friends, which was fab – overlooking the Queen Mary. I was in US TV and radio heaven, what with all the classic 60’s shows on re-run that I hadn’t seen since a kid, stuff like Get Smart, Gilligan’s Island and many more. Huey Lewis also benefits from the radio plays, shooting up to 20, Madonna to 22, and Billy Idol enters at 27 with his fab version of Tommy James & The Shondells brilliant 1968 chart-topper Mony Mony: note this is NOT the weaker live version that was pushed in the UK, this was an all-80’s-production.

The US is some way behind on UK-sourced hits, usually, which means for me a chance to rechart them as they get a new lease of life cruising the highways and byways and sound bigger and fresh again: ABC return with When Smokey Sings at 29, Living In A Box get some 12″ action, as do Pepsi & Shirlie’s Heartache, both debuting in that format, while Swing Out Sister’s Breakout 1986 hit also returns. A hot new track that stiffed in the UK is in at 31 for The Other Ones – Holiday. So appropriate I bought the single, along with Fleetwood Mac’s Little Lies, in the USA on vinyl.

U2 finally go top 40 where the streets have exotic names, Gary Numan revamps his old car, given a jump start by rising natalie Cole, as the sweet Level 42 It’s Over sneaks in as I leave the UK. Starship follow-up the monster hit, and I go to Disneyland, have a ball on rollercoaster Space Mountain and see the 3D state-of-the-art Sci-fi mini-extravaganza Captain Eo aka Michael Jackson’s wannabe space hero. Great to look at and featuring a half-familiar-sounding song from his album, and one which hasn’t turned up anywhere yet. When he was acting Jacko was embarrassing, when he was singing, fab. I doubt it will be showing anytime this century again, sorry if you missed it!

1 ( 1 ) SUGAR SUGAR (CANDYFLOSS MIX)/(ORIGINAL VERSION) The Archies
2 ( 2 ) WHAT HAVE I DONE (TO DESERVE THIS) Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield
3 ( 15 ) LITTLE LIES Fleetwood Mac
4 ( 3 ) HEART AND SOUL T’Pau
5 ( 4 ) NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP Rick Astley
6 ( 10 ) WIPEOUT The Fat Boys & The Beach Boys
7 ( 8 ) SOME PEOPLE Cliff Richard
8 ( 13 ) LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING Climie Fisher
9 ( 9 ) NEVER LET ME DOWN David Bowie
10 ( 12 ) YOU WIN AGAIN The Bee Gees

11 ( 7 ) U GOT THE LOOK Prince featuring Sheena Easton
12 ( 5 ) BRIDGE TO YOUR HEART Wax
13 ( 6 ) WONDERFUL LIFE Black
14 ( 14 ) HEY MATTHEW Karel Fialka
15 ( 35 ) PUMP UP THE VOLUME M/A/R/R/S
16 ( 11 ) I JUST CAN’T STOP LOVING YOU Michael Jackson featuring Siedah Garrett
17 ( 22 ) I NEED LOVE LL Cool J
18 ( NEW ) LOST IN EMOTION Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
19 ( 17 ) I HEARD A RUMOUR Bananarama
20 ( 48 ) DOING IT ALL FOR MY BABY Huey Lewis & The News

21 ( 20 ) PAPER IN FIRE John Cougar Mellencamp
22 ( 49 ) CAUSING A COMMOTION Madonna
23 ( 28 ) THE NIGHT YOU MURDERED LOVE ABC
24 ( 16 ) THE MOTIVE Then Jericho
25 ( 18 ) LOVE POWER Dionne Warwick & Jeffrey Osbourne
26 ( 21 ) ALONE Heart
27 ( NEW ) MONY MONY (US SINGLE VERSION) Billy Idol
28 ( 19 ) WHAT TIME IS IT The Kane Gang
29 ( RE ) WHEN SMOKEY SINGS ABC
30 ( 30 ) HOURGLASS Squeeze

31 ( NEW ) HOLIDAY The Other Ones
32 ( 32 ) WHO’S THAT GIRL Madonna
33 ( 41 ) WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME U2
34 ( 34 ) IT’S A SIN Pet Shop Boys
35 ( NEW ) CARS (E REG MODEL) Gary Numan
36 ( 36 ) LET’S WORK Mick Jagger
37 ( 37 ) ONLY IN MY DREAMS Debbie Gibson
38 ( 26 ) PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE (REMIX) The Temptations
39 ( 23 ) IF THERE WAS A MAN Pretenders For 007
40 ( 29 ) SPY IN THE HOUSE OF LOVE Was (Not Was)

41 ( 27 ) ANIMAL Def Leppard
42 ( 43 ) I DON’T WANT TO BE A HERO Johnny Hates Jazz
43 ( 25 ) TRUE FAITH New Order
44 ( 40 ) COME SEE ABOUT ME Shakin’ Stevens
45 ( NEW ) LIVING IN A BOX (12” REMIX) Living In A Box
46 ( 39 ) ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE The Beatles
47 ( NEW ) HEARTACHE (12” REMIX) Pepsi and Shirlie
48 ( 42 ) I STILL HAVEN’T FOUND WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR U2
49 ( 72 ) JUMP START Natalie Cole
50 ( 24 ) IF I CAN DREAM/ LOVE ME TENDER Elvis Presley

51 ( NEW ) BREAKOUT Swing Out Sister
52 ( 53 ) CASANOVA Levert
53 ( 47 ) HIGHER AND HIGHER (YOUR LOVE KEEPS LIFTING ME) Jackie Wilson
54 ( 50 ) ME AND THE FARMER The Housemartins
55 ( 55 ) THE STUFF THAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF Carly Simon
56 ( 75 ) WATERFALLS Wendy and Lisa
57 ( 54 ) IT’S NOT UNUSUAL Tom Jones
58 ( 61 ) MARY’S PRAYER Danny Wilson
59 ( 33 ) LOVING YOU AGAIN Chris Rea
60 ( 59 ) HUMAN Human League

61 ( 52 ) CRAZY Icehouse
62 ( 67 ) LIES Jonathan Butler
63 ( 45 ) ROADBLOCK Stock Aitken & waterman
64 ( 66 ) STUCK ON YOU Dee Lewis
65 ( 63 ) I GET THE SWEETEST FEELING Jackie Wilson
66 ( 65 ) A DIFFERENT CORNER George Michael
67 ( 64 ) DIAMONDS Herb Alpert featuring Janet Jackson
68 ( NEW ) IT’S OVER Level 42
69 ( 56 ) JIVE TALKING Boogie Box High
70 ( NEW ) FREE Curiosity Killed The Cat

71 ( 51 ) MAKING LOVE IN THE RAIN Herb Alpert featuring Lisa Keith
72 ( 62 ) MY BOY LOLLIPOP Millie
73 ( NEW ) STOP TO LOVE Luther Vandross
74 ( 73 ) PENNY LANE/STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER The Beatles
75 ( NEW ) IT’S NOT OVER (TILL IT’S OVER) Starship
76 ( NEW ) WE ARE HERE TO CHANGE THE WORLD/ANOTHER PART OF ME (CAPTAIN EO) Michael Jackson
77 ( NEW ) ANOTHER PART OF ME Michael Jackson
78 ( NEW ) MAN IN THE MIRROR Michael Jackson

22nd September 1987 California/Nevada Chart

It’s a third week on top for the 1969 chart-topper that featured on oldies stations as we drove the majestic scenery highways of deserts and Canyons – keeping it hot! This was the week that featured the Ghost Town of Calico, Las Vegas gambling, passing the Flintstones Bedrock en route to the Grand Canyon, still jawdropping if you take time to absorb the scale of it, and Death Valley, superhot and complete with Road Runners in Furnace Creek (beep! beep!). Didn’t see any Coyotes though, Wile E or otherwise.

Dionne & Jeffrey rocket back up to a new peak of 5 for the fab Love Power, and Michael Jackson’s Bad is now officially a single and returns at 4 while his 2 future singles climb just outside the 75 (but would have been way higher). M/A/R/R/S make the top 10, as I had it on cassette tape, and big US hit Holiday climbs to 11. Natalie Cole makes it 12 years of top 40 entries (albeit with little in between) & Curiosity’s Misfit is back in the 40 with substantial US radio play, outdoing the weak follow-up at 70.

Oldies returning due to airplay chart plugging include Cutting Crew, Go West and Whitney sneaks in where she hadn’t been thanks to the sunny blue skies. Even turgid ballads sound better in California. US-only hits include Smokey Robinson, now on 18 years of entries, Expose and the fab Let Me Be The One, the sound of Miami dance-future shortly to inspire the Pet Shop Boys, who make do in the meantime with the track 1 off Actually. I’m still annoyed it wasn’t a single: One More Chance was hookily fab.

60’s veterans The Grateful Dead debut with Twist Of Grey, having been talked up on Boys Of Summer’s Dead-Head Stickers lyric, Jellybean goes top 50 ahead the UK catching on to Who Found Who with Lisa Fiorillo, Crowded House follow-up a chart-topper, Laura Branigan returns a bit shattered 4 years on from Gloria, future UK hit Who Will You Run To brings Heart in a bit early, Bob Seger makes it 9 years of minor hits, and Gloria Estefan makes it 3 years of Doctor Beat-ing, just ahead of her exploding big in the UK as a solo act (but really still exactly the same Miami Sound Machine act).

1 ( 1 ) SUGAR SUGAR (CANDYFLOSS MIX)/(ORIGINAL VERSION) The Archies
2 ( 2 ) WHAT HAVE I DONE (TO DESERVE THIS) Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield
3 ( 3 ) LITTLE LIES Fleetwood Mac
4 ( RE ) BAD Michael Jackson
5 ( 25 ) LOVE POWER Dionne Warwick & Jeffrey Osbourne
6 ( 5 ) NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP Rick Astley
7 ( 7 ) SOME PEOPLE Cliff Richard
8 ( 15 ) PUMP UP THE VOLUME M/A/R/R/S
9 ( 4 ) HEART AND SOUL T’Pau
10 ( 10 ) YOU WIN AGAIN The Bee Gees

11 ( 31 ) HOLIDAY The Other Ones
12 ( 14 ) HEY MATTHEW Karel Fialka
13 ( 19 ) I HEARD A RUMOUR Bananarama
14 ( 17 ) I NEED LOVE LL Cool J
15 ( 6 ) WIPEOUT The Fat Boys & The Beach Boys
16 ( 18 ) LOST IN EMOTION Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
17 ( 21 ) PAPER IN FIRE John Cougar Mellencamp
18 ( 11 ) U GOT THE LOOK Prince featuring Sheena Easton
19 ( 8 ) LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING Climie Fisher
20 ( 9 ) NEVER LET ME DOWN David Bowie

21 ( 24 ) THE MOTIVE Then Jericho
22 ( 22 ) CAUSING A COMMOTION Madonna
23 ( 13 ) WONDERFUL LIFE Black
24 ( 29 ) WHEN SMOKEY SINGS ABC
25 ( 12 ) BRIDGE TO YOUR HEART Wax
26 ( 16 ) I JUST CAN’T STOP LOVING YOU Michael Jackson featuring Siedah Garrett
27 ( 27 ) MONY MONY (US SINGLE VERSION) Billy Idol
28 ( 23 ) THE NIGHT YOU MURDERED LOVE ABC
29 ( 30 ) HOURGLASS Squeeze
30 ( 20 ) DOING IT ALL FOR MY BABY Huey Lewis & The News

