NME Singles/Albums Chart Breakers

[Robbie]

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

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

Is that not an urban myth? They did chart with one album. I wouldn't have expected any of their singles to get near the BMRB top 40 but I would have thought there would have been enough specialist shops on the chart panel selling the singles to get them to at least the top 75.

[Metalweb]

I guess we're unlikely ever to know for sure but I find it unbelievable that Nagasaki Nightmare could have reached 22 on NME, 29 on MM and 39 on RB (where it was "weighted down" several places by having zero airplay!) without cracking the official 75....

[Metalweb]

24 Mar 84

51 (-) Magic's Wand - Whodini
52(70) I Don't Know What It Is But I Love It - Chris Rea
53 (-) Ghost Of Love - Fiction Factory
54 (-) Taxi - J Blackfoot (entered 31 Mar)
55(63) Sleepless - King Crimson
56(57) Rebel Yell - Billy Idol
57(73) Adult Education - Hall & Oates
58(62) General Public - General Public
59 (-) Blue Emotion - Fiat Lux
60(re) One Step Closer - George McCrae
61 (-) Love Times Love - Heavy Pettin'
62(67) Don't Answer Me - Alan Parsons Project
63(65) I Feel Like Walking In The Rain - Millie Jackson
64(69) Hey DJ - World Famous Supreme Team
65(56) The Lion's Mouth - Kajagoogoo (entered 31 Mar)
66(71) Out Of Sight - Lefturno
67 (-) Leave It - Yes
68(25) Down In The Subway - Soft Cell
69(26) Michael Caine - Madness
70(36) Night Of The Hawks - Hawkwind
71(37) Chasing For The Breeze - Aswad
72(41) Tuesday Sunshine - Questions
73(47) Hanna Hanna - China Crisis
74(32) This Charming Man - Smiths
75(46) Thorn Birds Theme - Henry Mancini

[Metalweb]

31 Mar 84

51 (-) Baby You're Dynamite - Cliff Richard (entered 7 Apr)
52 (-) To All The Girls I've Loved Before - Julio Iglesias & Willie Nelson (entered 14 Apr)
53 (-) The Kid's American - Matthew Wilder
54 (-) Can't Buy Me Love - Beatles
55 (-) I Scare Myself - Thomas Dolby
56(61) Love Times Love - Heavy Pettin'
57(51) Magic's Wand - Whodini
58 (-) Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper (entered 23 June)
59(43) Radio Ga Ga - Queen
60 (-) The Deceiver - Alarm (entered 7 Apr)
61(72) Tuesday Sunshine - Questions
62(41) Out Come The Freaks - Was (Not Was)
63(62) Don't Answer Me - Alan Parsons Project
64(45) Song To The Siren - This Mortal Coil
65(67) Leave It - Yes
66(52) I Don't Know What It Is But I Love It - Chris Rea
67(74) This Charming Man - Smiths
68 (-) Glad It's All Over - Captain Sensible (entered 7 Apr)
69(56) Rebel Yell - Billy Idol
70 (-) What Difference Does It Make - Smiths (had already charted)
71(55) Sleepless - King Crimson
72 (-) I Love The Piano - Kasso
73(49) The Greatness And Perfection Of Love - Julian Cope
74(50) The Politics Of Dancing - Re-Flex
75(32) White Lines - Grandmaster & Melle Mel

[Robbie]

'Song To The Siren' is beautiful, Liz Fraser's vocals are haunting. I bought the album 'It'll End In Tears'. The song was sampled with great effect in 'Temple Of Dreams' by Messiah in 1992. I do remember finding it quite strange to hear Liz's voice in a techno / rave track yet it worked so well.

