NME Singles/Albums Chart Breakers

[Metalweb]

During the late 70s/early 80s Freebird was always the go-to final track of the night....

Not just in the metal/rock "soundhouses" that were springing up everyhere but the mainstream discos and the venues that specialised in new wave...

I suspect this is why Freebird sold so steadily despite never getting radio plays.

It was perfect for the job, opening in mournful give-up-get-your-coat-go-home-admit-you're-not-gonna-pull mode before upping tempo and sending everyone out into the chill night air with a spring in their step...

Happier times!

[Metalweb]

31 Dec 83
no chart

7 Jan 84

51(re) Love Is A Wonderful Colour - Icicle Works (entered 21 Jan)
52(56) I Am What I Am - Gloria Gaynor (entered 14 Jan)
53 (-) You're In My Heart - David Essex
54(55) Duck For The Oyster - Malcolm McLaren (entered 14 Jan)
55(59) Strip - Adam Ant
56 (-) Superman - Black Lace (had already charted)
57 (-) Reilly - The Olympic Orchestra (had already charted)
58(71) I'm Out Of Your Life - Arnie's Love
59(62) The Clap Clap Sound - Klaxons
60 (-) On A Sunday - Nick Heyward (had already charted)
61 (-) Shake It Up - Divine
62 (-) Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - John & Yoko
63 (-) Only You - Yazoo
64(66) Metal Health - Quiet Riot
65(60) Inside Love - George Benson
66 (-) Jerusalem - White Door
67 (-) Theme From By The Sword Divided - Consort
68 (-) Love Tempo - Quando Quango
69(72) My Melancholy Baby - Chas & Dave
70(28) Oblivious - Aztec Camera
71(41) That's Love That It Is - Blancmange
72(44) There Ain't No Sanity Clause - Damned
73(45) Love Cats - Cure
74(47) Undercover Of The Night - Rolling Stones
75 (-) Serious - Billy Griffin

[Robbie]

I don't recall any of the three acts which are highlighted.

The 07/01/84 chart is possibly what would have been the 31/12/83 chart had it been published. I've just checked the top 50 and it's full of Christmas singles.

[Metalweb]

Didn't remember any of the NME-only hits either but Jerusalem is pretty good (half expected it to be a version of the famous hymn, but it's not!)

Googling the band White Door I see they released their second album earlier this year!

[Metalweb]

14 Jan 84

51(29) Come To My Party - Keith Harris & Orville & Dippy
52(37) Never Never - Assembly
53 (-) Cat People - David Bowie (had already charted)
54(41) Mutiny! - Birthday Party
55(63) Only You - Yazoo
56(42) Price Of Silence - Discharge
57(69) My Melancholy Baby - Chas & Dave
58(49) I Believe In Father Christmas - Greg Lake
59 (-) Union Of The Snake - Duran Duran (had already charted)
60(61) Shake It Up - Divine
61 (-) Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top (had already charted)
62 (-) Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division (had already charted)
63 (-) The Vow - Toyah (had already charted)
64 (-) The Sound Of Music - Dayton (entered 21 Jan)
65(64) Metal Health - Quiet Riot
66(56) Superman - Black Lace
67(51) Love Is A Wonderful Colour - Icicle Works (entered 21 Jan)
68 (-) The Sun And The Rain - Madness (had already charted)
69(55) Strip - Adam Ant
70 (-) Solid Bond In Your Heart - Style Council (had already charted)
71 (-) Give Me More Time - Whitesnake (entered 21 Jan)
72 (-) This Must Be The Place - Talking Heads (entered 28 Jan)
73 (-) Wishful Thinking - China Crisis (entered 21 Jan)
74 (-) SOS - ABC (entered 28 Jan)
75 (-) Wonderland - Big Country (entered 21 Jan)

[Robbie]

I bought 'Wonderland' by Big Country on this very day in 1984, Saturday January 14, 1984. I was going to a Newcastle match that day but the game was called off because of heavy snow. Instead I went to HMV on Northumberland Street in central Newcastle and bought 'Wonderland' and 'Here Comes The Rain Again' by the Eurythmics. Both are still great songs.