31 ( 26 ) ALONE Heart
32 ( 28 ) WHAT TIME IS IT The Kane Gang
33 ( 49 ) JUMP START Natalie Cole
34 ( RE ) MISFIT Curiosity Killed The Cat
35 ( 35 ) CARS (E REG MODEL) Gary Numan
36 ( 36 ) LET’S WORK Mick Jagger
37 ( 42 ) I DON’T WANT TO BE A HERO Johnny Hates Jazz
38 ( 34 ) IT’S A SIN Pet Shop Boys
39 ( 52 ) CASANOVA Levert
40 ( 32 ) WHO’S THAT GIRL Madonna

41 ( RE ) WHY CAN’T I BE YOU The Cure
42 ( NEW ) I’VE BEEN IN LOVE BEFORE Cutting Crew
43 ( 47 ) HEARTACHE (12” REMIX) Pepsi and Shirlie
44 ( 51 ) BREAKOUT Swing Out Sister
45 ( 33 ) WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME U2
46 ( 55 ) THE STUFF THAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF Carly Simon
47 ( 38 ) PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE (REMIX) The Temptations
48 ( 56 ) WATERFALLS Wendy and Lisa
49 ( NEW ) WHO FOUND WHO Jellybean featuring Lisa Fiorillo
50 ( 40 ) SPY IN THE HOUSE OF LOVE Was (Not Was)

51 ( 46 ) ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE The Beatles
52 ( 43 ) TRUE FAITH New Order
53 ( 48 ) I STILL HAVEN’T FOUND WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR U2
54 ( NEW ) DON’T LOOK DOWN Go West
55 ( 39 ) IF THERE WAS A MAN Pretenders For 007
56 ( 53 ) HIGHER AND HIGHER (YOUR LOVE KEEPS LIFTING ME) Jackie Wilson
57 ( NEW ) ONE HEARTBEAT Smokey Robinson
58 ( 44 ) COME SEE ABOUT ME Shakin’ Stevens
59 ( NEW ) LET ME BE THE ONE Expose
60 ( 60 ) HUMAN Human League

61 ( 57 ) IT’S NOT UNUSUAL Tom Jones
62 ( NEW ) TWIST OF GREY The Grateful Dead
63 ( 41 ) ANIMAL Def Leppard
64 ( 68 ) IT’S OVER Level 42
65 ( 65 ) I GET THE SWEETEST FEELING Jackie Wilson
66 ( 66 ) A DIFFERENT CORNER George Michael
67 ( NEW ) BETCHA SAY THAT Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine
68 ( 45 ) LIVING IN A BOX (12” REMIX) Living In A Box
69 ( NEW ) SHATTERED GLASS Laura Branigan
70 ( 70 ) FREE Curiosity Killed The Cat

71 ( NEW ) SOMETHING SO STRONG Crowded House
72 ( NEW ) WHO WILL YOU RUN TO Heart
73 ( 37 ) ONLY IN MY DREAMS Debbie Gibson
74 ( NEW ) SHAKEDOWN Bob Seger
75 ( NEW ) DIDN’T WE ALMOST HAVE IT ALL Whitney Houston
76 ( 77 ) ANOTHER PART OF ME Michael Jackson
77 ( 78 ) MAN IN THE MIRROR Michael Jackson
78 ( NEW ) ONE MORE CHANCE Pet Shop Boys

29th September 1987

It’s a first week on top for the fab Little Lies, and Fleetwood Mac’s second chart-topper seven years since the mighty rhythms of Tusk topped my chart, and 19 years since Albatross first charted. Lindsey Buckingham also grabbed an extra one in 1982 with Trouble. Back in the UK after doing San Fransisco Golden Gate & Fisherman’s Wharf, Carmel, the coastal drive down to Santa Barbara and Malibu, and then home to an inrush of hot new UK music, so yet more new entries.

Gary Numan’s 1979 chart-topper as Tubeway Army is back in the top 10 alongside a remixed Cars, ABC’s follow-up hits a new peak of 12, as the previous single is back in the 20, and Shaky leaps up to 16 with his Supremes cover, one of his best singles (granted the competition is about a handful at this point). Highest new entry is from Jan Hammer, hot off the TV show ratings hit episode where Don Johnson marries Sheena Easton. I think.

The Christians return with yet another great single, at 37, Steve Winwood pops in with Valerie – it wasn’t in the same league as Higher Love, but was infinitely better than the annoying cover that topped the 21st century charts as Call On Me. A bit like Kygo isn’t anywhere near as good as the original, Whitney or not. Westworld are back with a ballad goodie that sadly under-performed, a novelty movie spin-off from Full Metal Jacket (that made a mini-legend of the late Ronald Lee Ermey) parades in, Bruce Willis gets a third 60’s cover, and Was (Not Was) get a second chart entry with the big UK hit Walk The Dinosaur – this owed quite a bit to Sly & The Family Stone’s I Wanna Take You Higher.

Bananarama also get a second goodie SAW-produced hit, Dusty gets a second shared credit as she helps Richard Carpenter to a first chart entry with new material since sister Karen died in 1983. Finally UB40 cover an old Jackson 5 track at 75.

1 ( 3 ) LITTLE LIES Fleetwood Mac
2 ( 2 ) WHAT HAVE I DONE (TO DESERVE THIS) Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield
3 ( 1 ) SUGAR SUGAR (CANDYFLOSS MIX)/(ORIGINAL VERSION) The Archies
4 ( 4 ) BAD Michael Jackson
5 ( 10 ) YOU WIN AGAIN The Bee Gees
6 ( 8 ) PUMP UP THE VOLUME M/A/R/R/S
7 ( 11 ) HOLIDAY The Other Ones
8 ( 6 ) NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP Rick Astley
9 ( 7 ) SOME PEOPLE Cliff Richard
10 ( 35 ) CARS (E REG MODEL)/ ARE ‘FRIENDS’ ELECTRIC Gary Numan & Tubeway Army

11 ( 12 ) HEY MATTHEW Karel Fialka
12 ( 28 ) THE NIGHT YOU MURDERED LOVE ABC
13 ( 14 ) I NEED LOVE LL Cool J
14 ( 5 ) LOVE POWER Dionne Warwick & Jeffrey Osbourne
15 ( 9 ) HEART AND SOUL T’Pau
16 ( 58 ) COME SEE ABOUT ME Shakin’ Stevens
17 ( 16 ) LOST IN EMOTION Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
18 ( 22 ) CAUSING A COMMOTION Madonna
19 ( 13 ) I HEARD A RUMOUR Bananarama
20 ( 24 ) WHEN SMOKEY SINGS ABC

21 ( 17 ) PAPER IN FIRE John Cougar Mellencamp
22 ( 18 ) U GOT THE LOOK Prince featuring Sheena Easton
23 ( NEW ) CROCKETT’S THEME Jan Hammer
24 ( 19 ) LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING Climie Fisher
25 ( 15 ) WIPEOUT The Fat Boys & The Beach Boys
26 ( 20 ) NEVER LET ME DOWN David Bowie
27 ( 27 ) MONY MONY (US SINGLE VERSION) Billy Idol
28 ( 37 ) I DON’T WANT TO BE A HERO Johnny Hates Jazz
29 ( 33 ) JUMP START Natalie Cole
30 ( 26 ) I JUST CAN’T STOP LOVING YOU Michael Jackson featuring Siedah Garrett

31 ( 23 ) WONDERFUL LIFE Black
32 ( 25 ) BRIDGE TO YOUR HEART Wax
33 ( 21 ) THE MOTIVE Then Jericho
34 ( 36 ) LET’S WORK Mick Jagger
35 ( 29 ) HOURGLASS Squeeze
36 ( 39 ) CASANOVA Levert
37 ( NEW ) WHEN THE FINGERS POINT The Christians
38 ( 31 ) ALONE Heart
39 ( 46 ) THE STUFF THAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF Carly Simon
40 ( 38 ) IT’S A SIN Pet Shop Boys

41 ( NEW ) VALERIE Steve Winwood
42 ( 30 ) DOING IT ALL FOR MY BABY Huey Lewis & The News
43 ( 32 ) WHAT TIME IS IT The Kane Gang
44 ( 40 ) WHO’S THAT GIRL Madonna
45 ( 49 ) WHO FOUND WHO Jellybean featuring Lisa Fiorillo
46 ( 57 ) ONE HEARTBEAT Smokey Robinson
47 ( 47 ) PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE (REMIX) The Temptations
48 ( NEW ) SILVERMAC Westworld
49 ( NEW ) FULL METAL JACKET (I WANNA BE A DRILL INSTRUCTOR) Abigail Mead & Nigel Goulding
50 ( 62 ) TOUCH OF GREY The Grateful Dead

51 ( 51 ) ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE The Beatles
52 ( NEW ) SECRET AGENT MAN Bruce Willis
53 ( 53 ) I STILL HAVEN’T FOUND WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR U2
54 ( 59 ) LET ME BE THE ONE Expose
55 ( 34 ) MISFIT Curiosity Killed The Cat
56 ( 52 ) TRUE FAITH New Order
57 ( 67 ) BETCHA SAY THAT Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine
58 ( 56 ) HIGHER AND HIGHER (YOUR LOVE KEEPS LIFTING ME) Jackie Wilson
59 ( 64 ) IT’S OVER Level 42
60 ( 60 ) HUMAN Human League

61 ( 50 ) SPY IN THE HOUSE OF LOVE Was (Not Was)
62 ( 61 ) IT’S NOT UNUSUAL Tom Jones
63 ( NEW ) THAT GIRL Freddie McGregor
64 ( 42 ) I’VE BEEN IN LOVE BEFORE Cutting Crew
65 ( 72 ) WHO WILL YOU RUN TO Heart
66 ( 65 ) I GET THE SWEETEST FEELING Jackie Wilson
67 ( 66 ) A DIFFERENT CORNER George Michael
68 ( NEW ) WALK THE DINOSAUR Was (Not Was)
69 ( 41 ) WHY CAN’T I BE YOU The Cure
70 ( NEW ) LOVE IN THE FIRST DEGREE Bananarama

71 ( NEW ) MY BAG Lloyd Cole & The Commotions
72 ( 43 ) HEARTACHE (12” REMIX) Pepsi and Shirlie
73 ( NEW ) SOMETHING IN YOUR EYES Dusty Springfield & Richard Carpenter
74 ( 45 ) WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME U2
75 ( NEW ) MAYBE TOMORROW UB40

FAVE OLDIES OF THE WEEK
1 EAGLE Abba
2 WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER Timmy Thomas
3 SUMMER NIGHT CITY Abba

My August 1987 Charts

On the Wembley steps waiting all day for the gates to open for Madonna

4th August 1987

It’s straight in at 1 for the second track off the pending Actually album, giving Chris & Neil a 5th chart-topper and the 4th in a row, and also gives Dusty Springfield her comeback track, a first top 10 in err 18 years! Dusty was a mainstay of my youth and would have topped my theoretical charts 2 or 3 times in the 60’s. So kudos both! The bad news is it stops Bananarama getting a first number one and SAW a second. Def Leppard get a first top 10, and Jacko keeps the top 10’s a-coming 18 years on.

