NME Singles/Albums Chart Breakers

[Metalweb]

25 Aug 84

51(49) You Are My Melody - Change
52(52) Do You Believe In The Westworld - Theatre Of Hate
53(67) Walk Into The Sun - March Violets
54(35) Pale Blue Eyes - Paul Quinn & Edwyn Collins
55 (-) Mr Solitaire - Animal Nightlife (entered 1 Sept)
56(40) Come Back - Mighty Wah!
57(62) What Is Life - Black Uhuru (entered 29 Sept)
58(43) I'll Wait - Van Halen
59(47) 99 1/2 - Carol Lynn Townes
60 (-) Big In Japan - Alphaville (entered 1 Sept)
61 (-) In The Country - Farmers Boys (had already charted)
62 (-) Forest Fire - Lloyd Cole & The Commotions (entered 8 Sept)
63(50) Today's Your Lucky Day - Harold Melvin
64 (-) All Of You - Julio Iglesias & Diana Ross (had already charted)
65 (-) She Bop - Cyndi Lauper (entered 1 Sept)
66(re) Ain't No Sunshine - Sivuca
67(69) Breakin'- Ollie & Jerry
68 (-) 17 - Rick James
69 (-) Dynamite - Jermaine Jackson
70 (-) Go West - The Cult
71 (-) Footsteps At My Door - Helen & The Horns
72(58) Pass The Paper - Direct Drive
73 (-) I Wanna Be Somebody - W.A.S.P.
74 (-) Big City Nights - Scorpions
75 (-) Work In Progress - Robert Wyatt

1 Sept 84

51(-) Stuck On You - Lionel Richie (had already charted)
52(47) Are You Ready - Break Machine
53(-) Talking In Your Sleep - Bucks Fizz (entered 8 Sept)
54(74) Big City Nights - Scorpions
55(68) 17 - Rick James
56(75) Work In Progress - Robert Wyatt
57(-) Hand On My Heart - Shriekback
58(61) In The Country - Farmers Boys
59(-) Lament - Ultravox (had already charted)
60(51) You Are My Melody - Change
61(43) I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me - Nik Kershaw
62(62) Forest Fire - Lloyd Cole & The Commotions (entered 8 Sept)
63(44) Jump - Pointer Sisters
64(70) Go West - The Cult
65(39) Black Stations White Stations - M&M
66(re) Hot Hot Hot - Arrow
67(73) I Wanna Be Somebody - W.A.S.P.
68(52) Do You Believe In The Westworld - Theatre Of Hate
69 (-) You Get The Best From Me - Alicia Myers (entered 15 Sept)
70 (-) You Keep Me Coming Back - Brothers Johnson
71(57) What Is Life - Black Uhuru (entered 29 Sept)
72(58) I'll Wait - Van Halen
73 (-) Storm Of Light - Working Week
74(33) Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper
75(46) Banana Banana - King Kurt

[Metalweb]

8 Sept 84

51(50) Mr Solitaire - Animal Nightlife
52 (-) Encore - Cheryl Lynn (entered 15 Sept)
53(47) Lady Shine - The Horn Section (also listed at No.48!)
54(70) You Keep Me Coming Back - Brothers Johnson
55 (-) Creep - The Fall
56 (-) Unity - Afrika Bambaataa & James Brown (entered 15 Sept)
57 (-) You Have - Marc Almond
58 (-) Somebody - Junior
59(69) You Get The Best From Me - Alicia Myers (entered 15 Sept)
60 (-) Love Glove - Visage
61 (-) Tesla Girls - OMD (entered 15 Sept)
62 (-) Girl You're So Together - Michael Jackson (entered 15 Sept)
63 (-) Lost In Music - Sister Sledge (entered 15 Sept)
64 (-) Intimate Connection - Kleeer
65 (-) The Girl From Ipanema - Astrud Gilberto (entered 22 Sept)
66 (-) Dead and Buried - Alien Sex Fiend
67(64) Go West - The Cult
68(55) 17 - Rick James
69(71) What Is Life - Black Uhuru (entered 29 Sept)
70(51) Stuck On You - Lionel Richie
71(43) Waiting For The Love Boat - Associates
72(36) You Think You're A Man - Divine
73(30) Nervous Shakedown - AC/DC
74(26) Hole In My Shoe - neil
75(37) The Ink In The Well - David Sylvian

[Robbie]

I'm curious how NME can have the same single listed at both number 48 and 53! I wonder if the spelling of the band's name confused them. I've seen the name listed in three separate ways. Even the OCC archive has the name spelt in two different ways (THS - The Horn Section and THS - The Horne Section). The correct name was T.H.S. The Horne Section.