[Graham76man]

Theme From By The Sword Divided - Consort

That was a BBC TV series based on a family during the English Civil War. Very popular at the time.

[navi]

14 Jan 84

72 (-) This Must Be The Place - Talking Heads (entered 28 Jan)
73 (-) Wishful Thinking - China Crisis (entered 21 Jan)
74 (-) SOS - ABC (entered 28 Jan)
75 (-) Wonderland - Big Country (entered 21 Jan)

what a company!
all four were #1's on my personal chart

[Metalweb]

21 Jan 84

51 (-) (Feels Like) Heaven - Fiction Factory (entered 28 Jan)
52(re) Serious - Billy Griffin
53(re) When I Leave The world Behind - Rose Marie
54 (-) Crime Of Passion - Mike Oldfield
55 (-) It's My Life - Talk Talk
56 (-) The Killing Moon - Echo & The Bunnymen (entered 28 Jan)
57 (-) Don't Sing - Prefab Sprout (entered 4 Feb)
58 (-) Collapsing New People - Fad Gadget
59 (-) Give Me The Night - Mirage
60(74) SOS - ABC (entered 28 Jan)
61 (-) Let The Music Play - Shannon (had already charted)
62 (-) Freewheel Burning - Judas Priest
63(re) Inside Love - George Benson
64 (-) Fact - Red Guitars
65 (-) 16 - Musical Youth (entered 28 Jan)
66 (-) Ugly - Violent Femmes
67 (-) The Colour Field - Colour Field (entered 28 Jan)
68(31) I Can Help - Elvis Presley
69(32) Say Say Say - McCartney & Jackson
70(37) Calling Your Name - Marilyn
71(39) Read 'Em And Weep - Barry Manilow
72(41) Cry Just A Little Bit - Shakin' Stevens
73(48) Right By Your Side - Eurythmics
74(46) Time - Frida & B.A.Robertson
75(36) Duck For The Oyster - Malcolm McLaren

[Robbie]

There's some great records above by Fiction Factory, Talk Talk, Echo & The Bunneymen and Shannon. Although 1977 to 1985 is what I class as my era for music I always though the last few months of 1983 weren't the best. However 1984 got off to a great start and in my opinion kept the quality going all year long.

[Metalweb]

^

Agreed - especially Fiction Factory (great single but one hit wonders, sadly) and Killing Moon (the only E&BM single I liked enough to buy!)

[Metalweb]

28 Jan 84

51(62) Freewheel Burning - Judas Priest
52(28) Many Rivers To Cross - UB40
53 (-) Spice Of Life - Manhattan Transfer (entered 4 Feb)
54(31) Uptown Girl - Billy Joel
55 (-) Future Shock - Herbie Hancock
56(32) This Charming Man - Smiths
57(36) 2000 Miles - Pretenders
58 (-) Independence Day - Comsat Angels
59(33) Move Over Darling - Tracey Ullman
60 (-) Ebony Eyes - Rick James & Smokey Robinson
61(41) The Way You Are - Tears For Fears
62(52) Serious - Billy Griffin
63(34) The Sound Of Music - Dayton
64 (-) Doctor Doctor - Thompson Twins (entered 11 Feb)
65(35) Blue Monday - New Order
66 (-) I'll Let You Slide - Luther Vandross
67(47) Human Touch - Rick Springfield
68 (-) Shake It Up - Divine
69(45) Razor's Edge - Meat Loaf
70(68) I Can Help - Elvis Presley
71(48) That's All - Genesis
72(49) What Are We Gonna Get 'Er Indoors - Waterman & Cole
73(50) Please Don't Fall In Love - Cliff Richard
74(re) Love Tempo - Quando Quango
75 (-) Naughty Miranda - Indians In Moscow (entered 4 Feb)

[Metalweb]

