"New Wave" and the 1980s - one-hit wonders and biggest hits

[Passing_Strang]

As usual, thanks for the info, guys! Will add it when I conclude the second 10 of the songs

Must say, I also quite fond of "Harden My Heart" video - it's very of its time which for me is a great compliment. I feel that early age of video has (in its best examples) rarely been bettered since.

Now another hit that took on a life of its own - alternative anthem in its homecountry. Of course, the band had a healthy run of international hits in very short time (only a couple of years), but this one stand head and shoulders above the rest.

[Passing_Strang]

17. DOWN UNDER by Men at Work

Written by: Colin Hay/Ron Strykert
Produced by: Peter McIan
Country of origin: Australia
Release date: October 1981

Australia
23 November 1981 - #1 (6) - 21 weeks
10 October 1983 - #9 - 14 weeks (re-entry)

Belgium
17 April 1982 - #6 - 8 weeks

Canada
4 September 1982 - #1 (3) - 21 weeks

Denmark
#1

Finland
February 1983 - #6 - 4 months

France
TMP France: 6 June 1982 - #12 - 14 weeks
InfoDisc: 28 May 1983 - #55 - 1 week

(West) Germany
19 April 1982 - #9 - 36 weeks

Iceland
4 February 1983 - #7 - 2 weeks

Ireland
9 January 1983 - #1 (4) - 8 weeks

Israel
18 January 1982 - #1 (2) - 15 weeks

Japan
Oricon: 21 January 1983 - #33 - 15 weeks
All Japan Pop 20: 5 February 1983 - #2 - 16 weeks

The Netherlands
Nationale Hitparade: 27 March 1982 - #2 - 11 weeks
De Nederlandse Top 40: 27 March 1982 - #2 - 11 weeks

New Zealand
17 January 1982 - #1 (2) - 21 weeks

Norway
23 February 1983 - #2 - 13 weeks

Poland
29 January 1983 - #1 (1) - 7 weeks

South Africa
20 August 1982 - #2 - 18 weeks

Sweden
22 February 1983 - #6 - 12 weeks

Switzerland
DRS Hitparade: 20 June 1982 - #1 (4) - 13 weeks
Der Musikmarkt: 1 July 1982 - #1 (2) - 12 weeks

UK
Music Week: 8 January 1983 - #1 (3) - 12 weeks
Record Business/Sounds: 15 January 1983 - #1 (4) - 6 weeks
New Musical Express: 15 January 1983 - #1 (3) - 9 weeks
Melody Maker: 15 January 1983 - #1 (3) - 8 weeks

USA
Billboard: 6 November 1982 - #1 (4) - 25 weeks
Cash Box: 6 November 1982 - #1 (5) - 28 weeks
Radio & Records: 12 November 1982 - #1 (5) - 16 weeks

Zimbabwe
27 November 1982 - #11 - 9 weeks

17.1. DOWN UNDER 2000 by Men at Work

Australia
2 October 2000 - #69 - 5 weeks

[Benny]

I adore 'Harden My Heart', what a great song!
Men At Work were not a one-hit wonder in the US where they had another number one ('Who Can It Be Now?') and two further top 10 singles.

[Robbie]

I adore 'Harden My Heart', what a great song!
Men At Work were not a one-hit wonder in the US where they had another number one ('Who Can It Be Now?') and two further top 10 singles.

As Passing_Strang has posted, it's not just one hit wonders but also acts who were mainly widely known for one big hit. I also love 'Who Can It Be Now' though my favourite by them, at least at the moment, is possibly 'Overkill'. I do like 'Down Under' but like many 1980s hits it suffers these days from being too overplayed on the oldies stations.

[Robbie]

'Down Under'

Record Business

Not much information here as the magazine ceased publication at some point in January 1983 though charts were compiled until 15 February 1983 but 'Down Under' was the last number 1 on that chart

11 January 1983: #1 - 6 weeks (chart discontinued)

Chart run: 21-?-1-1-1-1

A quick history of what happened next: when Record Business folded the chart department of the magazine (MRIB, headed by Barry Lazell) continued to compile charts though only a Worldwide Singles chart appeared in print (again, like their UK Singles chart, it was published in Sounds). In August 1984 MRIN began to compile test charts for UK Independent Radio and these charts officially launched on Sunday 30 September as the Network Chart which appeared on most commercial radio stations in the UK and which was broadcast at the same time on a Sunday as Radio 1 were broadcasting the official Top 40.