New Order climb high into the 20, Was (Not Was) into the 30, and The Colourfield cover The Monkees great non-single She, which enters at 27 giving Terry Hall 8 years of chart action. One of the oldest tracks to make my charts pops in at 48, for the late Ritchie Valens, as La Bamba fever grips the nation 28 years late.

In my playlisted tracks of the week (ie non-chart-eligible) there’s some album tracks from recent albums that should have been singles, but record companies being a bit dense weren’t spotted, one from Bucks Fizz which should have been the follow-up to Mamba Seyra, one from Human league which should have followed-up Human (and which eventually came out far too late in 1988), Abba’s Agnetha and her decent track, and also the Abba boys’ Just Like That for Gemini (not THAT Gemini, a Swedish act) using up half a song they had recorded with Abba (and much better it is too, short and sweet it finally came out in 1994-ish), expanded for their new hopefuls.

1 ( NEW ) WHAT HAVE I DONE (TO DESERVE THIS) Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield
2 ( 5 ) I HEARD A RUMOUR Bananarama
3 ( 4 ) ALONE Heart
4 ( 2 ) ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE The Beatles
5 ( 1 ) WHO’S THAT GIRL Madonna
6 ( 3 ) HEART AND SOUL T’Pau
7 ( 10 ) CHANGE David Grant
8 ( 8 ) PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE (REMIX) The Temptations
9 ( 16 ) ANIMAL Def Leppard
10 ( 20 ) I JUST CAN’T STOP LOVING YOU Michael Jackson featuring Siedah Garrett

11 ( 9 ) MY BOY LOLLIPOP Millie
12 ( 6 ) IT’S A SIN Pet Shop Boys
13 ( 7 ) SOLD Boy George
14 ( 15 ) BRIDGE TO YOUR HEART Wax
15 ( 18 ) CHENKO (TENKO-IO) REMIX Red Box
16 ( 28 ) LOVELY DAY Bill Withers
17 ( 11 ) HIGHER AND HIGHER (YOUR LOVE KEEPS LIFTING ME) Jackie Wilson
18 ( 35 ) TRUE FAITH New Order
19 ( 12 ) JIVE TALKING Boogie Box High
20 ( 17 ) I STILL HAVEN’T FOUND WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR U2

21 ( 39 ) ROADBLOCK Stock Aitken & waterman
22 ( 13 ) SWEETEST SMILE Black
23 ( 29 ) WOT’S IT TO YA Robbie Nevil
24 ( 14 ) ALWAYS Atlantic Starr
25 ( 33 ) FIRST WE TAKE MANHATTAN Jennifer Warnes
26 ( 34 ) LA BAMBA Los Lobos
27 ( NEW ) SHE The Colourfield
28 ( 26 ) SONGBIRD Kenny G
29 ( 19 ) TIME WILL CRAWL David Bowie
30 ( 46 ) SPY IN THE HOUSE OF LOVE Was (Not Was)

31 ( 27 ) MISFIT Curiosity Killed The Cat
32 ( 22 ) WISHING WELL Terence Trent D’Arby
33 ( 40 ) DRAGNET Art Of Noise
34 ( NEW ) UNITED STATES The Lift
35 ( 25 ) DIAMONDS Herb Alpert featuring Janet Jackson
36 ( 48 ) PERSONAL TOUCH Errol Brown
37 ( 37 ) LABOUR OF LOVE Hue And Cry
38 ( 30 ) SEVEN WONDERS Fleetwood Mac
39 ( 21 ) SWEET SIXTEEN Billy Idol
40 ( NEW ) THE MOTIVE Then Jericho

41 ( 31 ) IT’S NOT UNUSUAL Tom Jones
42 ( 32 ) FLM Mel & Kim
43 ( 71 ) CRAZY Icehouse
44 ( 23 ) TRACKS OF MY TEARS Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
45 ( 36 ) THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS a-ha
46 ( 52 ) FIRE Sly & Robbie
47 ( 24 ) HOOVERVILLE (THEY PROMISED US THE WORLD) The Christians
48 ( NEW ) LA BAMBA Ritchie Valens
49 ( 50 ) OOPS UPSIDE YOUR HEAD ’87 The Gap Band
50 ( 65 ) MARY’S PRAYER Danny Wilson

51 ( 41 ) IF I WAS YOUR GIRLFRIEND Prince
52 ( 51 ) GET IT ON (’87 REMIX) T.Rex
53 ( 69 ) SOMEWHERE OUT THERE Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram
54 ( 42 ) THE PLEASURE PRINCIPLE Janet Jackson
55 ( 58 ) UNDER THE BOARDWALK Bruce Willis with The Temptations
56 ( 38 ) A MATTER OF TRUST Billy Joel
57 ( NEW ) U GOT THE LOOK Prince featuring Sheena Easton
58 ( 61 ) SHE’S ON IT The Beastie Boys
59 ( 63 ) FUNKYTOWN Pseudo Echo
60 ( 60 ) A DIFFERENT CORNER George Michael

61 ( 55 ) DON’T DREAM IT’S OVER Crowded House
62 ( 73 ) SWEET LITTLE MYSTERY Wet Wet Wet
63 ( 62 ) I GET THE SWEETEST FEELING Jackie Wilson
64 ( 44 ) WHEN SMOKEY SINGS ABC
65 ( 43 ) JUST DON’T WANNA BE LONELY Freddie MacGregor
66 ( NEW ) SUGAR MICE Marillion
67 ( 68 ) HUMAN Human League
68 ( 57 ) WISHING I WAS LUCKY Wet Wet Wet
69 ( 67 ) PENNY LANE/STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER The Beatles
70 ( NEW ) LIPS LIKE SUGAR Echo & The Bunnymen

71 ( NEW ) SAY YOU REALLY WANT ME Kim Wilde
72 ( 64 ) LA ISLA BONITA Madonna
73 ( NEW ) SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL The Blow Monkeys
74 ( NEW ) I REALLY DIDN’T MEAN IT Luther Vandross
75 ( NEW ) SONG FROM THE EDGE OF THE WORLD Siouxsie & The Banshees

4th Aug
PLAYIST OLDIES

1 LOVE IN A WORLD GONE MAD Bucks Fizz
2 THE DIARY Bread
3 LOVE IS ALL THAT MATTERS The Human League
4 I WON’T LET YOU GO Agnetha Faltskog
5 JUST LIKE THAT Gemini

Madonna at Wembley Crowd scene

11th August 1987

It’s a second week on top for Dusty & the Boys, and two at 2 for the ‘Nanas, with MJ going top 3 with his first Bad single. Def Leppard grab a first top 5, and New Order get their biggest track since Blue Monday, rocketing up to 5. Wax get a second consecutive top 10, giving Andrew Gold 3 in total, and Graham Gouldman, ooh, at least a dozen. Was (Not Was) get a second top 20, and Then Jericho leg it up to 20 from 40.

Highest new entry is The Pretenders, and with an 007 Bond song from the latest movie, and already only 7 places below aha’s theme track, their first single to fall-short of my top 10. Chrissie has had 8 years of non-stop entries, pretty much. Spagna brings some Eurocheese into the 40 – Call Me she says. Not if I have choice of Go West or Blondie Call Me’s instead! Prince & Sheena climb big having the look of a top 30, and Linda Ronstadt also climbs into the 40 with James Ingram, 9 years since her 60’s classic Different Drum bothered my charts as B side to a lesser cover.

Kim Wilde is boosted up to 40, as The Fat Boys and The Beach Boys do a rap cover of 60’s surf classic Wipeout, a debut for the Fat Boys, and 19 years of hit-making for the Beach Boys, who featured in my first-ever chart, and regularly since. At 49, a modest entry for the latest SAW act to benefit from the Hit Factory, a young white lad with a soulful voice, Rick Astley and Never Gonna Give You Up. I doubt anyone has heard of the record, or him. I mean, the chances of production-line pop acts like Rick, soon-to-be Kylie, and Bananarama having music careers in 30 years-time must be very slim….

Jesus & Mary Chain bring another sweet-buzzsaw track into the charts, not the Garbage song, though Happy When It Rains is decent enough, and just behind a 60’s smooth soul class act returns with Jeffrey Osbourne in tow, on Love Power. Dionne Warwick’s entire classic 60’s career was over, pretty much, by the time I started charting, so her actual debut was 1974 and Then Came You. She was of course, the major muse for huge numbers of Burt Bacaharach & Hal David songs. Well, the fab melody gives a clue – Burt is back, with Carole Bayer Sager on lyric duty some 10 years since she had her own hit with You’re Moving Out Today, before becoming an in-demand hit songwriter.

The Smiths are also still charting, with one of their funniest songs, Girlfriend In A Coma. Who says Morrissey has no sense of humour?! At least I THINK it’s supposed to be amusing…. Squeeze are back after a few years away, the catchy Hourglass reuniting Jules Holland with Chris & Glenn for their 10th anniversary. Like Love Power, this one was a big track on US radio for my forthcoming California hols. Finally a couple of Lovers Rock reggae entries down in the boondocks end of the chart, all on follow-up duties.

1 ( 1 ) WHAT HAVE I DONE (TO DESERVE THIS) Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield
2 ( 2 ) I HEARD A RUMOUR Bananarama
3 ( 10 ) I JUST CAN’T STOP LOVING YOU Michael Jackson featuring Siedah Garrett
4 ( 9 ) ANIMAL Def Leppard
5 ( 18 ) TRUE FAITH New Order
6 ( 6 ) HEART AND SOUL T’Pau
7 ( 3 ) ALONE Heart
8 ( 5 ) WHO’S THAT GIRL Madonna
9 ( 4 ) ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE The Beatles
10 ( 14 ) BRIDGE TO YOUR HEART Wax

11 ( 21 ) ROADBLOCK Stock Aitken & waterman
12 ( 7 ) CHANGE David Grant
13 ( 8 ) PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE (REMIX) The Temptations
14 ( 12 ) IT’S A SIN Pet Shop Boys
15 ( 11 ) MY BOY LOLLIPOP Millie
16 ( 30 ) SPY IN THE HOUSE OF LOVE Was (Not Was)
17 ( 23 ) WOT’S IT TO YA Robbie Nevil
18 ( 13 ) SOLD Boy George
19 ( 19 ) JIVE TALKING Boogie Box High
20 ( 40 ) THE MOTIVE Then Jericho

21 ( 34 ) UNITED STATES The Lift
22 ( 20 ) I STILL HAVEN’T FOUND WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR U2
23 ( 17 ) HIGHER AND HIGHER (YOUR LOVE KEEPS LIFTING ME) Jackie Wilson
24 ( 25 ) FIRST WE TAKE MANHATTAN Jennifer Warnes
25 ( 26 ) LA BAMBA Los Lobos
26 ( NEW ) IF THERE WAS A MAN Pretenders For 007
27 ( 15 ) CHENKO (TENKO-IO) REMIX Red Box
28 ( NEW ) CALL ME Spagna
29 ( 22 ) SWEETEST SMILE Black
30 ( 57 ) U GOT THE LOOK Prince featuring Sheena Easton