4 Feb 84

51(re) It's My Life - Talk Talk
52(56) This Charming Man - Smiths
53 (-) Love Theme from The Thorn Birds - Juan Martin (entered 11 Feb)
54(70) I Can Help - Elvis Presley
55(36) Sweet Surrender - Rod Stewart
56(37) My Oh My - Slade
57 (-) Straight From The Heart - Fat Larry's Band
58 (-) Crime Of Passion - Mike Oldfield
59 (-) Razor's Edge - Meat Loaf (had already charted)
60(24) Victims - Culture Club
61(64) Doctor Doctor - Thompson Twins (entered 11 Feb)
62 (-) Hold On To Love - Gary Moore
63(22) Thriller - Michael Jackson
64(62) Serious - Billy Griffin
65(58) Independence Day - Comsat Angels
66 (-) Sea Of Heartbreak - Leo Sayer
67(17) Love Of The Common People - Paul Young
68 (-) I'll Do Anything - Dead Or Alive
69 (-) Sailing To America - Saxon
70 (-) Suspicious Minds - Defects
71 (-) We All Are One - Jimmy Cliff
72(31) Only You - Flying Pickets
73 (-) Rules Of The Game - Bucks Fizz
74(45) Sixteen - Musical Youth
75(48) Stop Look and Listen - Donna Summer

[Metalweb]

11 Feb 84

51 (-) No Stone Unturned - The Truth
52(32) The Politics Of Dancing - Re-flex
53(33) The Colour Field - Colour Field
54(41) Where Is My Man - Eartha Kitt
55(24) Marguerita Time - Status Quo
56 (-) Dream Of The West - Yip Yip Coyote
57(26) Don't Sing - Prefab Sprout
58(66) Sea Of Heartbreak - Leo Sayer
59(35) Straight Ahead - Kool & The Gang
60(re) Freewheel Burning - Judas Priest
61(38) Islands In The Stream - Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton
62 (-) Don't Knock It - Bobby Nunn (entered 18 Feb)
63(25) Tell Her About It - Billy Joel
64 (-) Cry And Be Free - Marilyn (entered 18 Feb)
65 (-) Chenko - Red Box
66(30) Hold Me Now - Thompson Twins
67 (-) Some History - The Three Johns
68(40) SOS - ABC
69(52) This Charming Man - Smiths
70(46) Give Me More Time - Whitesnake
71(47) Sunburst And Snowblind - Cocteau Twins
72(48) Love Is A Battlefield - Pat Benatar
73(50) Naughty Miranda - Indians In Moscow
74(62) Hold On To Love - Gary Moore
75(69) Sailing To America - Saxon

[Metalweb]

18 Feb 84

51 (-) More More More - Carmel (entered 3 Mar)
52 (-) Tonight - Boomtown Rats
53 (-) Ya Mo B There - James Ingram (entered 25 Feb)
54 (-) Rush Rush - Debbie Harry
55(68) SOS - ABC
56 (-) Love Over Gold - Dire Straits (entered 25 Feb)
57 (-) An Innocent Man - Billy Joel (entered 25 Feb)
58(75) Sailing To America - Saxon
59 (-) Coup - 23 Skidoo
60(52) The Politics Of Dancing - Re-flex
61 (-) Dance Hall Days - Wang Chung (entered 3 Mar)
62 (-) You're A Winner - Sharon Redd
63(56) Dream Of The West - Yip Yip Coyote
64 (-) Help - Tina Turner (entered 3 Mar)
65 (-) Living In A World - Private Lives
66 (-) Backfield In Motion - JBs All Stars (entered 3 Mar)
67 (-) Down In The Subway - Soft Cell (entered 3 Mar)
68(57) Don't Sing - Prefab Sprout
69 (-) Joys Of Life - David Joseph
70(22) What Is Love - Howard Jones
71(35) King Of Pain - Police
72(40) Share The Night - World Premiere
73(46) Prisoner Of Love - Spear Of Destiny
74(49) Al Naafiysh (The Soul) - Hashim
75(42) Running With The Night - Lionel Richie

[Robbie]

Soft Cell's last single before they split. By this point their popularity had faded and they were having mid-chart hits rather than the megahits of 1981 and 1982. The singles were still decent but their sound had fallen out of fashion.

