This is the start of an attempt to list the New Musical Express singles chart breakers (or "bubblers")
The BMRB breakers have been comprehensively catalogued in this forum but nobody has attempted, as far as I am aware, to do the same for the NME.
The NME published a list of "bubblers" in most issues from early 1975 to mid 1981 when their chart was limited to a Top 30. These are not included in the NME chart books subsequently published. I have many of the original magazines but there are gaps in the information - particularly early on. If anyone can help fill in these gaps please let me know!
The breakers were presumably listed in sales order so I've numbered them 31, 32 etc. For breakers that subsequently entered the Top 30 I've indicated the date they charted. Occasionally a single was listed in the breakers after having briefly charted a week or two earlier.
Breakers in bold didn't make the BMRB chart either.
During the period in which these "bubblers" were published only seven singles cracked the NME Top 30 without making the official BMRB top 50/75.....
Problem Child - The Damned (reached No.27 on 15 Oct 77)
Big Blow - Manu Dibango (No.27 on 11 Mar 78)
The Beat Goes On and On - Ripple (No.24 on 29 Apr 78)
Lonely Desire - Teena Marie (No.27 on 16 Aug 80)
Nagasaki Nightmare - Crass (No.22 on 21 Mar 81)
Poor Old Sole - Orange Juice (No.26 on 4 Apr 81)
Candy Skin - Fire Engines (No.30 on 2 May 81)
….but there were many others that nearly made the list! Here's one straight away:
22 Mar 75
31 Let Me Be The One - Shadows (entered 29 Mar)
32 Lady Marmalade - Labelle (entered 29 Mar)
33 Skiing in the Snow - Wigan's Ovation (entered 29 Mar)
34 Can't Get It Out Of My Head - Electric Light Orchestra
35 The Ugly Duckling - Mike Reid (entered 29 Mar)
Although one of their finest tracks and a top ten hit in America, ELO's Can't Get It Out Of My Head surprisingly only make the BMRB "extra breakers".
29 Mar 75
31 (-) Sing a Happy Song - George McCrae (entered 5 Apr)
32 (-) L.O.V.E. - Al Green (entered 5 Apr)
33 (-) Queen of 1964 - Neil Sedaka
34 (-) World of Dreams - Perry Como
35 (-) My Man and Me - Lynsey De Paul
Perry Como spent one week on the BMRB "extra breakers", failing to make the "star breakers".
5 Apr 75
None listed
12 Apr 75
31 Express - BT Express
32 Cut the Cake - Average White Band
33 The Tears I Cried - Glitter Band (entered 19 Apr)
34 Loving You - Minnie Ripperton (entered 19 Apr)
35 Ding -a- Dong - Teach-In (entered 19 Apr)
19 Apr 75
31 (-) How Glad I Am - Kiki Dee (entered 26 Apr)
32 (-) Sorry Doesn't Always Make It Right - Diana Ross (entered 3 May)
33(31) Express - BT Express
34 (-) Hasta La Vista - Sylvia
35 (-) The Way We Were - Gladys Knight (entered 10 May)
26 Apr 75
31(32) Sorry Doesn't Always Make It Right - Diana Ross (entered 3 May)
32 (-) Take Your Mama For a Ride - Lulu (entered 3 May)
33 (-) We'll Find Our Day - Stephanie De Sykes (entered 3 May)
34 (-) Call Me Round - Pilot (entered 3 May)
35 (-) Where Is the Love - Betty Wright (entered 3 May)
3 May 75
None listed
10 May 75
????
17 May 75
31 Hasta La Vista - Sylvia
32 Call Me Round - Pilot (had already charted)
33 Papa Oom Mow Mow - Sharonettes
24 May 75
31 (-) Swing Low Sweet Chariot - Eric Clapton (entered 31 May)
32 (-) The Proud One - Osmonds (entered 31 May)
33(33) Papa Oom Mow Mow - Sharonettes
34 (-) Don't Be Cruel - Billy Swan
35 (-) Where Is the Love - Betty Wright (had already charted)
31 May 75
????
7 June 75
31 Walking in Rhythm - Blackbyrds (entered 14 June)
32 Jackie Blue - Ozark Mountain Daredevils
33 Trouble - Elvis Presley
34 Take Me In Your Arms - Doobie Brothers (entered 21 June)
35 Dynamite - Tony Camillo's Bazuka (entered 14 June)
Jackie Blue reached No.6 in the BMRB star breakers (and No.3 in America!)