The Network Chart was an immediate success as it was effectively a week ahead of the Radio 1 Sunday chart show (which was the same top 40 that had been announced 5 days earlier on the Tuesday) as it had a cut off point of Thursday and was compiled on a Friday for regional charts to be played on commercial radio stations on a Saturday and the UK wide Network Chart on the Sunday.

I have most of the Network charts from late 1984 until the end of the 80s so can post chart positions / chart runs unless Passing_Strang already has the same chart scans? The newspapers and magazines they were published in throughout the rest of the 1980s are dated to the following Saturday though the actual chart date is a Sunday and is 6 days previous to the newspaper / magazine publication date.

[grendizer]

In Japan for Men At Work, "Down Under"

Oricon : 1983-01-21 # 33, 15, 70.450
All Japan : Entry 1983.2.5 # 2, 16 weeks

[Gambo]

'Down Under'

Record Business

Not much information here as the magazine ceased publication at some point in January 1983 though charts were compiled until 15 February 1983 but 'Down Under' was the last number 1 on that chart

11 January 1983: #1 - 6 weeks (chart discontinued)

Chart run: 21-?-1-1-1-1

A quick history of what happened next: when Record Business folded the chart department of the magazine (MRIB, headed by Barry Lazell) continued to compile charts though only a Worldwide Singles chart appeared in print (again, like their UK Singles chart, it was published in Sounds). In August 1984 MRIN began to compile test charts for UK Independent Radio and these charts officially launched on Sunday 30 September as the Network Chart which appeared on most commercial radio stations in the UK and which was broadcast at the same time on a Sunday as Radio 1 were broadcasting the official Top 40.

The Network Chart was an immediate success as it was effectively a week ahead of the Radio 1 Sunday chart show (which was the same top 40 that had been announced 5 days earlier on the Tuesday) as it had a cut off point of Thursday and was compiled on a Friday for regional charts to be played on commercial radio stations on a Saturday and the UK wide Network Chart on the Sunday.

I have most of the Network charts from late 1984 until the end of the 80s so can post chart positions / chart runs unless Passing_Strang already has the same chart scans? The newspapers and magazines they were published in throughout the rest of the 1980s are dated to the following Saturday though the actual chart date is a Sunday and is 6 days previous to the newspaper / magazine publication date.

This may be a daft question and apologies to Passing_Strang as this is off-topic really, but presumably Robbie the weekly Network Chart, much as the official one is nowadays, was compiled on Fridays from the preceding Friday to Thursday's sales/airplay data, albeit that the main chart broadcast was not aired until the Sunday? Surely they wouldn't have omitted Friday or Saturday as both were big sales days back then?

By the way, a consistently excellent thread and am always keen to see the next entry.

[Passing_Strang]

"Down Under" was one of the first videos screened when the Russian MTV launched in 1998 (yes, that late). During the first days when they presumeably weren't fully ready they just showed clips from the previous 20 years, most of then (then) recent but with a dose of classics thrown in too. That's when I first saw and hear? Men at Work - and for some time couldn't make sense of what I've just heard (I was a huge Modern Talking fan then ). Gradually though my tastes expanded and developed and I grew to appreciate this band (among many others) more.

And yes, while being quite fond of the main hit, I actually like other hits more - like their first US smash "Who Can It Be Now?" This one actually broke the band in Southern Europe - countries like France and Italy made it their hit of choice from MAW while "Down Under" floundered somewhat.

Robbie, I'll be really greatufl for your help with the Network Chart - I may have it in my archives but have little time to actually check it thoroughly (at least now). So if you can provide the info - please do so!