[Metalweb]

7 Apr 84

51 (-) I'm Falling - Bluebells (entered 28 Apr)
52(54) Can't Buy Me Love - Beatles
53 (-) Someday - Gap Band
54(73) The Greatness and Perfection of Love - Julian Cope
55(55) I Scare Myself - Thomas Dolby
56(69) Rebel Yell - Billy Idol
57 (-) Deadline USA - Shalamar
58(65) Leave It - Yes
59(52) To All The Girls I've Loved Before - Julio Iglesias & Willy Nelson (entered 14 Apr)
60(66) I Don't Know What It Is But I Love It - Chris Rea
61 (-) My Baby Just Cares For Me - Nina Simone
62 (-) Back At Ya - Kerr
63 (-) Kate At Night - George Benson
64(re) He's A Saint, He's A Sinner - Miguel Brown
65 (-) Strive - Gloria Gaynor
66(32) Run Runaway - Slade
67(34) I Gave You My Heart (Didn't I) - Hot Chocolate
68 (-) Private Number - Spencer Davis & Dusty Springfield
69(39) Help - Tina Turner
70(40) My Ever Changing Moods - Style Council
71(43) Renegades Of Funk - Afrika Bambaataa
72 (-) Keeping My Love For You - Barbara Dickson
73(44) Bird's Fly - Icicle Works
74 (-) Footloose - Kenny Loggins (entered 5 May)
75(47) 2000 Light Years From Home - Danse Society

[Metalweb]

14 Apr 84

51 (-) Shapes Of Things - Gary Moore
52 (-) Just Be Good To Me - SOS Band (entered 21 Apr)
53 (-) I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night - Naz Nomad
54 (-) Gorehound - Cramps
55(58) Leave It - Yes
56(55) I Scare Myself - Thomas Dolby
57 (-) Such A Shame - Talk Talk
58(43) Taxi - J Blackfoot
59 (-) Don't Tell Me - Blancmange (entered 21 Apr)
60(36) The Lions Mouth - Kajagoogoo
61(54) The Greatness and Perfection of Love - Julian Cope
62 (-) Doggie Boogie Baby - Charles Earland
63 (-) Night Ladies - Crusaders
64 (-) Dweller On The Threshold - Van Morrison
65(51) I'm Falling - Bluebells (entered 28 April)
66(re) Sleepless - King Crimson
67(52) Can't Buy Me Love - Beatles
68(69) Help - Tina Turner
69 (-) Talk About The Past - The Wake
70 (-) We Can Work It Out - Paradise
71(57) Deadline USA - Shalamar
72 (-) Beatbox - Art Of Noise (entered 21 Apr)
73(45) My Guy - Tracey Ullman
74(47) Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield
75(27) 'Ullo John Got A New Motor? - Alexei Sayle

[Metalweb]

21 Apr 84

51 (-) One Love - Bob Marley (entered 28 Apr)
52 (-) No-One Waits Forever - Orson Family
53 (-) Stay With Me Tonight - Jeffrey Osbourne (entered 12 May)
54(64) Dweller On The Threshold - Van Morrison
55 (-) Eat It - Weird Al Yankovic (entered 28 Apr)
56 (-) Sneaking Out The Back Door - Matt Bianco
57 (-) Hi How Ya Doin'? - Kenny G (entered 28 Apr)
58 (-) Love Games - Belle & The Devotions (entered 5 May)
59 (-) Hank Turns Blue - Folk Devils
60(55) Leave It - Yes
61(65) I'm Falling - Bluebells
62(51) Shapes Of Things - Gary Moore
63(56) I Scare Myself - Thomas Dolby
64 (-) Happy Ending - Joe Jackson
65 (-) High Energy - Evelyn Thomas (entered 12 May)
66 (-) Soul's On Fire - Tracie
67 (-) Ya Mo B There - James Ingram
68 (-) Jesse - Grandmaster & Melle Mel (entered 28 Apr)
69 (-) It Makes Me Wonder - Bruce Foxton
70 (-) Strong Me Strong - Yellowman
71 (-) Band Of Gold - Freda Payne
72(37) TV Dinners - ZZ Top
73(27) Jump - Van Halen
74(25) 99 Red Balloons - Nena
75(47) Dancing In The Sheets - Shalamar

[Robbie]

I was still following the charts quite closely at this time, bought Record Mirror etc each week. Yet increasingly there are acts entering the NME charts that I have no memory of. The Wake, Orson Family, Folk Devils and Yellowman. Maybe I did know of them at the time and have long forgotten about them but the fact none of them made the Gallup Top 100 with these records makes me wonder who they all were.

[Metalweb]

^

Agree...don't think I've ever heard of any of them either...