14 June 75
31(34) Take Me In Your Arms - Doobie Brothers (entered 21 June)
32(33) Trouble - Elvis Presley
33 (-) My White Bicycle - Nazareth (entered 21 June)
34 (-) I Don't Love You But I Think I Like You - Gilbert O'Sullivan (entered 28 June)
35 (-) Tears On My Pillow - Johnny Nash (entered 21 June)
21 June 75
31(34) I Don't Love You But I Think I Like You - Gilbert O'Sullivan (entered 28 June)
32 (-) Moonshine Sally - Mud (entered 28 June)
33 (-) Misty - Ray Stevens (entered 28 June)
34 (-) Foe-Dee-O-Dee - Rubettes (entered 28 June)
35 (-) You Lay So Easy On My Mind - Andy Williams
28 June 75
31 (-) Black Pudding Bertha - Goodies (entered 5 July)
32 (-) Long Lost Lover - Three Degrees
33(35) You Lay So Easy On My Mind - Andy Williams
34 (-) Jive Talkin' - Bee Gees (entered 5 July)
35 (-) It Oughta Sell a Million - Lyn Paul
5 July 75
????
12 July 75
31 You Go To My Head - Bryan Ferry
32 Je T'Aime - Judge Dread (entered 19 July)
33 It's in His Kiss - Linda Lewis (entered 19 July)
34 Foot Stompin' Music - Hamilton Bohannon (entered 19 July)
35 Long Lost Lover - Three Degrees
19 July 75
31(31) You Go To My Head - Bryan Ferry
32 (-) Blanket on the Ground - Billy Jo Spears (entered 26 July)
33 (-) Harmour Love - Syreeta
34 (-) New York City - T.Rex (entered 26 July)
35 (re) It Oughta Sell a Million - Lyn Paul
26 July 75
31(-) Personally - Wigan's Ovation
32(-) Love Me Baby - Susan Cadogan (entered 9 Aug)
33(-) Going to a Go-Go - Sharonettes
34(-) It's Been So Long - George McCrae (entered 9 Aug)
35(-) Delilah - Sensational Alex Harvey Band (entered 2 Aug)
2 Aug 75
31 (-) I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do - Abba
32 (-) Harmour Love - Syreeta
33(32) Love Me Baby - Susan Cadogan (entered 9 Aug)
34 (-) Sexy - MFSB
35(34) It's Been so Long - George McCrae (entered 9 Aug)
9 Aug 75
31(-) Kelly - Del Shannon
32(-) Summer of '42 - Biddu (entered 16 Aug)
33(-) That's the Way I Like It - KC and the Sunshine Band (entered 16 Aug)
34(-) Get in the Swing - Sparks (entered 16 Aug)
35(-) Love in the Sun - Glitter Band (entered 30 Aug)
"Kelly" was a 60s obscurity re-released on Contempo-Raries, a label that specialised in Northern Soul. It didn't make the BMRB breakers.
to be continued...
The BMRB breakers have been comprehensively catalogued in this forum but nobody has attempted, as far as I am aware, to do the same for the NME.
The NME published a list of "bubblers" in most issues from early 1975 to mid 1981 when their chart was limited to a Top 30. These are not included in the NME chart books subsequently published. I have many of the original magazines but there are gaps in the information - particularly early on. If anyone can help fill in these gaps please let me know!
The breakers were presumably listed in sales order so I've numbered them 31, 32 etc. For breakers that subsequently entered the Top 30 I've indicated the date they charted. Occasionally a single was listed in the breakers after having briefly charted a week or two earlier.
Breakers in bold didn't make the BMRB chart either.
During the period in which these "bubblers" were published only seven singles cracked the NME Top 30 without making the official BMRB top 50/75.....
Problem Child - The Damned (reached No.27 on 15 Oct 77)
Big Blow - Manu Dibango (No.27 on 11 Mar 78)
The Beat Goes On and On - Ripple (No.24 on 29 Apr 78)
Lonely Desire - Teena Marie (No.27 on 16 Aug 80)
Nagasaki Nightmare - Crass (No.22 on 21 Mar 81)
Poor Old Sole - Orange Juice (No.26 on 4 Apr 81)
Candy Skin - Fire Engines (No.30 on 2 May 81)
….but there were many others that nearly made the list! Here's one straight away:
22 Mar 75
31 Let Me Be The One - Shadows (entered 29 Mar)
32 Lady Marmalade - Labelle (entered 29 Mar)
33 Skiing in the Snow - Wigan's Ovation (entered 29 Mar)
34 Can't Get It Out Of My Head - Electric Light Orchestra
35 The Ugly Duckling - Mike Reid (entered 29 Mar)
Although one of their finest tracks and a top ten hit in America, ELO's Can't Get It Out Of My Head surprisingly only make the BMRB "extra breakers".
29 Mar 75
31 (-) Sing a Happy Song - George McCrae (entered 5 Apr)
32 (-) L.O.V.E. - Al Green (entered 5 Apr)
33 (-) Queen of 1964 - Neil Sedaka
34 (-) World of Dreams - Perry Como
35 (-) My Man and Me - Lynsey De Paul
Perry Como spent one week on the BMRB "extra breakers", failing to make the "star breakers".