23 Skidoo - I'd completely forgotten about them. According to wikipedia the band are still active though I doubt I've heard anything by them since the 1980s.

[Metalweb]

^

Didn't remember 23 Skidoo at all - checked out "Coup" and it's ok I suppose.....not my cup of tea and obviously not hit material...

The sudden drop in quality/ commerciality of Soft Cell singles was pretty stark. Personally I bought their first five hits (which all made the Top Five) but after "Always Something There To Remind Me" ( oops, meant to type "What") their subsequent releases all left me cold....

[Metalweb]

25 Feb 84

51(39) Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke - Alarm
52(30) Pipes Of Peace - Paul McCartney
53(45) Hazel O'Connor - Don't Touch Me
54(49) Don't Knock It - Bobby Nunn
55(46) Speed Your Love To Me - Simple Minds
56 (-) Joys Of Life - David Joseph
57 (-) To Be Or Not To Be - Mel Brooks (entered 10 Mar)
58(60) The Politics Of Dancing - Re-flex
59(61) Dance Hall Days - Wang Chung (entered 3 Mar)
60 (-) Fraggle Rock Theme - Fraggles (entered 10 Mar)
61(66) Backfield In Motion - JBs All Stars (entered 3 Mar)
62(51) More More More - Carmel (entered 3 Mar)
63 (-) Eye Talk - Fashion
64 (-) He's A Saint, He's A Sinner - Miquel Brown
65(72) Share The Night - World Premiere
66(52) Tonight - Boomtown Rats
67(63) Dream Of The West - Yip Yip Coyote
68(67) Down In The Subway - Soft Cell (entered 3 Mar)
69(64) Help - Tina Turner (entered 3 Mar)
70 (-) Freight Train - Helen & The Horns
71 (-) No Matter What Happens - Barbra Streisand
72 (-) Love Is A Battlefield - Pat Benatar (had already charted)
73 (-) Islands In The Stream - Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton (had already charted)
74 (-) The Other Woman - Gerard Kenny
75(70) What Is Love - Howard Jones

[andrej]

^

Didn't remember 23 Skidoo at all - checked out "Coup" and it's ok I suppose.....not my cup of tea and obviously not hit material...

The sudden drop in quality/ commerciality of Soft Cell singles was pretty stark. Personally I bought their first five hits (which all made the Top Five) but after "Always Something There To Remind Me" ( oops, meant to type "What") their subsequent releases all left me cold....

As for me, Numbers, Barriers, Down in the Subway have the same top-quality as their previous singles and they could easily be a part of Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret. It's the audience that has changed.

[Robbie]

As for me, Numbers, Barriers, Down in the Subway have the same top-quality as their previous singles and they could easily be a part of Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret. It's the audience that has changed.

Their later singles releases were less poppy and therefore less "easy on the ear" and would have appealed less to the casual singles buyer. I can't recall if the later singles got less radio play when first released but I am guessing they probably didn't quite attract the same level of plays.

[Metalweb]

3 Mar 84

51(40) Cry And Be Free - Marilyn
52(64) He's A Saint, He's A Sinner - Miquel Brown
53 (re) Coup - 23 Skidoo
54 (-) Walking In My Sleep - Roger Daltrey (entered 10 Mar)
55(57) To Be Or Not To Be - Mel Brooks (entered 10 Mar)
56 (-) You're Already Dead - Crass (entered 10 Mar)
57 (-) Defender - Manowar
58(60) Fraggle Rock Theme - Fraggles (entered 10 Mar)
59 (-) On The Floor - Tony Cook & Party People
60 (-) Warhead - Venom
61 (-) The Music of Torvill & Dean - Michael Reed
62 (-) Screen Me I'm Yours - Tik & Tok
63 (-) Sunburst & Snowblind - Cocteau Twins (had already charted)
64 (-) Theme From Cheers - Gary Portnoy
65(63) Eye Talk - Fashion
66 (-) I'd Do Anything - Dead Or Alive
67(70) Freight Train - Helen & The Horns
68(32) Here Comes The Rain Again - Eurythmics
69(53) Don't Touch Me - Hazel O'Connor
70(49) Evergreen - Hazell Dean
71(54) Don't Knock It - Bobby Nunn
72(42) Ash In Drag - Mystery Girls
73(41) Human Touch - Rick Springfield
74(56) Joys Of Life - David Joseph
75(65) Share The Night - World Premiere