31 ( 16 ) LOVELY DAY Bill Withers
32 ( 37 ) LABOUR OF LOVE Hue And Cry
33 ( 27 ) SHE The Colourfield
34 ( 24 ) ALWAYS Atlantic Starr
35 ( 53 ) SOMEWHERE OUT THERE Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram
36 ( 50 ) MARY’S PRAYER Danny Wilson
37 ( 29 ) TIME WILL CRAWL David Bowie
38 ( 31 ) MISFIT Curiosity Killed The Cat
39 ( 43 ) CRAZY Icehouse
40 ( 71 ) SAY YOU REALLY WANT ME Kim Wilde

41 ( 35 ) DIAMONDS Herb Alpert featuring Janet Jackson
42 ( 59 ) FUNKYTOWN Pseudo Echo
43 ( 41 ) IT’S NOT UNUSUAL Tom Jones
44 ( 38 ) SEVEN WONDERS Fleetwood Mac
45 ( 46 ) FIRE Sly & Robbie
46 ( RE ) I SURRENDER Samantha Fox
47 ( NEW ) WIPEOUT The Fat Boys & The Beach Boys
48 ( 48 ) LA BAMBA Ritchie Valens
49 ( NEW ) NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP Rick Astley
50 ( 62 ) SWEET LITTLE MYSTERY Wet Wet Wet

51 ( 32 ) WISHING WELL Terence Trent D’Arby
52 ( 36 ) PERSONAL TOUCH Errol Brown
53 ( 70 ) LIPS LIKE SUGAR Echo & The Bunnymen
54 ( 66 ) SUGAR MICE Marillion
55 ( 28 ) SONGBIRD Kenny G
56 ( 52 ) GET IT ON (’87 REMIX) T.Rex
57 ( NEW ) HAPPY WHEN IT RAINS Jesus & Mary Chain
58 ( 33 ) DRAGNET Art Of Noise
59 ( NEW ) LOVE POWER Dionne Warwick & Jeffrey Osbourne
60 ( 74 ) I REALLY DIDN’T MEAN IT Luther Vandross

61 ( 67 ) HUMAN Human League
62 ( 60 ) A DIFFERENT CORNER George Michael
63 ( 51 ) IF I WAS YOUR GIRLFRIEND Prince
64 ( 39 ) SWEET SIXTEEN Billy Idol
65 ( 63 ) I GET THE SWEETEST FEELING Jackie Wilson
66 ( 58 ) SHE’S ON IT The Beastie Boys
67 ( 61 ) DON’T DREAM IT’S OVER Crowded House
68 ( 73 ) SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL The Blow Monkeys
69 ( NEW ) GIRLFRIEND IN A COMA The Smiths
70 ( 69 ) PENNY LANE/STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER The Beatles

71 ( 54 ) THE PLEASURE PRINCIPLE Janet Jackson
72 ( NEW ) HOURGLASS Squeeze
73 ( 55 ) UNDER THE BOARDWALK Bruce Willis with The Temptations
74 ( NEW ) FRIENDS AND LOVERS Boris Gardiner & Gwen Guthrie
75 ( NEW ) YOU CAUGHT MY EYE Judy Boucher

Playlist Oldies of that week
1 LOVE IN A WORLD GONE MAD Bucks Fizz
2 I’M YOUR MAN Wham!
3 VENUS Bananarama

18th August 1987

It’s 3 weeks on top for Dusty, Chris & Neil, holding off the forthcoming Jacko blitz at 2, with Was (Not Was) getting a second top ten and Rick Astley’s debut up 40 places to 9 giving SAW 2 top 10’s. XTC hit the top 10 then dropped out (it got little airplay to speak of) and it’s back at 12, so I assume I heard it somewhere that week and realised it was still fab! Dionne & Jeffery’s Bacharach “power” ballad shoots up to 17, the 2nd-biggest climber, Ms. Warwick’s biggest in 2 years, and just ahead of faves from Prince & Sheena, and the Pretenders Bond theme inside the 20.

Biggest-climber is The Smiths’ Girlfriend In A Coma at 22, as Bowie’s 3rd track off the album enters at 23, the best track on the album actually, Never Let Me Down. In a hectic week for top 40 movement The Fat Boys & The Beach Boys are up 20, Black’s top 10 Wonderful Life returns in the wake of Sweetest Smile’s success, back in at 29, and another future 1988 smash (in slightly remixed form) enters at 33 for Climie Fisher, the fab original version of Love Changes Everything. Sam Fox goes top 40 against my expectations, The Kane Gang get another instant top 40 with What Time Is It – pretty sure I have the album Miracle on vinyl or cassette somewhere unplayed for 30 years, though I recall it was not bad at all.

Jesus & Mary Chain keep the top 40’s going, as do Wet Wet Wet with a second sweet little mystery – the mystery being why it got that high. I must have been excited about going to the States in a few weeks and feeling upbeat and benign! In at 44 the ab fab Hey Matthew, with Karel Fialka returning 7 years on from The Eyes Have It, and drafting in his son to great effect. Still charming. John Lydon is also back, 9 years of PIL hits, a decade including The Sex Pistols, U2 have a subdued 3rd cut off The Joshua Tree – it is actually fab but coming after I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For it paled a bit in comparison until the Pet Shop Boys piss-take made me realise I did actually rather like it a lot, and the album too. Herb Alpert grabs a third comeback single, John Cougar makes it 5 years since Jack And Diane debuted, Sham ’69 return for the last time after a gap of 7 years, 9 years on, and Huey Lewis is another 5-years-on returning act.

1 ( 1 ) WHAT HAVE I DONE (TO DESERVE THIS) Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield
2 ( 3 ) I JUST CAN’T STOP LOVING YOU Michael Jackson featuring Siedah Garrett
3 ( 6 ) HEART AND SOUL T’Pau
4 ( 4 ) ANIMAL Def Leppard
5 ( 5 ) TRUE FAITH New Order
6 ( 10 ) BRIDGE TO YOUR HEART Wax
7 ( 2 ) I HEARD A RUMOUR Bananarama
8 ( 16 ) SPY IN THE HOUSE OF LOVE Was (Not Was)
9 ( 49 ) NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP Rick Astley
10 ( 7 ) ALONE Heart

11 ( 11 ) ROADBLOCK Stock Aitken & waterman
12 ( RE ) DEAR GOD XTC
13 ( 13 ) PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE (REMIX) The Temptations
14 ( 8 ) WHO’S THAT GIRL Madonna
15 ( 9 ) ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE The Beatles
16 ( 20 ) THE MOTIVE Then Jericho
17 ( 59 ) LOVE POWER Dionne Warwick & Jeffrey Osbourne
18 ( 12 ) CHANGE David Grant
19 ( 30 ) U GOT THE LOOK Prince featuring Sheena Easton
20 ( 26 ) IF THERE WAS A MAN Pretenders For 007

21 ( 14 ) IT’S A SIN Pet Shop Boys
22 ( 69 ) GIRLFRIEND IN A COMA The Smiths
23 ( NEW ) NEVER LET ME DOWN David Bowie
24 ( 47 ) WIPEOUT The Fat Boys & The Beach Boys
25 ( 19 ) JIVE TALKING Boogie Box High
26 ( 18 ) SOLD Boy George
27 ( 17 ) WOT’S IT TO YA Robbie Nevil
28 ( 22 ) I STILL HAVEN’T FOUND WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR U2
29 ( NEW ) WONDERFUL LIFE Black
30 ( 35 ) SOMEWHERE OUT THERE Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram

31 ( 23 ) HIGHER AND HIGHER (YOUR LOVE KEEPS LIFTING ME) Jackie Wilson
32 ( 15 ) MY BOY LOLLIPOP Millie
33 ( NEW ) LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING Climie Fisher
34 ( 40 ) SAY YOU REALLY WANT ME Kim Wilde
35 ( 39 ) CRAZY Icehouse
36 ( 46 ) I SURRENDER (TO THE SPIRIT OF THE NIGHT) Samantha Fox
37 ( 21 ) UNITED STATES The Lift
38 ( NEW ) WHAT TIME IS IT The Kane Gang
39 ( 57 ) HAPPY WHEN IT RAINS Jesus & Mary Chain
40 ( 50 ) SWEET LITTLE MYSTERY Wet Wet Wet

41 ( 29 ) SWEETEST SMILE Black
42 ( 42 ) FUNKYTOWN Pseudo Echo
43 ( 36 ) MARY’S PRAYER Danny Wilson
44 ( NEW ) HEY MATTHEW Karel Fialka
45 ( 24 ) FIRST WE TAKE MANHATTAN Jennifer Warnes
46 ( 38 ) MISFIT Curiosity Killed The Cat
47 ( 37 ) TIME WILL CRAWL David Bowie
48 ( 43 ) IT’S NOT UNUSUAL Tom Jones
49 ( 25 ) LA BAMBA Los Lobos
50 ( 72 ) HOURGLASS Squeeze

51 ( 53 ) LIPS LIKE SUGAR Echo & The Bunnymen
52 ( 41 ) DIAMONDS Herb Alpert featuring Janet Jackson
53 ( 31 ) LOVELY DAY Bill Withers
54 ( NEW ) SEATTLE Public Image Ltd
55 ( 27 ) CHENKO (TENKO-IO) REMIX Red Box
56 ( 44 ) SEVEN WONDERS Fleetwood Mac
57 ( NEW ) JUST CALL Sherrick
58 ( 56 ) GET IT ON (’87 REMIX) T.Rex
59 ( 28 ) CALL ME Spagna
60 ( NEW ) TELL ME WHY This Way Up

61 ( 61 ) HUMAN Human League
62 ( NEW ) WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME U2
63 ( 32 ) LABOUR OF LOVE Hue And Cry
64 ( 62 ) A DIFFERENT CORNER George Michael
65 ( 65 ) I GET THE SWEETEST FEELING Jackie Wilson
66 ( 66 ) SHE’S ON IT The Beastie Boys
67 ( 71 ) THE PLEASURE PRINCIPLE Janet Jackson
68 ( 68 ) SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL The Blow Monkeys
69 ( 52 ) PERSONAL TOUCH Errol Brown
70 ( 34 ) ALWAYS Atlantic Starr

71 ( NEW ) MAKING LOVE IN THE RAIN Herb Alpert
72 ( NEW ) PAPER IN FIRE John Cougar Mellencamp
73 ( 70 ) PENNY LANE/STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER The Beatles
74 ( NEW ) RIP AND TEAR Sham ’69
75 ( NEW ) DOING IT ALL FOR MY BABY Huey Lewis & The News

Playlist oldies of the week
1 LOVE IS ALL THAT MATTERS Human League
2 HARD TIMES Human League
3 IT MUST BE LOVE Labi Siffre
4 THE DIARY Bread

25th August 1987

It’s a 4th week on top for Chris, Neil & Dusty, holding off a mighty 12″ remix challenge of the lead track off the first EP I ever bought, and also the first album I ever bought, both in 1970 – The Archies’ Sugar Sugar thus getting a 3rd run at my chart 18 years on. As a kid I loved the songs in the cartoon TV show. I haven’t seen Riverdale but I just know it’s going to be an improvement on the non-song Archie gang cartoon bits of The Archies Show which these days are excruciating to sit through!