5 Apr 75
None listed
12 Apr 75
31 Express - BT Express
32 Cut the Cake - Average White Band
33 The Tears I Cried - Glitter Band (entered 19 Apr)
34 Loving You - Minnie Ripperton (entered 19 Apr)
35 Ding -a- Dong - Teach-In (entered 19 Apr)
19 Apr 75
31 (-) How Glad I Am - Kiki Dee (entered 26 Apr)
32 (-) Sorry Doesn't Always Make It Right - Diana Ross (entered 3 May)
33(31) Express - BT Express
34 (-) Hasta La Vista - Sylvia
35 (-) The Way We Were - Gladys Knight (entered 10 May)
26 Apr 75
31(32) Sorry Doesn't Always Make It Right - Diana Ross (entered 3 May)
32 (-) Take Your Mama For a Ride - Lulu (entered 3 May)
33 (-) We'll Find Our Day - Stephanie De Sykes (entered 3 May)
34 (-) Call Me Round - Pilot (entered 3 May)
35 (-) Where Is the Love - Betty Wright (entered 3 May)
3 May 75
None listed
10 May 75
????
17 May 75
31 Hasta La Vista - Sylvia
32 Call Me Round - Pilot (had already charted)
33 Papa Oom Mow Mow - Sharonettes
24 May 75
31 (-) Swing Low Sweet Chariot - Eric Clapton (entered 31 May)
32 (-) The Proud One - Osmonds (entered 31 May)
33(33) Papa Oom Mow Mow - Sharonettes
34 (-) Don't Be Cruel - Billy Swan
35 (-) Where Is the Love - Betty Wright (had already charted)
31 May 75
????
7 June 75
31 Walking in Rhythm - Blackbyrds (entered 14 June)
32 Jackie Blue - Ozark Mountain Daredevils
33 Trouble - Elvis Presley
34 Take Me In Your Arms - Doobie Brothers (entered 21 June)
35 Dynamite - Tony Camillo's Bazuka (entered 14 June)
Jackie Blue reached No.6 in the BMRB star breakers (and No.3 in America!)
14 June 75
31(34) Take Me In Your Arms - Doobie Brothers (entered 21 June)
32(33) Trouble - Elvis Presley
33 (-) My White Bicycle - Nazareth (entered 21 June)
34 (-) I Don't Love You But I Think I Like You - Gilbert O'Sullivan (entered 28 June)
35 (-) Tears On My Pillow - Johnny Nash (entered 21 June)
21 June 75
31(34) I Don't Love You But I Think I Like You - Gilbert O'Sullivan (entered 28 June)
32 (-) Moonshine Sally - Mud (entered 28 June)
33 (-) Misty - Ray Stevens (entered 28 June)
34 (-) Foe-Dee-O-Dee - Rubettes (entered 28 June)
35 (-) You Lay So Easy On My Mind - Andy Williams
28 June 75
31 (-) Black Pudding Bertha - Goodies (entered 5 July)
32 (-) Long Lost Lover - Three Degrees
33(35) You Lay So Easy On My Mind - Andy Williams
34 (-) Jive Talkin' - Bee Gees (entered 5 July)
35 (-) It Oughta Sell a Million - Lyn Paul
5 July 75
????
12 July 75
31 You Go To My Head - Bryan Ferry
32 Je T'Aime - Judge Dread (entered 19 July)
33 It's in His Kiss - Linda Lewis (entered 19 July)
34 Foot Stompin' Music - Hamilton Bohannon (entered 19 July)
35 Long Lost Lover - Three Degrees
19 July 75
31(31) You Go To My Head - Bryan Ferry
32 (-) Blanket on the Ground - Billy Jo Spears (entered 26 July)
33 (-) Harmour Love - Syreeta
34 (-) New York City - T.Rex (entered 26 July)
35 (re) It Oughta Sell a Million - Lyn Paul
26 July 75
31(-) Personally - Wigan's Ovation
32(-) Love Me Baby - Susan Cadogan (entered 9 Aug)
33(-) Going to a Go-Go - Sharonettes
34(-) It's Been So Long - George McCrae (entered 9 Aug)
35(-) Delilah - Sensational Alex Harvey Band (entered 2 Aug)
2 Aug 75
31 (-) I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do - Abba
32 (-) Harmour Love - Syreeta
33(32) Love Me Baby - Susan Cadogan (entered 9 Aug)
34 (-) Sexy - MFSB
35(34) It's Been so Long - George McCrae (entered 9 Aug)
9 Aug 75
31(-) Kelly - Del Shannon
32(-) Summer of '42 - Biddu (entered 16 Aug)
33(-) That's the Way I Like It - KC and the Sunshine Band (entered 16 Aug)
34(-) Get in the Swing - Sparks (entered 16 Aug)
35(-) Love in the Sun - Glitter Band (entered 30 Aug)
"Kelly" was a 60s obscurity re-released on Contempo-Raries, a label that specialised in Northern Soul. It didn't make the BMRB breakers.
to be continued...
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