[navi]

I was still following the charts quite closely at this time, bought Record Mirror etc each week. Yet increasingly there are acts entering the NME charts that I have no memory of. The Wake, Orson Family, Folk Devils and Yellowman. Maybe I did know of them at the time and have long forgotten about them but the fact none of them made the Gallup Top 100 with these records makes me wonder who they all were.

i remember the Wake and Folk devils but the other two don't

the Wake were/are (apparently they are still active?!) synth pop band from Scotland,
signed to Factory records, often compared to New order,
their former member was as well Bobby Gillespie (of Primal Scream)

[Metalweb]

28 Apr 84

51(58) Love Games - Belle & The Devotions (entered 5 May)
52 (-) Gorehound - Cramps
53(65) High Energy - Evelyn Thomas (entered 12 May)
54(re) The Greatness & Perfection Of Love - Julian Cope
55 (-) Footloose - Kenny Loggins (entered 5 May)
56 (-) Night Ladies - Crusaders
57 (-) Lovequake - Bobby King
58 (-) 42f - Rubella Ballet
59 (-) Smalltown Creed - Kane Gang (entered 26 May)
60 (-) Good Technology - Red Guitars (entered 5 May)
61(66) Soul's On Fire - Tracie
62(64) Happy Ending - Joe Jackson
63 (-) The Big Music - Waterboys
64(59) Hank Turns Blue - Folk Devils
65 (-) Mack The Knife - King Kurt
66(56) Sneaking Out The Back Door - Matt Bianco
67 (-) Break - Play Dead
68 (-) I Sweat - Nona Hendryx
69(52) No One Waits Forever - Orson Family
70(re) Such A Shame - Talk Talk
71(26) Liberator - Spear Of Destiny
72(30) Eighties - Killing Joke
73(38) Baby You're Dynamite - Cliff Richard
74(47) Beat Box - Art Of Noise
75(45) The Deceiver - Alarm

[Robbie]

Adding to what I posted above, I think NME must have been getting more sales data from indie shops given the influx of little known acts. Even Art Of Noise were little known at the time.

[Metalweb]

5 May 84

51 (-) Emergency (Dial 999) - Loose Ends (entered 26 May)
52 (-) Stay With Me Tonight - Jeffrey Osborne (entered 12 May)
53(62) Happy Ending - Joe Jackson
54 (-) Don't Give Me Up - Harold Melvin (entered 19 May)
55 (-) Love Me Like This - Real To Reel
56(65) Mack The Knife - King Kurt
57 (-) Love Me Tender - Roland Rat
58(57) Lovequake - Bobby King
59(53) High Energy - Evelyn Thomas (entered 12 May)
60(re) White Lines - Grandmaster & Melle Mel
61(70) Such A Shame - Talk Talk
62(66) Sneaking Out The Back Door - Matt Bianco
63 (-) Don't Waste Your Time - Yarborough & Peoples (entered 19 May)
64(71) Liberator - Spear Of Destiny
65 (-) 5.01 am - Roger Waters
66(34) What Do I Do - Phil Fearon & Galaxy
67(27) Dr Mabuse - Propaganda
68(re) Blue Monday - New Order
69(37) Cherry Oh Baby - UB40
70 (-) Just A Dream - Nena
71 (-) Uprock - Rocksteady Crew
72 (-) Ocean Deep - Cliff Richard
73(21) It's A Miracle - Culture Club
74(40) Don't Look Any Further - Dennis Edwards
75(42) No Sell Out - Malcolm X

[Metalweb]

12 May 84

51(62) Sneaking Out The Back Door - Matt Bianco
52 (-) Robin (The Hooded Man) - Clannad (entered 19 May)
53(53) Happy Ending - Joe Jackson
54(67) Dr Mabuse - Propaganda
55 (-) Major Tom - Peter Schilling
56(70) Just A Dream - Nena
57(57) Love Me Tender - Roland Rat
58 (-) Heaven - Psychedelic Furs (had already charted)
59(re) This Charming Man - Smiths
60 (-) What Presence? - Orange Juice (entered 26 May)
61(51) Emergency (Dial 999) - Loose Ends (entered 26 May)
62 (-) Love Lies Lost - Helen Terry (entered 19 May)
63(re) Eat It - Weird Al Yankovic
64 (-) Do The Square Thing - 3 Johns
65(46) You Don't Love Me - Marilyn
66(61) Such A Shame - Talk Talk
67(37) Standing In The Shadow - Whitesnake
68(65) 5:01 AM - Roger Waters
69(42) Lucky Star - Madonna
70(71) Uprock - Rock Steady Crew
71(re) Beat Box - Art Of Noise
72(re) Mack The Knife - King Kurt
73(49) Your Love Is King - Sade
74(50) She's Strange - Cameo
75(48) Sons & Daughters Theme - Kerri & Mick