[Robbie]

'Down Under'

Record Business

Not much information here as the magazine ceased publication at some point in January 1983 though charts were compiled until 15 February 1983 but 'Down Under' was the last number 1 on that chart

11 January 1983: #1 - 6 weeks (chart discontinued)

Chart run: 21-?-1-1-1-1

A quick history of what happened next: when Record Business folded the chart department of the magazine (MRIB, headed by Barry Lazell) continued to compile charts though only a Worldwide Singles chart appeared in print (again, like their UK Singles chart, it was published in Sounds). In August 1984 MRIN began to compile test charts for UK Independent Radio and these charts officially launched on Sunday 30 September as the Network Chart which appeared on most commercial radio stations in the UK and which was broadcast at the same time on a Sunday as Radio 1 were broadcasting the official Top 40.

The Network Chart was an immediate success as it was effectively a week ahead of the Radio 1 Sunday chart show (which was the same top 40 that had been announced 5 days earlier on the Tuesday) as it had a cut off point of Thursday and was compiled on a Friday for regional charts to be played on commercial radio stations on a Saturday and the UK wide Network Chart on the Sunday.

I have most of the Network charts from late 1984 until the end of the 80s so can post chart positions / chart runs unless Passing_Strang already has the same chart scans? The newspapers and magazines they were published in throughout the rest of the 1980s are dated to the following Saturday though the actual chart date is a Sunday and is 6 days previous to the newspaper / magazine publication date.

This may be a daft question and apologies to Passing_Strang as this is off-topic really, but presumably Robbie the weekly Network Chart, much as the official one is nowadays, was compiled on Fridays from the preceding Friday to Thursday's sales/airplay data, albeit that the main chart broadcast was not aired until the Sunday? Surely they wouldn't have omitted Friday or Saturday as both were big sales days back then?

By the way, a consistently excellent thread and am always keen to see the next entry.

According to Dave Taylor the Network Chart was based on sales from Monday to Thursday.

viewtopic.php?p=4307215#p4307215

Confusingly though I have a scan of an article from Record Mirror from May 1987 which looks at both the Gallup and MRIB charts and in that article the MRIB chart week is shown as Thursday to Wednesday. As MRIB compiled both a sales only as well as a sales and airplay chart (the latter being the broadcast Network Chart), perhaps the sales only version was a full chart week? Just a guess but it might explain the anomaly. Although I would have expected Dave to have known about that if that was the case. Rubcale made a similar point in the thread I have linked to, although she wonders if the end of week sales may have contributed towards the end of year charts.

[Passing_Strang]

Grendizer, thank for the info (as usual )! And Gambo, please feel free to discuss here, everyhting chart-related (and 1980s-related, for that matter) is of interest to me. For example, for a long time I wasn't even aware of the Network Chart so seeing this info now is great!

And , of course, thanks for your high opinion of this thread - try to keep the quality Now the next song may divide opinions - I certainly see the conflicting reports on it, with fans of "real New Wave music" being quite harsh to it - but it certainly has qualities associated with the genre and also is one of the first songs close to "New Wave" that I ever heard (so it has a certain nostalgic charm to me).

Of course the artist is far from being one hit wonder or even a short-lived act - but its his last big hit (original one, at least). And on my list this song is among the most successful, charting in almost every country that had a chart at that point - and charting generally very high. So here goes:

[Passing_Strang]

18. ABRACADABRA by The Steve Miller Band

Written by: Steve Miller
Produced by: Steve Miller/Gary Mallaber
Country of origin: USA
Release date: May 1982

Australia
26 July 1982 - #1 (2) - 21 weeks

Austria
Ö3-Hitparade: 1 August 1982 - #1 (4) - 14 weeks
Der Musikmarkt: 1 August 1982 - #1 (1) - 12 weeks

Belgium
3 July 1982 - #1 (1) - 11 weeks

Canada
12 June 1982 - #1 (1) - 23 weeks

Denmark
20 August 1982 - #1 (4) - 13 weeks

Finland
August 1982 - #4 - 5 months

France
TMP France Top 100: 1 August 1982 - #2 - 24 weeks
InfoDisc: 27 August 1982 - #37 - 11 weeks

(West) Germany
2 August 1982 - #2 - 23 weeks

Iceland
9 July 1982 - #1 (6) - 12 weeks

Ireland
4 July 1982 - #2 - 7 weeks

Israel
12 July 1982 - #1 (3) - 16 weeks

Italy
Musica e Dischi: 11 September 1982 - #23 - 1 week
TV Sorrisi e Canzoni: 12 September 1982 - #16 - 16 weeks

Japan
Oricon: 21 July 1982 - #66 - 7 weeks
All Japan Pop 20: 14 August 1982 - #1 (14) - ?