Pretenders get yet another top 10, 9 years since Kid it did first, and outdo the lead Bond theme from a-ha! Prince gets yet another top 10 4 years since 1999 first did it, and Sheena gets her first top 10 since Machinery did it 5 years earlier. Sheena also did a Bond theme that fell short of the top 10. Another 1969 UK top 10 hit returns, it’s Elvis and If I Can Dream, at his most OTT doubled with Elvis at his most subtle, the 50’s classic Love Me Tender, in at 18 18 years since If I Can Dream hit my top 5. Big climbs for Karel Fialka, John Cougar Mellencamp, and Donny Osmond is back! In at 39, he’s in it for love 11 years since C’Mon Marianne, his Frankie Valli cover, troubled my charts, and 15 years since Puppy Love debuted.

LL Cool J goes straight into the 40 as well, I Need Love he says – well a few years in NCIS must help. Debbie Gibson debuts, spearheading a teenybop girlie pop singer craze riding in on Madonna’s inspirational coat-tails, at 43 Only In My Dreams. Co-incidentally I saw Madonna in concert for the first time this week, standing at Wembley amongst the noisy and badly-behaved throng. My abiding memory is of tiny Madonna-a-likes on their dad’s shoulders getting bombarded with bottles of piss by pissed hooligans who had their view of the stage blocked. Madonna was fab, but they spoilt the concert for me. Future Madonna gigs I got seats. Top tracks listed below…

Talking of comebacks, Shirl is also back! Last seen in 1973 with Never Never Never, and now back cooled-up diva-style with Yello after years of being hopelessly irrelevant to pop music. La Bassey was a big fave of dad’s back in the 60’s, and while I loved Goldfinger and Big Spender, and ballads like For All We Know and As Long As He Needs Me, she’d really not featured much in my charts at all, largely being a bit OTT for my tastes. Talking of comebacks, Slade are also back for a final fling 16 years in to a non-stop chart-career, and Cliff drops the best track on his rather decent current album, Some People. Bar one Xmas single (very much not the awful Mistletoe & Millennium) it was all downhill after this. Still, 18 years of chart action ain’t bad.

Sinitta is back. Toy Boy. Why is it in my chart?! Eric Clapton under-performed first time-round with his bedroom tribute to his muse (that’ll be George Harrison’s ex, already immortalised in Layla) Wonderful Tonight, so that’s having another go too. The best new track is at 75, though, the fab follow-up to the fab When Smokey Sings off the fab Alphabet City album, The Night You Murdered Love from ABC 6 years on and still cool. Still are cool 32 years later and Martin Fry is in fine voice fettle.

1 ( 1 ) WHAT HAVE I DONE (TO DESERVE THIS) Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield
2 ( NEW ) SUGAR SUGAR (CANDYFLOSS MIX)/(ORIGINAL VERSION) The Archies
3 ( 2 ) I JUST CAN’T STOP LOVING YOU Michael Jackson featuring Siedah Garrett
4 ( 6 ) BRIDGE TO YOUR HEART Wax
5 ( 9 ) NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP Rick Astley
6 ( 3 ) HEART AND SOUL T’Pau
7 ( 5 ) TRUE FAITH New Order
8 ( 7 ) I HEARD A RUMOUR Bananarama
9 ( 20 ) IF THERE WAS A MAN Pretenders For 007
10 ( 19 ) U GOT THE LOOK Prince featuring Sheena Easton

11 ( 4 ) ANIMAL Def Leppard
12 ( 10 ) ALONE Heart
13 ( 17 ) LOVE POWER Dionne Warwick & Jeffrey Osbourne
14 ( 8 ) SPY IN THE HOUSE OF LOVE Was (Not Was)
15 ( 11 ) ROADBLOCK Stock Aitken & waterman
16 ( 16 ) THE MOTIVE Then Jericho
17 ( 23 ) NEVER LET ME DOWN David Bowie
18 ( NEW ) IF I CAN DREAM/ LOVE ME TENDER Elvis Presley
19 ( 24 ) WIPEOUT The Fat Boys & The Beach Boys
20 ( 14 ) WHO’S THAT GIRL Madonna

21 ( 13 ) PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE (REMIX) The Temptations
22 ( 22 ) GIRLFRIEND IN A COMA The Smiths
23 ( 33 ) LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING Climie Fisher
24 ( 29 ) WONDERFUL LIFE Black
25 ( 15 ) ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE The Beatles
26 ( 12 ) DEAR GOD XTC
27 ( 44 ) HEY MATTHEW Karel Fialka
28 ( 38 ) WHAT TIME IS IT The Kane Gang
29 ( 21 ) IT’S A SIN Pet Shop Boys
30 ( 39 ) HAPPY WHEN IT RAINS Jesus & Mary Chain

31 ( 18 ) CHANGE David Grant
32 ( 34 ) SAY YOU REALLY WANT ME Kim Wilde
33 ( 35 ) CRAZY Icehouse
34 ( 28 ) I STILL HAVEN’T FOUND WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR U2
35 ( 72 ) PAPER IN FIRE John Cougar Mellencamp
36 ( 25 ) JIVE TALKING Boogie Box High
37 ( 31 ) HIGHER AND HIGHER (YOUR LOVE KEEPS LIFTING ME) Jackie Wilson
38 ( 40 ) SWEET LITTLE MYSTERY Wet Wet Wet
39 ( NEW ) I’M IN IT FOR LOVE Donny Osmond
40 ( NEW ) I NEED LOVE LL Cool J

41 ( 26 ) SOLD Boy George
42 ( 42 ) FUNKYTOWN Pseudo Echo
43 ( NEW ) ONLY IN MY DREAMS Debbie Gibson
44 ( 50 ) HOURGLASS Squeeze
45 ( NEW ) THE RHYTHM DIVINE Yello featuring Shirley Bassey
46 ( 62 ) WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME U2
47 ( 30 ) SOMEWHERE OUT THERE Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram
48 ( 43 ) MARY’S PRAYER Danny Wilson
49 ( 57 ) JUST CALL Sherrick
50 ( 27 ) WOT’S IT TO YA Robbie Nevil

51 ( 48 ) IT’S NOT UNUSUAL Tom Jones
52 ( 54 ) SEATTLE Public Image Ltd
53 ( 32 ) MY BOY LOLLIPOP Millie
54 ( 41 ) SWEETEST SMILE Black
55 ( NEW ) YOY BOYZ MAKE BIG NOIZE Slade
56 ( 63 ) LABOUR OF LOVE Hue And Cry
57 ( 36 ) I SURRENDER (TO THE SPIRIT OF THE NIGHT) Samantha Fox
58 ( 60 ) TELL ME WHY This Way Up
59 ( 59 ) CALL ME Spagna
60 ( 37 ) UNITED STATES The Lift

61 ( 61 ) HUMAN Human League
62 ( 58 ) GET IT ON (’87 REMIX) T.Rex
63 ( 52 ) DIAMONDS Herb Alpert featuring Janet Jackson
64 ( 64 ) A DIFFERENT CORNER George Michael
65 ( 46 ) MISFIT Curiosity Killed The Cat
66 ( 65 ) I GET THE SWEETEST FEELING Jackie Wilson
67 ( 47 ) TIME WILL CRAWL David Bowie
68 ( 75 ) DOING IT ALL FOR MY BABY Huey Lewis & The News
69 ( 67 ) THE PLEASURE PRINCIPLE Janet Jackson
70 ( NEW ) SOME PEOPLE Cliff Richard

71 ( 49 ) LA BAMBA Los Lobos
72 ( NEW ) TOY BOY Sinitta
73 ( 73 ) PENNY LANE/STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER The Beatles
74 ( NEW ) WONDERFUL TONIGHT Eric Clapton
75 ( NEW ) THE NIGHT YOU MURDERED LOVE ABC

MADONNA’S WHO’S THAT GIRL TOUR LIVE AT WEMBLEY
1 LIKE A VIRGIN/I CAN’T HELP MYSELF
2 LIVE TO TELL
3 HOLIDAY

My Retro September 1969 Charts

Changi Village, Singapore, and the side of the road with the music shop on that I brought this from:

 

6th August 1969

It’s 3 weeks on top for Bobbie Gentry in the week my family left the UK, and my actual top fave track was In The Year 2525 (see shortening chart as I lose touch with new music). Dusty goes top 3 for the 2nd time, and The Temps get a second top 10. Nilsson takes Everybody’s Talking back into the 20 again after a mighty leap to 11, and The O’Jays get a first top 20. Elvis leaps into the 30 with Suspicious Minds and The Monkees unexpectedly extend their massive run of top 40 chart entries over a 3-year period as Good Clean Fun climbs fast and the B side enters at 67 – the highest new one. The A side is Mike Nesmith in country-swing, the B is Micky Dolenz in skat mode a la Randy Scouse Git.

James Brown gets his 2nd top 40, The Isley Brothers a 7th, as the Radha Krishna Temple enter, a Beatles-related off-the-wall UK hit, and one which I did get to hear at the time – a bit of a rarity. From this point on it’s safer to assume I didn’t get to hear them, and caught the big hits 5 years later on the Jimmy S*v*lle 5 Years Ago Sunday charts show rundown, and the minor ones probably just now! Andy Kim has Sugar, Sugar higher up, and some more Archies on the way, as he returns with another chart entry of his own: So Good Together at 71. Dionne Warwick covers the Righteous Brothers classic for some reason – it’s not in the same league, but pleasant enough – Sandie Shaw returns with the inspiration for a future Morrissey Smiths’ song, and rock-band Crow debut with a track that will be big in the USA in 1970. Never heard it before in my life.

1 ( 1 ) I’LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN Bobbie Gentry # 1
2 ( 2 ) SPACE ODDITY David Bowie # 1
3 ( 9 ) AM I THE SAME GIRL Dusty Springfield # 3
4 ( 7 ) DON’T FORGET TO REMEMBER ME The Bee Gees # 4
5 ( 3 ) SOMETHING IN THE AIR Thunderclap Newman # 1
6 ( 4 ) IN THE YEAR 2525 (EXORDIUM AND TERMINUS) Zager & Evans # 1
7 ( 11 ) I CAN’T GET NEXT TO YOU The Temptations # 7
8 ( 8 ) CRYSTAL BLUE PERSUASION Tommy James & The Shondells # 1
9 ( 5 ) BRINGING ON BACK THE GOOD TIMES The Love Affair # 5
10 ( 10 ) LET ME BE THE MAN MY DADDY WAS The Chi-Lites # 10

11 ( 50 ) EVERYBODY’S TALKING Nilsson # 11
12 ( 6 ) I’M GONNA MAKE YOU MINE Lou Christie # 6
13 ( 12 ) EARLY IN THE MORNING Vanity Fare # 5
14 ( 14 ) RIVERMAN Nick Drake # 14
15 ( 13 ) SAVED BY THE BELL Robin Gibb # 1
16 ( 20 ) STREETS OF LONDON Ralph McTell # 16
17 ( 16 ) A WAY OF LIFE Family Dogg # 1
18 ( 15 ) SUGAR, SUGAR The Archies # 1
19 ( 19 ) HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME Sly & The Family Stone # 19
20 ( 26 ) ONE NIGHT AFFAIR The O’Jays # 20