[Metalweb]

19 May 84

51(60) What Presence? - Orange Juice (entered 26 May)
52 (-) High On Emotion - Chris De Burgh
53 (-) Sweet Marie - Jason & The Scorchers
54 (-) Sweetest Sweetest - Jermaine Jackson (entered 26 May)
55(72) Mack The Knife - King Kurt
56(67) Standing In The Shadow - Whitesnake
57 (-) Thinking Of You - Sister Sledge (entered 2 June)
58 (-) Don't Let Go - Wang Chung
59 (-) She's Trouble - Musical Youth
60 (-) Ain't That Peculiar - Mari Wilson
61 (-) It's All Yours - Starpoint
62(55) Major Tom - Peter Schilling
63 (-) Turn Your Back On Me - Kajagogoo
64(63) Eat It - Weird Al Yankovic
65(57) Love Me Tender - Roland Rat
66 (-) Love On The Air - Dave Gilmour
67(61) Emergency (Dial 999) - Loose Ends (entered 26 May)
68 (-) Give Me Tonight - Shannon (had already charted)
69 (-) She Don't Know Me - Bon Jovi
70(51) Sneaking Out The Back Door - Matt Bianco
71 (-) Pearl In The Shell - Howard Jones (entered 26 May)
72 (-) Romancing The Stone - Eddy Grant
73(31) People Are People - Depeche Mode
74(46) Hi, How Ya Doin'? - Kenny G
75(26) ALove Worth Waiting For - Shakin' Stevens

[Metalweb]

26 May 84

51 (-) When Am I Gonna Make A Living - Sade (entered 2 June)
52 (-) Half A Boy And Half A Man - Nick Lowe
53(57) Thinking Of You - Sister Sledge (entered 2 June)
54(72) Romancing The Stone - Eddy Grant
55 (-) High Energy - Evelyn Thomas (entered 2 June)
56(63) Turn Your Back On me - Kajagoogoo
57 (-) Right Or Wrong - Detroit Spinners
58 (-) Infatuation - Rod Stewart (entered 2 June)
59(70) Sneaking Out The Back Door - Matt Bianco
60 (-) Careless - Bourgie Bourgie
61 (-) Sad Songs - Elton John (entered 2 June)
62(61) It's All Yours - Starpoint
63 (-) The Dominatrix Sleeps Tonight - Dominatrix
64(68) Give Me Tonight - Shannon
65 (-) The Body Electric - Rush (entered 2 June)
66 (-) Hangin' Downtown - Cameo
67(60) Ain't That Peculiar - Mari Wilson
68 (-) Bombollini - Chris Rea
69(59) She's Trouble - Musical Youth
70 (-) Eight Miles High - Husker Du
71(65) Love Me Tender - Roland Rat
72(62) Major Tom - Peter Schilling
73(39) Robin (The Hooded Man) - Clannad
74(48) Don't Waste Your Time - Yarborough & Peoples
75(47) Don't Give Me Up - Harold Melvin

[Metalweb]

2 June 84

51 (-) One Better Day - Madness (entered 9 June)
52(35) Bad Life - P.I.L.
53(73) Robin (The Hooded Man) - Clannad
54 (-) Success - Weather Girls
55 (-) Susanna - Art Company (entered 9 June)
56(52) Half A Boy And Half A Man - Nick Lowe
57(36) I'm Falling - Bluebells
58 (-) High On Emotion - Chris De Burgh
59 (-) Smalltown Boy - Bronski Beat (entered 9 June)
60 (-) Ghost In You - Psychedelic Furs
61 (-) Drag Me Down - Boomtown Rats
62 (-) Too Much Trouble - Limahl
63(57) Right Or Wrong - Detroit Spinners
64 (-) Extraordinary Girl - O'Jays
65(54) Romancing The Stone - Eddy Grant
66 (-) Love All Day - Nick Heyward (entered 16 June)
67 (-) Ain't No Stopping Us Now - McFadden & Whitehead
68 (-) Wind Beneath My Wings - Len Greenwood
69(25) Just Be Good To Me - SOS Band
70(28) Ain't Nobody - Rufus & Chaka Khan
71 (-) Wood Beez - Scritti Politti (had already charted)
72 (-) Living On Video - Trans X (entered 20 July)
73(23) Hello - Lionel Richie
74(28) The Longest Time - Billy Joel
75(47) Sweetest Sweetest - Jermaine Jackson