The Netherlands
Nationale Hitparade: 12 June 1982 - #26 - 9 weeks
De Nederlandse Top 40: 26 June 1982 - #18 - 6 weeks

New Zealand
15 August 1982 - #8 - 15 weeks

Norway
7 July 1982 - #4 - 8 weeks

Poland
3 July 1982 - #1 (2) - 7 weeks

Portugal
February 1983 - #4 - 3 months

South Africa
28 August 1982 - #2 - 15 weeks

Spain
2 October 1982 - #1 (1) - 21 weeks

Sweden
3 August 1982 - #1 (8) - 18 weeks

Switzerland
DRS Hitparade: 1 August 1982 - #1 (6) - 11 weeks
Der Musikmarkt: 15 August 1982 - #1 (4) - 12 weeks

UK
Record Business/Sounds: 19 June 1982 - #2 - 13 weeks
Music Week: 19 June 1982 - #2 - 11 weeks
New Musical Express: 26 June 1982 - #1 (1) - 9 weeks
Melody Maker: 26 June 1982 - #2 - 8 weeks

USA
Cash Box: 29 May 1982 - #1 (5) - 28 weeks
Billboard: 29 May 1982 - #1 (2) - 25 weeks
Radio & Records: 4 June 1982 - #3 - 15 weeks

Zimbabwe
23 October 1982 - #7 - 14 weeks

18.1. ABRACADABRA (ROUND'N'ROUND) by Steve Miller Band vs Gauzz

Finland
18 February 2006 - #4 - 3 weeks

18.2. Abracadabra by Melina

Denmark
19 January 2001 - #17 - 1 week

18.3. Abracadabra by Strike One

The Netherlands
Mega Top 100: 7 October 2006 - #43 - 7 weeks

[yuvalzirler]

17. DOWN UNDER by Men at Work

Written by: Colin Hay/Ron Strykert
Produced by: Peter McIan
Country of origin: Australia
Release date: October 1981

Australia
23 November 1981 - #1 (6) - 21 weeks
10 October 1983 - #9 - 14 weeks (re-entry)

Belgium
17 April 1982 - #6 - 8 weeks

Canada
4 September 1982 - #1 (3) - 21 weeks

Denmark
#1

Finland
February 1983 - #6 - 17 weeks

France
TMP France Top 100: 6 June 1982 - #12 - 14 weeks
InfoDisc: 28 May 1983 - #55 - 1 week

(West) Germany
19 April 1982 - #9 - 36 weeks

Iceland
4 February 1983 - #7 - 2 weeks

Ireland
9 January 1983 - #1 (4) - 8 weeks

Japan
? 1983 - #33 - 15 weeks

The Netherlands
Nationale Hitparade: 27 March 1982 - #2 - 11 weeks
De Nederlandse Top 40: 27 March 1982 - #2 - 11 weeks

New Zealand
17 January 1982 - #1 (2) - 21 weeks

Norway
23 February 1983 - #2 - 13 weeks

Poland
29 January 1983 - #1 (1) - 7 weeks

South Africa
20 August 1982 - #2 - 18 weeks

Sweden
22 February 1983 - #6 - 12 weeks

Switzerland
DRS Hitparade: 20 June 1982 - #1 (4) - 13 weeks
Der Musikmarkt: 1 July 1982 - #1 (2) - 12 weeks

UK
Music Week: 8 January 1983 - #1 (3) - 12 weeks
New Musical Express: 15 January 1983 - #1 (3) - 9 weeks
Melody Maker: 15 January 1983 - #1 (3) - 8 weeks

USA
Billboard: 6 November 1982 - #1 (4) - 25 weeks
Cash Box: 6 November 1982 - #1 (5) - 28 weeks
Radio & Records: 12 November 1982 - #1 (5) - 16 weeks