21 ( 17 ) WHEN I DIE Motherlode # 17
22 ( 23 ) WALK ON BY Isaac Hayes # 22
23 ( 18 ) HONKY TONK WOMEN The Rolling Stones # 6
24 ( 46 ) SUSPICIOUS MINDS Elvis Presley # 24
25 ( 25 ) BREAKAWAY The Beach Boys # 1
26 ( 27 ) JE T’AIME..MOI NON PLUS Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg # 26
27 ( 33 ) HERE I GO AGAIN Smokey Robinson & The Miracles # 27
28 ( 22 ) GIVE PEACE A CHANCE The Plastic Ono Band # 5
29 ( 21 ) GOODNIGHT MIDNIGHT Clodagh Rodgers # 10
30 ( 34 ) STRAIGHT AHEAD Young-Holt Unlimited # 30

31 ( 24 ) MOTHER AND JACK Robin Gibb # 15
32 ( 28 ) THE BALLAD OF JOHN & YOKO The Beatles # 1
33 ( 38 ) JIVE Bobby Darin # 33
34 ( 35 ) THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA Philharmonia Orchestra Conductor Lorin Maazel # 34
35 ( 31 ) SWEET CAROLINE (GOOD TIMES NEVER SEEMED SO GOOD) Neil Diamond # 9
36 ( 43 ) PUT YOURSELF IN MY PLACE The Isley Brothers # 36
37 ( 29 ) MARRAKESH EXPRESS Crosby, Stills & Nash # 8
38 ( 64 ) GOOD CLEAN FUN The Monkees # 38
39 ( 36 ) GOOD MORNING STARSHINE Oliver # 1
40 ( 56 ) WORLD PARTS 1 & 2 James Brown # 40

41 ( 42 ) THAT’S THE WAY LOVE IS Marvin Gaye # 41
42 ( 30 ) THE TIME WILL COME The Whispers # 30
43 ( 37 ) SHARE YOUR LOVE WITH ME Aretha Franklin # 37
44 ( 41 ) BEHIND A PAINTED SMILE The Isley Brothers # 1
45 ( 59 ) GROOVIN’ WITH MR’ BLOE Wind featuring Tony Orlando # 45
46 ( 72 ) MAYBE Betty Everett # 46
47 ( 52 ) MY BALLOON’S GOING UP Archie Bell & The Drells # 47
48 ( 48 ) KEEM-O-SABE The Electric Indian # 48
49 ( 32 ) VIVA BOBBY JOE The Equals # 23
50 ( 66 ) MY WOMAN’S GOOD TO ME George Benson # 50

51 ( 65 ) LOVE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE The Winstons # 51
52 ( 40 ) ALL THE WAITING IS NOT IN VAIN Tyrone Davis # 40
53 ( 39 ) CURLY The Move # 39
54 ( 62 ) MAH NA MAH NA Piero Umiliano # 54
55 ( 71 ) THROW DOWN A LINE Cliff Richard & Hank Marvin # 55
56 ( 53 ) LISTEN TO THE BAND The Monkees # 3
57 ( 67 ) TRACY The Cuff Links featuring Ron Dante # 57
58 ( 54 ) IN THE GHETTO Elvis Presley # 1
59 ( 68 ) PENNY ARCADE Roy Orbison # 59
60 ( 57 ) OH HAPPY DAY The Edwin Hawkins Singers featuring Dorothy Combs Morrison # 1

61 ( 55 ) WHAT DOES IT TAKE (TO WIN YOUR LOVE) Junior Walker & The All Stars # 1
62 ( 69 ) ACE INSURANCE MAN Bobbie Gentry # 62
63 ( 51 ) RUBY DON’T TAKE YOUR LOVE TO TOWN Kenny Rogers & The First Edition # 6
64 ( 61 ) FIRST OF MAY The Bee Gees # 1
65 ( 73 ) BABY I’M FOR REAL The Originals # 65
66 ( 70 ) NOBODY’S CHILD Karen Young # 66
67 ( NEW ) MOMMY AND DADDY The Monkees # 67
68 ( 47 ) LAY LADY LAY Bob Dylan # 19
69 ( NEW ) HARE KRISHNA MANTRA Radha Krishna Temple # 69
70 ( 49 ) TRUE GRIT Glen Campbell # 16

71 ( NEW ) SO GOOD TOGETHER Andy Kim # 71
72 ( NEW ) YOU’VE LOST THAT LOVIN’ FEELIN’ Dionne Warwick # 72
73 ( NEW ) HEAVEN KNOWS I’M MISSING HIM NOW Sandie Shaw # 73
74 ( 74 ) I’LL BET YOU Funkadelic # 74
75 ( NEW ) EVIL WOMAN DON’T PLAY YOUR GAMES WITH ME Crow # 75

6th Sep Retro-Then

Snippets from my life that week: bought Adventure Comics 373 (Legion Of Super-Heroes) which was the second-most exciting thing of the week, after seeing the island of Gan in the Indian Ocean from the air, a tropical coral paradise of green in a sunny blue vast ocean, and then landing on the RAF stop-off in the VC-10. Hot, sunny, sherbet-orange drinks, giant fruit bats. Singapore was hot, humid. Very humid. The Cameron Hotel was a regular first stop-off for RAF families till they rented a house, I thought the Chinese ladies zipping about the place were girls cos they were as short as me. There were chit-chats everywhere (wall geckos catching insects). I found I am utterly lifelong irresistible – to mosquitos. Put me in a crowd of 100,000 and they can zero in on me and feast and I balloon and swell within seconds. Air-conditioning is a blessed relief on the equator. I felt shy and embarrassed at not being able to speak the local languages (though everyone spoke at least some English). Shark is tough to eat, and I was very uneasy about it being on the menu and never did it again (I was unaware what it was). I am vegetarian now and sharks are being decimated worldwide.

1 ( 1 ) IN THE YEAR 2525 Zager And Evans
2 ( 2 ) EARLY IN THE MORNING Vanity Fayre
3 ( 3 ) DON’T FORGET TO REMEMBER The Bee Gees
4 ( 14 ) HEATHER HONEY Tommy Roe
5 ( 5 ) VIVA BOBBY JOE The Equals
6 ( 4 ) MY CHERIE AMOUR Stevie Wonder
7 ( 6 ) SAVED BY THE BELL Robin Gibb
8 ( 8 ) MAKE ME AN ISLAND Joe Dolan
9 ( 13 ) BAD MOON RISING Creedence Clearwater Revival
10 ( 9 ) GOODNIGHT MIDNIGHT Clodagh Rodgers

11 ( 10 ) CONVERSATIONS Cilla Black
12 ( 11 ) HONKY TONK WOMEN The Rolling Stones
13 ( 16 ) GOOD MORNING STARSHINE Oliver
14 ( 12 ) GIVE PEACE A CHANCE Plastic Ono Band
15 ( NEW ) I’LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN Bobbie Gentry

 

swimming lessons RAF Changi

13th September 1969

It’s 4 weeks on top for Bobbie Gentry as Dusty challenges at 2, Nilsson is back into the top 5 a year on from topping with Everybody’s Talking, and there is an Archies invasion of tracks from the first album I ever bought with my own money. That album was Everything’s Archie, it made the US charts, and my album was an Australian pressing in glorious stereo. It sounds really good on a record deck, was beautifully-produced with no frills – and all of the CD/download/streaming versions since have been pretty rubbish on the whole – guess nobody thinks it’s worthy of remastering. Hey ho it’s only my childhood. I bought it about a year later, actually, after getting obsessed with the Bicycles Rollerskates & You melody which got plugged on the TV show a lot (in at 40). I subsequently also went big on the tunefulness of Circle Of Blue, but the track that still bops and sounds freshest is You Little Angel, You.

The Monkees shoot up into the 20 for their 2nd of the year, Elvis gets his 3rd top 20 of the year, Isaac Hayes his first, and Je T’Aime at last finds a gap to jump up. In a very low week for new entries the highest is The 5th Dimension at 24 with yet another fab cover of a Laura Nyro song, Wedding Bell Blues, as recently covered by Morrissey – obviously as much a fan as me. Not one I knew at the time mind you, but I managed to get hold of a vinyl copy in 1975 in a Mansfield second-hand shop and grew to love it over the years. Peggy Lee pops in at 59 with her unusual and semi-depressing dark understated Is That All There Is. I’ve never been able to work out if it’s darkly whimsical or just very very dark, full-stop, since I first heard it back in the 90’s. Peggy, of course, was beloved of kids for her He’s A Tramp Disney and The Siamese Cat Song songs, including me.

1 ( 1 ) I’LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN Bobbie Gentry # 1
2 ( 3 ) AM I THE SAME GIRL Dusty Springfield # 2
3 ( 2 ) SPACE ODDITY David Bowie # 1
4 ( 11 ) EVERYBODY’S TALKING Nilsson # 4
5 ( 7 ) I CAN’T GET NEXT TO YOU The Temptations # 5
6 ( 4 ) DON’T FORGET TO REMEMBER ME The Bee Gees # 4
7 ( 5 ) SOMETHING IN THE AIR Thunderclap Newman # 1
8 ( 6 ) IN THE YEAR 2525 (EXORDIUM AND TERMINUS) Zager & Evans # 1
9 ( 10 ) LET ME BE THE MAN MY DADDY WAS The Chi-Lites # 9
10 ( 8 ) CRYSTAL BLUE PERSUASION Tommy James & The Shondells # 1

11 ( 24 ) SUSPICIOUS MINDS Elvis Presley # 11
12 ( 22 ) WALK ON BY Isaac Hayes # 12
13 ( 9 ) BRINGING ON BACK THE GOOD TIMES The Love Affair # 5
14 ( 13 ) EARLY IN THE MORNING Vanity Fare # 5
15 ( 12 ) I’M GONNA MAKE YOU MINE Lou Christie # 6
16 ( 27 ) HERE I GO AGAIN Smokey Robinson & The Miracles # 16
17 ( 26 ) JE T’AIME..MOI NON PLUS Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg # 17
18 ( 38 ) GOOD CLEAN FUN The Monkees # 18
19 ( 15 ) SAVED BY THE BELL Robin Gibb # 1
20 ( 17 ) A WAY OF LIFE Family Dogg # 1

21 ( 18 ) SUGAR, SUGAR The Archies # 1
22 ( 36 ) PUT YOURSELF IN MY PLACE The Isley Brothers # 22
23 ( 16 ) STREETS OF LONDON Ralph McTell # 16
24 ( NEW ) WEDDING BELL BLUES The 5th Dimension # 24
25 ( 21 ) WHEN I DIE Motherlode # 17
26 ( 14 ) RIVERMAN Nick Drake # 14
27 ( 20 ) ONE NIGHT AFFAIR The O’Jays # 20
28 ( 46 ) MAYBE Betty Everett # 28
29 ( 33 ) JIVE Bobby Darin # 29
30 ( 25 ) BREAKAWAY The Beach Boys # 1

31 ( 23 ) HONKY TONK WOMEN The Rolling Stones # 6
32 ( 19 ) HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME Sly & The Family Stone # 19
33 ( 40 ) WORLD PARTS 1 & 2 James Brown # 33
34 ( 34 ) THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA Philharmonia Orchestra Conductor Lorin Maazel # 34
35 ( 32 ) THE BALLAD OF JOHN & YOKO The Beatles # 1
36 ( 45 ) GROOVIN’ WITH MR’ BLOE Wind featuring Tony Orlando # 36
37 ( 47 ) MY BALLOON’S GOING UP Archie Bell & The Drells # 37
38 ( 41 ) THAT’S THE WAY LOVE IS Marvin Gaye # 38
39 ( 35 ) SWEET CAROLINE (GOOD TIMES NEVER SEEMED SO GOOD) Neil Diamond # 9
40 ( NEW ) BICYCLES, ROLLERSKATES AND YOU The Archies # 40