[Robbie]

'One Better Day' by Madness is excellent. Sadly it wasn't appreciated by many Madness fans as it peaked at number 17 on the Gallup chart, their lowest peaking single to then.

[Metalweb]

^

Yes, Madness began their chart career as a feelgood act who produced the occasional melancholy single, but by the mid 80s the downbeat releases seemed to be predominating....

One Better Day is lyrically interesting but, after Grey Day and Tomorrow's Just Another Day, might have benefitted from a more original title....

[Metalweb]

9 June 84

51(62) Too Much Trouble - Limahl
52(38) Love Games - Belle & The Devotions
53(60) Ghost In You - Psychedelic Furs
54(33) To All The Girls I've Loved Before - Willie Nelson & Julio Iglesias
55(66) Love All Day - Nick Heyward (entered 16 June)
56(37) Dancing Girls - Nik Kershaw
57(69) Just Be Good To Me - SOS Band
58(43) Pearly-Dewdrops Drops - Cocteau Twins
59 (-) Assassing - Marillion (had already charted)
60(44) Emergency (Dial 999) - Loose Ends
61(68) Wind Beneath My Wings - Lee Greenwood
62 (-) Thieves Like Us - New Order (had already charted)
63 (-) Change Of Heart - Change (entered 16 June)
64(58) High On Emotion - Chris De Burgh
65 (-) Borderline - Madonna
66(65) Romancing The Stone - Eddy Grant
67(39) Smalltown Creed - Kane Gang
68(61) Drag Me Down - Boomtown Rats
69(67) Ain't No Stopping Us Now - McFadden & Whitehead
70(56) Half A Boy & Half A Man - Nick Lowe
71 (-) Thin Line Between Love And Hate - Pretenders (entered 16 June)
72 (-) Green Green Grass Of Home - Elvis Presley
73(45) What Presence? - Orange Juice
74(re) Bombollini - Chris Rea
75 (-) Absolute - Scritti Politti (entered 16 June)

[Metalweb]

16 June 84

51 (-) Those First Impressions - Associates (entered 23 June)
52(51) Too Much Trouble - Limahl
53(61) Wind Beneath My Wings - Lee Greenwood
54 (-) I Love You When You Sleep - Tracie
55 (-) What I Want - Dead Or Alive (entered 23 June)
56(65) Borderline - Madonna
57(53) Ghost In You - Psychedelic Furs
58 (-) Dance Me Up - Gary Glitter (entered 23 June)
59(60) Emergency (Dial 999) - Loose Ends
60(72) Green Green Grass Of Home - Elvis Presley
61 (-) Body and Soul - Sisters of Mercy (entered 23 June)
62(re) Extraordinary Girl - O'Jays
63 (-) Dolly - Microdisney
64 (-) Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper (entered 23 June)
65(40) Spirit Walker - The Cult
66 (-) Agadoo - Black Lace (entered 7 July)
67(re) Good Technology - Red Guitars
68 (-) Tell Me Why - Bobby Womack
69 (-) Ocean Deep - Cliff Richard
70(47) The Body Electric - Rush
71(70) Half A Boy & Half A Man - Nick Lowe
72(64) High On Emotion - Chris De Burgh
73(41) The Boy Who Came Back - Marc Almond
74(54) To All Te Girls I've Loved Before - Willie Nelson & Julio Iglesias
75 (-) Breakdance - Irene Cara

[Metalweb]

Several issues never published because of a strike.....