[Metalweb]

10 Mar 84

51(re) Hand In Glove - Smiths
52 (-) Robert De Niro's Waiting - Bananarama (entered 17 Mar)
53 (-) Breaking Point - Bourgie Bourgie (entered 17 Mar)
54 (-) The Lion's Mouth - Kajagoogoo (entered 31 Mar)
55 (-) Tell Me What You Want - Loose Ends
56 (-) Sexy Style - Galaxy
57 (-) One Step Closer - George McCrae
58 (-) I Feel Like Walking In The Rain - Millie Jackson
59 (-) Out Of Sight - Lefturno
60(75) Share The Night - World Premiere
61(74) Joys Of Life - David Joseph
62(52) He's A Saint, He's A Sinner - Miquel Brown
63(38) Bridge - Orange Juice
64(53) Coup - 23 Skidoo
65(31) Thorn Birds Love Theme - Juan Martin
66(39) Punch And Judy - Marillion
67(41) Feels Like Heaven - Fiction Factory
68(45) Hey DJ - World Famous Supreme Team
69(46) Wonderland - Big Country
70(49) Illegal Alien - Genesis
71(70) Evergreen - Hazell Dean
72(65) Eye Talk - Fashion
73 (-) Don't Answer Me - Alan Parsons Project
74 (-) Tuesday Sunshine - Questions
75 (-) Valley Of Evergreen - Alternative Radio

[Metalweb]

17 Mar 84

51 (-) White Lines - Grandmaster & Melle Mel (entered 24 Mar)
52(38) New Moon On Monday - Duran Duran
53 (-) Birds Fly - Icicle Works (entered 24 Mar)
54(39) Spice Of Life - Manhattan Transfer
55(43) One Small Day - Ultravox
56(54) The Lions Mouth - Kajagoogoo (entered 31 Mar)
57 (-) Rebel Yell - Billy Idol
58(47) Walking In My Sleep - Roger Daltrey
59(71) Evergreen - Hazell Dean
60 (-) Nelson Mandela - Special AKA (entered 24 Mar)
61 (-) Glad It's All Over - Captain Sensible (entered 7 Apr)
62 (-) General Public - General Public
63 (-) Sleepless - King Crimson
64 (-) Lollipop Luv - Bryan Loren
65(58) I Feel Like Walking in The Rain - Millie Jackson
66(40) You're Already Dead - Crass
67(73) Don't Answer Me - Alan Parsons Project
68(41) Hyperactive - Thomas Dolby
69(68) Hey DJ - World Famous Supreme Team
70 (-) I Don't Know What It Is But I Love It - Chris Rea
71(59) Out Of Sight - Lefturno
72 (-) Out Come The Freaks - Was (Not Was) (entered 24 Mar)
73 (-) Adult Education - Hall & Oates
74(45) Yah Mo B There - James Ingram & Michael McDonald
75 (-) Snake Dance - March Violets

[Robbie]

I still don't know how The Crass completely failed to chart on the official BMRB / Gallup charts. I know that NME / Record Business etc sampled more indie type shops but the main chart was supposed to be at least reflective of national sales.

[Metalweb]

I still don't know how The Crass completely failed to chart on the official BMRB / Gallup charts. I know that NME / Record Business etc sampled more indie type shops but the main chart was supposed to be at least reflective of national sales.

There was a deliberate policy to exclude them - end of!

Obviously shouldn't have happened but personally I found their output unlistenable....