41 ( 28 ) GIVE PEACE A CHANCE The Plastic Ono Band # 5
42 ( 29 ) GOODNIGHT MIDNIGHT Clodagh Rodgers # 10
43 ( 39 ) GOOD MORNING STARSHINE Oliver # 1
44 ( 31 ) MOTHER AND JACK Robin Gibb # 15
45 ( 50 ) MY WOMAN’S GOOD TO ME George Benson # 45
46 ( 30 ) STRAIGHT AHEAD Young-Holt Unlimited # 30
47 ( 51 ) LOVE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE The Winstons # 47
48 ( 37 ) MARRAKESH EXPRESS Crosby, Stills & Nash # 8
49 ( 44 ) BEHIND A PAINTED SMILE The Isley Brothers # 1
50 ( NEW ) YOU LITTLE ANGEL, YOU The Archies # 50

51 ( 55 ) THROW DOWN A LINE Cliff Richard & Hank Marvin # 51
52 ( 65 ) BABY I’M FOR REAL The Originals # 52
53 ( 57 ) TRACY The Cuff Links featuring Ron Dante # 53
54 ( 59 ) PENNY ARCADE Roy Orbison # 54
55 ( 43 ) SHARE YOUR LOVE WITH ME Aretha Franklin # 37
56 ( 42 ) THE TIME WILL COME The Whispers # 30
57 ( NEW ) CIRCLE OF BLUE The Archies # 57
58 ( NEW ) IS THAT ALL THERE IS Peggy Lee # 58
59 ( 66 ) NOBODY’S CHILD Karen Young # 59
60 ( 62 ) ACE INSURANCE MAN Bobbie Gentry # 60

61 ( 56 ) LISTEN TO THE BAND The Monkees # 3
62 ( 67 ) MOMMY AND DADDY The Monkees # 62
63 ( 58 ) IN THE GHETTO Elvis Presley # 1
64 ( 60 ) OH HAPPY DAY The Edwin Hawkins Singers featuring Dorothy Combs Morrison # 1
65 ( 69 ) HARE KRISHNA MANTRA Radha Krishna Temple # 65
66 ( 71 ) SO GOOD TOGETHER Andy Kim # 66
67 ( 72 ) YOU’VE LOST THAT LOVIN’ FEELIN’ Dionne Warwick # 67
68 ( 48 ) KEEM-O-SABE The Electric Indian # 48
69 ( 73 ) HEAVEN KNOWS I’M MISSING HIM NOW Sandie Shaw # 69
70 ( NEW ) ROCK & ROLL MUSIC The Archies # 70

71 ( 64 ) FIRST OF MAY The Bee Gees # 1
72 ( NEW ) WE’LL CRY TOGETHER Maxine Brown # 72
73 ( NEW ) DON’T TOUCH MY GUITAR The Archies # 73
74 ( 75 ) EVIL WOMAN DON’T PLAY YOUR GAMES WITH ME Crow # 74
75 ( NEW ) I SECOND THAT EMOTION Diana Ross & The Supremes & The Temptations # 75

RETRO THEN

In this actual week, it was week 2 in the Cameron Hotel and a trip to RAF Changi swimming pool. The handy guide provided by the RAF warned about burning in the equatorial sun. Sadly, my very young parents can’t have read it, as after an hour or two frollicking in the pool in the hot sun, me teaching myself to swim using a rubber ring for support (age 11!), we all started to invisibly burn. By the time we got home on the local bus it was becoming more obvious and ultimately became agony to move. The next few days was mostly spent lying on my stomach covered in soothing cream, in the aircon, and trying not to move. Talk about miserable!

1 ( 1 ) IN THE YEAR 2525 Zager And Evans
2 ( 3 ) DON’T FORGET TO REMEMBER The Bee Gees
3 ( 2 ) EARLY IN THE MORNING Vanity Fare
4 ( 15 ) I’LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN Bobbie Gentry
5 ( 4 ) HEATHER HONEY Tommy Roe
6 ( 9 ) BAD MOON RISING Creedence Clearwater Revival
7 ( 6 ) MY CHERIE AMOUR Stevie Wonder
8 ( 13 ) GOOD MORNING STARSHINE Oliver
9 ( 7 ) SAVED BY THE BELL Robin Gibb
10 ( 8 ) MAKE ME AN ISLAND Joe Dolan

11 ( 5 ) VIVA BOBBY JOE The Equals
12 ( 10 ) GOODNIGHT MIDNIGHT Clodagh Rodgers
13 ( NEW ) HARE KRISHNA MANTRA Radha Krishna Temple
14 ( NEW ) IT’S GETTING BETTER Mama Cass
15 ( 12 ) HONKY TONK WOMEN The Rolling Stones

 

 

 

20th Sept 1969

It’s a first week on top for Dusty Springfield’s version of Barbara Ackland & Eugene Record’s song, her second chart-topper, and it shows Dusty singing in a different register which works beautifully. Highest new entry at 4 is the original Na Na Hey Hey from Steam later covered to lesser effect by actual Nana’s – Bananarama in 1983 did a good attempt though. Elvis gets his 3rd top 10 of 1969 and The Isley Brothers get a second (and again with an older Motown track).

Betty Everett climbs healthily into the 20, Maybe, and it’s another quiet week for new entries with Tommy James adding to his lengthy list at 70 – great Ball Of Fire! Johnny Cash enters with Rhythm after his Sue ended up not even getting as high as 72, and The Archies try to get every track on their second album on the list: Hot Dog! Hot Dog was a big ol’ dog named Hot Dog in the comic book and TV show and got plugged quite a bit.

1 ( 2 ) AM I THE SAME GIRL Dusty Springfield # 1
2 ( 1 ) I’LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN Bobbie Gentry # 1
3 ( 4 ) EVERYBODY’S TALKING Nilsson # 3
4 ( NEW ) NA NA HEY HEY KISS HIM GOODBYE Steam # 4
5 ( 3 ) SPACE ODDITY David Bowie # 1
6 ( 11 ) SUSPICIOUS MINDS Elvis Presley # 6
7 ( 22 ) PUT YOURSELF IN MY PLACE The Isley Brothers # 7
8 ( 5 ) I CAN’T GET NEXT TO YOU The Temptations # 5
9 ( 7 ) SOMETHING IN THE AIR Thunderclap Newman # 1
10 ( 8 ) IN THE YEAR 2525 (EXORDIUM AND TERMINUS) Zager & Evans # 1

11 ( 6 ) DON’T FORGET TO REMEMBER ME The Bee Gees # 4
12 ( 28 ) MAYBE Betty Everett # 12
13 ( 10 ) CRYSTAL BLUE PERSUASION Tommy James & The Shondells # 1
14 ( 16 ) HERE I GO AGAIN Smokey Robinson & The Miracles # 14
15 ( 24 ) WEDDING BELL BLUES The 5th Dimension # 15
16 ( 9 ) LET ME BE THE MAN MY DADDY WAS The Chi-Lites # 9
17 ( 18 ) GOOD CLEAN FUN The Monkees # 17
18 ( 12 ) WALK ON BY Isaac Hayes # 12
19 ( 13 ) BRINGING ON BACK THE GOOD TIMES The Love Affair # 5
20 ( 14 ) EARLY IN THE MORNING Vanity Fare # 5

21 ( 19 ) SAVED BY THE BELL Robin Gibb # 1
22 ( 20 ) A WAY OF LIFE Family Dogg # 1
23 ( 21 ) SUGAR, SUGAR The Archies # 1
24 ( 15 ) I’M GONNA MAKE YOU MINE Lou Christie # 6
25 ( 29 ) JIVE Bobby Darin # 25
26 ( 17 ) JE T’AIME..MOI NON PLUS Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg # 17
27 ( 36 ) GROOVIN’ WITH MR’ BLOE Wind featuring Tony Orlando # 27
28 ( 33 ) WORLD PARTS 1 & 2 James Brown # 28
29 ( 40 ) BICYCLES, ROLLERSKATES AND YOU The Archies # 29
30 ( 23 ) STREETS OF LONDON Ralph McTell # 16

31 ( 25 ) WHEN I DIE Motherlode # 17
32 ( 37 ) MY BALLOON’S GOING UP Archie Bell & The Drells # 32
33 ( 38 ) THAT’S THE WAY LOVE IS Marvin Gaye # 33
34 ( 30 ) BREAKAWAY The Beach Boys # 1
35 ( 27 ) ONE NIGHT AFFAIR The O’Jays # 20
36 ( 26 ) RIVERMAN Nick Drake # 14
37 ( 35 ) THE BALLAD OF JOHN & YOKO The Beatles # 1
38 ( 31 ) HONKY TONK WOMEN The Rolling Stones # 6
39 ( 45 ) MY WOMAN’S GOOD TO ME George Benson # 39
40 ( 50 ) YOU LITTLE ANGEL, YOU The Archies # 40

41 ( 32 ) HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME Sly & The Family Stone # 19
42 ( 58 ) IS THAT ALL THERE IS Peggy Lee # 42
43 ( 34 ) THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA Philharmonia Orchestra Conductor Lorin Maazel # 34
44 ( 39 ) SWEET CAROLINE (GOOD TIMES NEVER SEEMED SO GOOD) Neil Diamond # 9
45 ( 51 ) THROW DOWN A LINE Cliff Richard & Hank Marvin # 45
46 ( 47 ) LOVE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE The Winstons # 46
47 ( 43 ) GOOD MORNING STARSHINE Oliver # 1
48 ( 41 ) GIVE PEACE A CHANCE The Plastic Ono Band # 5
49 ( 57 ) CIRCLE OF BLUE The Archies # 49
50 ( 53 ) TRACY The Cuff Links featuring Ron Dante # 50

51 ( 49 ) BEHIND A PAINTED SMILE The Isley Brothers # 1
52 ( 52 ) BABY I’M FOR REAL The Originals # 52
53 ( 54 ) PENNY ARCADE Roy Orbison # 53
54 ( 42 ) GOODNIGHT MIDNIGHT Clodagh Rodgers # 10
55 ( 44 ) MOTHER AND JACK Robin Gibb # 15
56 ( 59 ) NOBODY’S CHILD Karen Young # 56
57 ( NEW ) DO WHAT YOU GOTTA DO The Four Tops # 57
58 ( 62 ) MOMMY AND DADDY The Monkees # 58
59 ( 65 ) HARE KRISHNA MANTRA Radha Krishna Temple # 59
60 ( 48 ) MARRAKESH EXPRESS Crosby, Stills & Nash # 8