[Metalweb]

I'm curious how NME can have the same single listed at both number 48 and 53! I wonder if the spelling of the band's name confused them. I've seen the name listed in three separate ways. Even the OCC archive has the name spelt in two different ways (THS - The Horn Section and THS - The Horne Section). The correct name was T.H.S. The Horne Section.

Maybe that explains it! Then again, it's not the first time they've managed to list the same single twice in a chart. Same thing happened 16 July 1983....

[kjell]

It’s not the only chart that’s done it. Cash Box did it many times during their later years and I’ve also seen it a few times in Record Business. When it’s happened it’s not unlikely that the same record is both charting and breaking the very same week.

[Metalweb]

15 Sept 84

51(28) It's A Hard Life - Queen
52(57) You Have - Marc Almond
53(32) Cath - Bluebells
54(67) Go West - The Cult
55(65) The Girl From Ipanema - Astrud Gilberto (entered 22 Sept)
56(53) Lady Shine - The Horn Section
57(69) What Is Life - Black Uhuru
58(35) Everybody's Laughing - Phil Fearon & Galaxy
59(68) 17 - Rick James
60(re) Work In Progress - Robert Wyatt
61(40) Just The Way You Like It - SOS Band
62(58) Somebody - Junior
63(42) Tossing & Turning - Windjammer
64(41) Down On The Street - Shakatak
65 (-) On The Wings Of A Nightingale - Everly Brothers (entered 29 Oct)
66(44) Empty Rooms - Gary Moore
67(45) Castles in Spain - Armoury Show
68(33) Love Songs Are Back Again - Band Of Gold
69(46) Closest Thing To Heaven - Kane Gang
70 (-) Reflections - Rick James
71 (-) Weekends - The Mighty Wah!
72 (-) Human Racing - Nik Kershaw (entered 22 Sept)
73 (-) Masqauerade - Evelyn Thomas
74 (-) This Time Baby - Jackie Moore
75(71) Waiting For The Love Boat - Associates

According to Wikipedia Rick James' "Reflections" was actually a compilation album!

[Robbie]

I can't remember 'This Time Baby' by Jackie Moore being re-released in 1984. I've checked on 45cat and it was a straight re-release with the same B side as the 1979 original. It's a great single which I bought on 12" back in summer 1979. The single was later sampled / formed the basis of 'Love On My Mind' by The Freemasons featuring Amanda Wilson in 2005.

'Human Racing' is my favourite single by Nik Kershaw. It's less poppy than most of his singles output. His vocal style on the track reminds me a little of Stevie Wonder.

[Graham76man]

According to Wikipedia Rick James' "Reflections" was actually a compilation album!

True, and it was issued also in 1984 not 1985

Also could the double listing of T.H.S. The Horne Section be caused by charting both 12 and 7 inch versions separately?

[Metalweb]

22 Sept 84

51 (-) Touch By Touch - Diana Ross (entered 13 Oct)
52 (-) Kangaroo - This Mortal Coil
53(57) What Is Life? - Black Uhuru (entered 29 Sept)
54 (-) Rain Forest - Paul Hardcastle (entered 29 Sept)
55 (-) Do What You Do - GBH
56 (-) Mr Solitaire - Animal Nightlife (entered 29 Sept)
57 (-) Todo Menina Baiana - Gilberto Gil
58(52) You Have - Marc Almond
59 (re) Eternally Grateful - Janet Kay
60 (-) Apollo 9 - Adam Ant
61(29) I Need You - Pointer Sisters
62 (re) Waiting For The Love Boat - Associates
63(45) You're Never Too Young - Cool Notes
64 (-) Prime Time - Mtume
65(69) The Closest Thing To Heaven - Kane Gang
66 (-) When The Wild Calls - Swansway
67(34) Killed By Death - Motorhead
68 (-) Rikki Don't Lose That Number - Tom Robinson
69(36) Girl You're So Together - Michael Jackson
70 (-) Dancing In The Dark - Bruce Springsteen
71(37) Are You Ready - Break Machine
72 (-) Ecstacy Of Flight - Chris DeBurgh
73(38) Encore - Cheryl Lynn
74(41) On The Wings Of Love - Jeffrey Osborne
75(46) She Bop - Cyndi Lauper