4 Aug 84

51 (-) All Of You - Julio Iglesias & Diana Ross (had already charted)
52 (-) Get Your Feet Out Of My Shoes - Boothill Foot-Tappers
53 (-) Hot Hot Hot - Arrow (had already charted)
54 (-) Don't Believe A Word - A Bigger Splash
55 (-) In The Country - Farmers Boys (entered 11 Aug)
56 (-) Guardian Angel - Nino De Angelo
57 (-) The More You Live The More You Love - A Flock Of Seagulls (entered 11 Aug)
58 (-) Heaven Knows - Jaki Graham (entered 7 Sept)
59 (-) Dum Dum Girl - Talk Talk
60 (-) To France - Mike Oldfield (had already charted)
61 (-) Your Wife Is Cheatin' On Us - Richard 'Dimples' Fields
62 (-) High Energy - Evelyn Thomas (had already charted)
63(31) Mine - Everything But The Girl
64(35) Change Of Heart - Change
65(37) Absolute - Scritti Politti
66(50) My Male Curiosity - Kid Creole & The Coconuts
67(44) Just For Old Times Sake - Foster & Allen
68 (-) Do You Believe In The Westworld - Theatre Of Hate
69(45) Summer Groove - Tony Jackson
70 (-) So Sure - Skeletal Family
71(46) Break Dance Party - Break Machine
72 (-) Walk Into The Sun - March Violets
73(48) In The Ghetto - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
74 (-) Monkeys On Juice - Red Lorry Yellow Lorry
75(49) I'm Stepping Out - John Lennon

[Metalweb]

11 Aug 84

51 (-) Empty Rooms - Gary Moore (entered 18 Aug)
52(60) To France - Mike Oldfield
53(69) Summer Groove - Tony Jackson
54 (-) Black Stations White Stations - M&M (entered 18 Aug)
55(66) My Male Curiosity - Kid Creole & The Coconuts
56 (-) Summer Holiday - Kevin the Gerbil
57(68) Do You Believe In The Westworld - Theatre Of Hate
58(52) Get Your Feet Out Of My Shoes - Boothill Foot-Tappers
59 (-) Next Love - Deniece Williams
60 (-) Pass The Paper - Direct Drive
61 (-) Eternally Grateful - Janet Kay
62 (-) Only When You Leave - Spandau Ballet (had already charted)
63(56) Guardian Angel - Nino De Angelo
64(62) High Energy - Evelyn Thomas
65 (-) There In Your Eyes - Chas & Dave
66(58) Heaven Knows - Jaki Graham (entered 7 Sept)
67(59) Dum Dum Girl - Talk Talk
68 (-) You Are My Melody - Change (entered 18 Aug)
69 (-) Hand On My Heart - Shriekback
70 (-) What Is Life - Black Uhuru (entered 29 Sept)
71 (-) Thunder In The Tundra - Thor
72(49) Ain't No Sunshine - Sivuca
73(37) Brown Sugar - Rolling Stones
74 (-) Dr Beat - Miami Sound Machine (entered 18 Aug)
75(53) Hot Hot Hot - Arrow

[Metalweb]

18 Aug 84

51(75) Hot Hot Hot - Arrow
52(57) Do You Believe In The Westworld - Theatre Of Hate
53(47) Hardrock - Herbie Hancock
54 (-) Sing and Shout - Second Image
55(65) There In Your Eyes - Chas & Dave
56 (re) In The Ghetto - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
57(52) To France - Mike Oldfield
58(60) Pass The Paper - Direct Drive
59 (re) Summer Groove - Tony Jackson
60(64) High Energy - Evelyn Thomas
61 (-) You're Never Too Young - Cool Notes (entered 25 Aug)
62(70) What Is Life - Black Uhuru (entered 29 Sept)
63(61) Eternally Grateful - Janet Kay
64 (-) You In The Night - Fashion
65(56) Summer Holiday - Kevin the Gerbil
66(63) Guardian Angel - Nino De Angelo
67 (re) Walk Into The Sun - March Violets
68(66) Heaven Knows - Jaki Graham (entered 7 Sept)
69(29) Breakin' - Ollie & Jerry
70 (-) Drive My Car - Gina X
71(67) Dum Dum Dum - Talk Talk
72(58) Get Your Feet Out Of My Shoes - Boothill Foot-Tappers
73(55) My Male Curiosity - Kid Creole & The Coconuts
74(59) Next Love - Deniece Williams
75(71) Thunder On The Tundra - Thor