61 ( 67 ) YOU’VE LOST THAT LOVIN’ FEELIN’ Dionne Warwick # 61
62 ( 60 ) ACE INSURANCE MAN Bobbie Gentry # 60
63 ( 69 ) HEAVEN KNOWS I’M MISSING HIM NOW Sandie Shaw # 63
64 ( 70 ) ROCK & ROLL MUSIC The Archies # 64
65 ( 72 ) WE’LL CRY TOGETHER Maxine Brown # 65
66 ( 66 ) SO GOOD TOGETHER Andy Kim # 66
67 ( 74 ) EVIL WOMAN DON’T PLAY YOUR GAMES WITH ME Crow # 67
68 ( 61 ) LISTEN TO THE BAND The Monkees # 3
69 ( 73 ) DON’T TOUCH MY GUITAR The Archies # 69
70 ( NEW ) BALL OF FIRE Tommy James & The Shondells # 70

71 ( 63 ) IN THE GHETTO Elvis Presley # 1
72 ( NEW ) GET RHYTHM Johnny Cash # 72
73 ( NEW ) HOT DOG The Archies # 73
74 ( 75 ) I SECOND THAT EMOTION Diana Ross & The Supremes & The Temptations # 74
75 ( NEW ) MIND, BODY AND SOUL The Flaming Ember # 75

Back in Singapore for the third week there and we were house-hunting to rent and move out of the Hotel. Our new friends the Marshalls found one in Bedokville and the new-builds there looked like pure middle-class Americana suburbs to me. The house next door to them was vacant and it had 4 bedrooms. It seemed like a mansion. Then there was school to think of. It had already started and I was about to start at RAF Seletar Secondary Modern, which involved a Ghari (white RAF bus) ride to the north side of the island, school uniform khaki shorts and white short-sleeved shirt. Everything was new and an adventure…

wot I liked that week then

1 ( 1 ) IN THE YEAR 2525 Zager And Evans
2 ( 9 ) SAVED BY THE BELL Robin Gibb
3 ( 4 ) I’LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN Bobbie Gentry
4 ( 8 ) GOOD MORNING STARSHINE Oliver
5 ( 2 ) DON’T FORGET TO REMEMBER The Bee Gees
6 ( 6 ) BAD MOON RISING Creedence Clearwater Revival
7 ( 13 ) HARE KRISHNA MANTRA Radha Krishna Temple
8 ( 7 ) MY CHERIE AMOUR Stevie Wonder
9 ( 10 ) MAKE ME AN ISLAND Joe Dolan
10 ( 14 ) IT’S GETTING BETTER Mama Cass

11 ( 5 ) HEATHER HONEY Tommy Roe
12 ( 11 ) VIVA BOBBY JOE The Equals
13 ( 15 ) HONKY TONK WOMEN The Rolling Stones
14 ( NEW ) LAY LADY LAY Bob Dylan
15 ( NEW ) A BOY NAMED SUE Johnny Cash

 

27th September 1969

It’s straight in at 1 for the John Barry brilliant instrumental movie theme, which took 11 years to chart in the UK – better late then never. John Barry had a host of fab stuff earlier in the 60’s, not least his Bond stuff, and would be back before too long. That’s not all, Glen Campbell gets his 3rd top 5 of the year with the fab Try A Little Kindness, not Jimmy Webb, shock horror, while The Monkees get an unexpected last gasp top 10 for quite a while – as in decades. Betty Everett also gets a first top 10. And last!

In at 12 it’s the Hollies classic which topped my chart (& the UK chart) in 1988 belatedly, Abbey Road is 50 years old, and topping the UK album charts again, giving me an excuse to chart the best tracks off it, headed by Here Comes The Sun – now far and away the most-streamed Beatles track, the most-charted in the 21st century, and the one that most-appeals to the younger generation. George Harrison has the other big new entry with Something, while Paul and John have to make do with lower-down positions.

Mama Cass is in with future Paloma Faith popular advert seller, Make Your Own Kind Of Music, Fleetwood Mac with future Oh Well hit cover in the 90’s, Phil Specter is still pushing Sonny Charles & Co with a good cover of Creedence’s Proud Mary, and Rick Nelson is back with a cover of a Dylan song.

1 ( NEW ) THEME FROM “MIDNIGHT COWBOY” John Barry # 1
2 ( 2 ) I’LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN Bobbie Gentry # 1
3 ( 1 ) AM I THE SAME GIRL Dusty Springfield # 1
4 ( 4 ) NA NA HEY HEY KISS HIM GOODBYE Steam # 4
5 ( NEW ) TRY A LITTLE KINDNESS Glen Campbell # 5
6 ( 3 ) EVERYBODY’S TALKING Nilsson # 3
7 ( 5 ) SPACE ODDITY David Bowie # 1
8 ( 17 ) GOOD CLEAN FUN The Monkees # 8
9 ( 6 ) SUSPICIOUS MINDS Elvis Presley # 6
10 ( 12 ) MAYBE Betty Everett # 10

11 ( 7 ) PUT YOURSELF IN MY PLACE The Isley Brothers # 7
12 ( NEW ) HE AIN’T HEAVY…HE’S MY BROTHER The Hollies # 12
13 ( 15 ) WEDDING BELL BLUES The 5th Dimension # 13
14 ( 9 ) SOMETHING IN THE AIR Thunderclap Newman # 1
15 ( 10 ) IN THE YEAR 2525 (EXORDIUM AND TERMINUS) Zager & Evans # 1
16 ( NEW ) HERE COMES THE SUN The Beatles # 16
17 ( 13 ) CRYSTAL BLUE PERSUASION Tommy James & The Shondells # 1
18 ( 8 ) I CAN’T GET NEXT TO YOU The Temptations # 5
19 ( 11 ) DON’T FORGET TO REMEMBER ME The Bee Gees # 4
20 ( NEW ) SOMETHING The Beatles # 20

21 ( 14 ) HERE I GO AGAIN Smokey Robinson & The Miracles # 14
22 ( 16 ) LET ME BE THE MAN MY DADDY WAS The Chi-Lites # 9
23 ( NEW ) GOLDEN SLUMBERS The Beatles # 23
24 ( 29 ) BICYCLES, ROLLERSKATES AND YOU The Archies # 24
25 ( 22 ) A WAY OF LIFE Family Dogg # 1
26 ( 23 ) SUGAR, SUGAR The Archies # 1
27 ( 21 ) SAVED BY THE BELL Robin Gibb # 1
28 ( 32 ) MY BALLOON’S GOING UP Archie Bell & The Drells # 28
29 ( 39 ) MY WOMAN’S GOOD TO ME George Benson # 29
30 ( 18 ) WALK ON BY Isaac Hayes # 12

31 ( 19 ) BRINGING ON BACK THE GOOD TIMES The Love Affair # 5
32 ( 20 ) EARLY IN THE MORNING Vanity Fare # 5
33 ( 40 ) YOU LITTLE ANGEL, YOU The Archies # 33
34 ( 24 ) I’M GONNA MAKE YOU MINE Lou Christie # 6
35 ( 25 ) JIVE Bobby Darin # 25
36 ( 28 ) WORLD PARTS 1 & 2 James Brown # 28
37 ( 42 ) IS THAT ALL THERE IS Peggy Lee # 37
38 ( 45 ) THROW DOWN A LINE Cliff Richard & Hank Marvin # 38
39 ( 34 ) BREAKAWAY The Beach Boys # 1
40 ( 27 ) GROOVIN’ WITH MR’ BLOE Wind featuring Tony Orlando # 27

41 ( 30 ) STREETS OF LONDON Ralph McTell # 16
42 ( 37 ) THE BALLAD OF JOHN & YOKO The Beatles # 1
43 ( 57 ) DO WHAT YOU GOTTA DO The Four Tops # 43
44 ( 49 ) CIRCLE OF BLUE The Archies # 44
45 ( 38 ) HONKY TONK WOMEN The Rolling Stones # 6
46 ( 33 ) THAT’S THE WAY LOVE IS Marvin Gaye # 33
47 ( NEW ) MAKE YOUR OWN KIND OF MUSIC Mama Cass # 47
48 ( 50 ) TRACY The Cuff Links featuring Ron Dante # 48
49 ( 52 ) BABY I’M FOR REAL The Originals # 49
50 ( 26 ) JE T’AIME..MOI NON PLUS Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg # 17

51 ( 44 ) SWEET CAROLINE (GOOD TIMES NEVER SEEMED SO GOOD) Neil Diamond # 9
52 ( 53 ) PENNY ARCADE Roy Orbison # 52
53 ( 47 ) GOOD MORNING STARSHINE Oliver # 1
54 ( 46 ) LOVE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE The Winstons # 46
55 ( 56 ) NOBODY’S CHILD Karen Young # 55
56 ( 59 ) HARE KRISHNA MANTRA Radha Krishna Temple # 56
57 ( 58 ) MOMMY AND DADDY The Monkees # 57
58 ( 51 ) BEHIND A PAINTED SMILE The Isley Brothers # 1
59 ( 35 ) ONE NIGHT AFFAIR The O’Jays # 20
60 ( 41 ) HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME Sly & The Family Stone # 19

61 ( 65 ) WE’LL CRY TOGETHER Maxine Brown # 61
62 ( 63 ) HEAVEN KNOWS I’M MISSING HIM NOW Sandie Shaw # 62
63 ( 64 ) ROCK & ROLL MUSIC The Archies # 63
64 ( 66 ) SO GOOD TOGETHER Andy Kim # 64
65 ( 67 ) EVIL WOMAN DON’T PLAY YOUR GAMES WITH ME Crow # 65
66 ( NEW ) OH WELL Fleetwood Mac # 66
67 ( 31 ) WHEN I DIE Motherlode # 17
68 ( 69 ) DON’T TOUCH MY GUITAR The Archies # 68
69 ( 70 ) BALL OF FIRE Tommy James & The Shondells # 69
70 ( 48 ) GIVE PEACE A CHANCE The Plastic Ono Band # 5

71 ( 72 ) GET RHYTHM Johnny Cash # 71
72 ( 36 ) RIVERMAN Nick Drake # 14
73 ( NEW ) COME TOGETHER The Beatles # 73
74 ( NEW ) PROUD MARY Sonny Charles & The Checkmates # 74
75 ( NEW ) SHE BELONGS TO ME Rick Nelson & The Stone Canyon Band # 75

Back in Singapore…I was at school, and making new friends, notably bestie Stephen Game who was cool and got me in with the lads, literal hot fun running round the school grounds in equatorial sun playing tag. Sweaty days!

Wot I liked then
1 ( 1 ) IN THE YEAR 2525 Zager And Evans
2 ( 3 ) I’LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN Bobbie Gentry
3 ( 4 ) GOOD MORNING STARSHINE Oliver
4 ( 6 ) BAD MOON RISING Creedence Clearwater Revival
5 ( 7 ) HARE KRISHNA MANTRA Radha Krishna Temple
6 ( 10 ) IT’S GETTING BETTER Mama Cass
7 ( 5 ) DON’T FORGET TO REMEMBER The Bee Gees
8 ( 8 ) MY CHERIE AMOUR Stevie Wonder
9 ( 14 ) LAY LADY LAY Bob Dylan
10 ( 13 ) HONKY TONK WOMEN The Rolling Stones

11 ( 11 ) HEATHER HONEY Tommy Roe
12 ( 12 ) VIVA BOBBY JOE The Equals
13 ( 15 ) A BOY NAMED SUE Johnny Cash
14 ( NEW ) FEELIN’ SO GOOD (S.K.O.O.B.Y.D.O.O) The Archies
15 ( NEW ) THROW DOWN A LINE Cliff Richard and Hank Marvin