[Metalweb]

29 Sep 84

51(64) Prime Time - Mtume
52 (-) Re-Ron - Gil Scott-Heron
53 (-) All You Pretty Girls - XTC
54(51) Touch By Touch - Diana Ross (entered 13 Oct)
55 (-) Tricks Of The Light - Mike Oldfield
56(68) Rikki Don't Lose That Number - Tom Robinson
57 (-) You Can't Get What You Want - Joe Jackson
58 (re) Cath - Bluebells
59 (-) I Can't Let You Go - Haywoode (entered 6 Oct)
60 (-) Tenderness - General Public
61(58) You Have - Marc Almond
62 (-) Last Plane - Clint Eastwood & General Saint
63 (-) Shine - Frida
64 (-) The War Song - Culture Club (entered 6 Oct)
65 (-) Modern Girl - Meat Loaf (entered 13 Oct)
66 (-) No More Lonely Nights - Paul McCartney (entered 6 Oct)
67(21) Mother's Talk - Tears For Fears
68(33) White Lines - Grandmaster & Melle Mel
69(35) What's Love Hot To Do With It - Tina Turner
70(37) Relax - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
71(38) Unity - James Brown & Afrika Bambaataa
72(41) You Get The Best From Me - Alicia Myers
73(44) Lap Of Luxury - Jethro Tull
74(45) 2 Minutes To Midnight - Iron Maiden
75(48) When Doves Cry - Prince

[navi]

53 (-) All You Pretty Girls - XTC

i adored this song back in the days (and still love it)
too bad it failed on the charts

[Robbie]

'The War Song' by Culture Club must have been charting on leaked copies. I don't know what day was the cut-off point for the NME chart (it had switched to a Thursday in the early 70s as a cost saving exercise) but it didn't chart on Gallup until the following week. I bought the 12" as I bought all of their singles at the time but time hasn't been kind to the track as it really is dreadful.

The early charting also applies to 'No More Lonely Nights' by Paul McCartney and 'Modern Girl' by Meat Loaf.

Incidentally, it was around this time in 1984 that the first shops from Northern Ireland were used in the offical (Gallup) charts and I think it was also around this time that the first midweeks were published by Gallup, initially on a Thursday only and later a Tuesday, Thursday and Friday before they went to 5 days a week in the late 80s. Of course the general public were unaware of them until they were referenced in both the KLF book about how to have a number 1 hit ('The Manual') and by Alan Jones in Record Mirror, both in 1988.

[Metalweb]

^
Interesting - hadn't noticed those were all charting early...

Agree about "The War Song" - awful! I remember being appalled by it at the time because I'd bought most of their earlier hits.

Seem to remember it was left off of their first "Greatest Hits" album ?

[Robbie]

^
Interesting - hadn't noticed those were all charting early...

Agree about "The War Song" - awful! I remember being appalled by it at the time because I'd bought most of their earlier hits.

Seem to remember it was left off of their first "Greatest Hits" album ?

I'm sure Boy George himself later admitted it wasn't a very good song. The band themselves were in the process of disintegrating and their next single would bomb out at number 32. I didn't even bother buying that one and it was the first Culture Club single that I didn't bother to buy.

[anpt]

The War song was a #2 in UK and also a hit in several countries (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_War_Song).

It was included in the first compilations.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_T...rst_Four_Years

1987 - includes war song

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Best_of_Culture_Club

1989 - includes war song

other future compilations included songs of Boy George and other projects but don't included War Song.

Spin Dazzle – The Best of Boy George and Culture Club

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greate...rytellers_Live

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At_Wor...d_Culture_Club

^
Interesting - hadn't noticed those were all charting early...

Agree about "The War Song" - awful! I remember being appalled by it at the time because I'd bought most of their earlier hits.

Seem to remember it was left off of their first "Greatest Hits" album ?

[Metalweb]

Yup, misremembered!

Must have been thinking of the "Greatest Moments" compilation released at the time of the late 90s comeback.

[Metalweb]

6 Oct 84

51(44) Let Her Feel It - Simplicious
52(36) We Don't Work For Free - Grandmaster & Melle Mel
53(30) All I Need Is Everything - Aztec Camera
54(71) Unity - James Brown & Afrika Bambaataa
55 (-) Native Land - Everything But The Girl
56(58) Cath - Bluebells
57 (-) 54-56 (Was My Number) - Aswad
58(62) Last Plane - Clint Eastwood & General Saint
59(70) Relax - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
60 (-) Beautiful Monster - Folk Devils
61(re) Kangaroo - This Mortal Coil
62 (-) Sunlight Bathed The Golden Glow - Felt
63 (-) Music To Watch Girls By - Higsons
64 (-) Shout! Shout! Shout! - Gary Glitter
65 (-) On The Wings Of A Nightingale - Everly Brothers (entered 20 Oct)
66 (-) Your Touch - Bonnie Pointer (entered 20 Oct)
67 (-) Missing You - John Waite (entered 13 Oct)
68(53) All You Pretty Girls - XTC
69 (-) Shooting From The Heart - Cliff Richard (entered 10 Nov)
70(56) Rikki Don't Lose That Number - Tom Robinson
71 (-) Don't Blame It On Love - Shakatak
72 (-) Shout To The Top - Style Council (entered 13 Oct)
73 (-) Scarecrow EP - Wolfgang Press
74(re) Encore - Cheryl Lynn
75 (-) The A Team - Mike Post (entered 13 Oct)

[TOMMYROCKLAND]

Thank you very much MetalWeb.

Thank you all.

Don't stop the charts.

RNR NEVER DIE.

ps: a doubt. are these breakers charts the same bubbling under?

Can they be used as a reference for UK bubbling under?

[Metalweb]

13 Oct 84

51(re) Shine - Frida
52(66) Your Touch - Bonnie Pointer (entered 20 Oct)
53 (-) All Cried Out - Alison Moyet (entered 20 Oct)
54(51) Let Her Feel It - Simplicious
55(68) All You Pretty Girls - XTC
56(56) Cath - Bluebells
57 (-) Gimme All Your Lovin' - ZZ Top (entered 20 Oct)
58 (-) Too Late For Goodbyes - Julian Lennon (entered 20 Oct)
59(55) Native Land - Everything But The Girl
60 (-) Let Sleeping Dogs Lie - Intrigue
61(57) 54-56 (Was My Number) - Aswad
62 (-) Out Of The Flesh - Chakk
63(33) What Is Life? - Black Uhuru (also listed at No. 45!)
64(25) Passengers - Elton John
65(46) Forest Fire - Lloyd Cole
66(60) Beautiful Monster - Folk Devils
67 (-) Party Doll - Jets
68 (-) Listen To Your Father - Feargal Sharkey (entered 20 Oct)
69(61) Kangaroo - This Mortal Coil
70(re) Tenderness - General Public
71 (-) The Warrior - Scandal
72(45) William It Was Really Nothing - Smiths
73(47) Two Tribes - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
74(30) Rain Forest - Paul Hardcastle
75(31) Talking In Your Sleep - Bucks Fizz

[Metalweb]

20 Oct 84

51 (-) Warsaw In The Sun - Tangerine Dream
52 (-) Love's Great Adventure - Ultravox (entered 27 Oct)
53 (-) Stuttering - Helen Terry
54 (-) Slippery People - Staple Singers (entered 27 Oct)
55 (-) Junk Funk - SPK
56 (-) Who Wears These Shoes - Elton John (entered 27 Oct)
57 (-) A Million Miles Away - Positive Noise
58(63) What Is Life? - Black Uhuru
59 (-) Caribbean Queen - Billy Ocean (entered 27 Oct)
60 (-) Never Ending Story - Limahl (entered 10 Nov)
61 (-) Candlelight Afternoon - Phyllis St James
62(37) Hot Water - Level 42
63(39) Tour De France - Kraftwerk
64(67) Party Doll - Jets
65(74) Rain Forest - Paul Hardcastle
66 (-) Hollow Horse - Icicle Works
67(41) Magic Touch - Rose Royce
68(re) Last Plane - Clint Eastwood & General Saint
69(56) Cath - Bluebells
70(43) Touch By Touch - Diana Ross
71(44) I Wish You Would - Jocelyn Brown
72(73) Two Tribes - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
73(48) Lean Period - Orange Juice
74(50) Flesh For Fantasy - Billy Idol
75 (-) Out Of Touch - Hall & Oates (entered 3 Nov)

[TOMMYROCKLAND]

Thank you very much.

Don' stop the charts.

RNR NEVER DIE.

[Metalweb]

27 Oct 84

51(75) Out Of Touch - Hall & Oates (entered 3 Nov)
52 (-) The Thorn EP - Siouxsie & The Banshees (entered 3 Nov)
53 (-) Marimba Jive - Red Guitars
54(25) Hammer To Fall - Queen
55 (-) Don't Stop - Jeffrey Osbourne
56(45) Mystery - Dio
57(53) Stuttering - Helen Terry
58(29) Dr Beat - Miami Sound Machine
59(re) All You Pretty Girls - XTC
60(50) Your Touch - Bonnie Pointer
61(40) Human Racing - Nik Kershaw
62 (-) New Love - Rose Royce
63(73) Lean Period - Orange Juice
64(31) Big In Japan - Alphaville
65 (-) Boys In The Street - Eddy Grant
66(42) The A Team - Mike Post
67(60) Never Ending Story - Limahl (entered 10 Nov)
68 (-) I Wanna Rock - Twisted Sister
69(38) Madam Butterfly - Malcolm McLaren
70(66) Hollow Horse - Icicle Works
71(64) Party Doll - Jets
72 (-) I'm So Romantic - Evelyn King
73 (-) I'm Warning You - Gayle Adams
74(re) Shout! Shout! Shout! - Gary Glitter
75(58) What Is Life? - Black Uhuru

[Robbie]

Great song by Gayle Adams at number 73. It's another release that appeared on the Fourth & Broadway label. The label had scored a top 20 hit earlier in the year with 'Somebody Else's Guy' by Jocelyn Brown. 'I'm Warning You' is one of the tracks on a great Fourth & Broadway compilation called 'Beauty + The Beat On Broadway' that I bought the following year (and still have).

https://www.discogs.com/Various-Beau...release/868541

[Metalweb]

3 Nov 84

51(57) Stuttering - Helen Terry
52(re) Rain Forest - Paul Hardcastle
53 (-) Golden Days - Bucks Fizz
54 (-) Helpless - Tracey Ullman
55 (-) Hard Habit To Break - Chicago (entered 10 Nov)
56(63) Lean Period - Orange Juice
57(65) Boys In The Street - Eddy Grant
58(67) Never Ending Story - Limahl (entered 10 Nov)
59(55) Don't Stop - Jeffrey Osbourne
60 (-) I Choose You - Paris
61 (-) Let The Rest Of The World Pass By - Rose Marie
62 (-) If This Is It - Huey Lewis & The News (entered 24 Nov)
63(33) Mr Solitaire - Animal Nightlife
64 (-) In The Name Of Love - Ralph MacDonald
65(48) The Lucky One - Laura Branigan
66(39) A Letter To You - Shakin' Stevens
67 (-) Slippery People - Talking Heads (entered 10 Nov)
68(41) Tesla Girls - OMD
69(73) I'm Warning You - Gayle Adams
70(43) East Of Eden - Big Country
71 (-) Frantic Situation - Afrika Bambaataa
72(46) Master And Servant - Depeche Mode
73(59) All You Pretty Girls - XTC
74 (-) Heartbeat - Psychedelic Furs
75(53) Marimba Jive - Red Guitars

[Robbie]

A very low placing for 'Never Ending Story' by Limahl. On NME it has moved 60-67-58 at the same time it was moving 47-40-20 on Gallup. On the Gallup chart it then climbed to number 10 the following week. Where did it land inside the NME top 50 that week (10/11/84)?