Zimbabwe
27 November 1982 - #11 - 9 weeks

Israel- entered 18.1.1982, charted for 15 weeks, #1 for 2 weeks starting 8.3.1982 (22-18-11-7-4-2-2-1-1-2-?-13-?-26-35-out)

[yuvalzirler]

18. ABRACADABRA by The Steve Miller Band

Israel
#1 (3)

entered 12.7.1982, charted for 16 weeks, #1 for 3 weeks starting 16.8.1982 (20-15-5-4-2-1-1-1-2-6-13-13-25-32-36-39-out)

[Jerz]

"Abracadabra" is truly one of my memorable and classic 1980s song that I heard. The Steve Miller Band had a string of Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 hits in the 1970s as well as three UK Top 40 hits ("Rock'n Me", "Abracadabra", and "The Joker"). Before "Abracadabra" hit their third and final number one hit on Billboard Hot 100, the first two number one Billboard Hot 100 songs: The Joker (1974) and Rock'n Me (1976). So aside from "Abracadabra", my other favorite songs from The Steve Miller Band: "The Joker", "Take the Money and Run", "Rock'n Me", "Fly Like an Eagle", "Jet Airliner", and "Heart Like a Wheel".

"Abracadabra" would be their final Billboard Hot 100 number one and Top 40 hit for The Steve Miller Band. They are still active in music.

[Passing_Strang]

Thank you, guys, much appreciated!

Now, the next song is a complete opposite of the predecessor - while certainly a big hit it's not nearly as widespread. Actually, I find the situation strange - the song courted the top of the charts in English-speaking world while went almost completely unnoticed in Europe! You'd expect a US/UK smash to automatically follow suit on the continent. No idea why that happened, but there we are.

Still, a great upbeat song, perfect example of the term "earworm" and a deserved classic. Sadly its performer remained a one hit wonder - she had some great songs aside of her big hit...

[Passing_Strang]

19. MICKEY by Toni Basil

Written by: Mike Chapman/Nicky Chinn
Produced by: Mike Chapman
Country of origin: USA
Release date: May 1981 (UK) / August 1982 (USA)

Australia
22 March 1982 - #1 (2) - 27 weeks

Belgium
Het Belgisch Hitboek: 15 May 1982 - #39 - 1 week

Canada
20 November 1982 - #1 (4) - 19 weeks

France
TMP France: 14 November 1982 - #94 - 1 week

(West) Germany
14 March 1983 - #69 - 2 weeks

Ireland
28 February 1982 - #3 - 7 weeks

Israel
8 March 1982 - #6 - 10 weeks

Japan
Oricon: 5 December 1982 - #88 - 3 weeks

The Netherlands
Nationale Hitparade: 1 May 1982 - #39 - 3 weeks
De Nederlandse Tip 30: April 1982 - #4 - 6 weeks

New Zealand
29 August 1982 - #2 - 15 weeks

South Africa
22 May 1982 - #3 - 16 weeks

UK
Record Business: 20 July 1981 - #80 - 4 weeks; 6 February 1982 - #2 - 14 weeks
Music Week: 6 February 1982 - #2 - 12 weeks
New Musical Express: 27 February 1982 - #2 - 7 weeks
Melody Maker: 20 February 1982 - #2 - 8 weeks

USA
Billboard: 4 September 1982 - #1 (1) - 27 weeks
Cash Box: 11 September 1982 - #2 - 29 weeks
Radio & Records: 22 October 1982 - #11 - 7 weeks

Zimbabwe
5 February 1983 - #7 - 13 weeks

19.2. Mickey by Lolly

Ireland
9 September 1999 - #14 - 8 weeks

UK
18 September 1999 - #4 - 10 weeks

[yuvalzirler]

19. MICKEY by Toni Basil

Written by: Mike Chapman/Nicky Chinn
Produced by: Mike Chapman
Country of origin: USA
Release date: May 1981 (UK) / August 1982 (USA)

Australia
22 March 1982 - #1 (2) - 27 weeks

Belgium
Het Belgisch Hitboek: 15 May 1982 - #39 - 1 week

Canada
20 November 1982 - #1 (4) - 19 weeks

France
TMP France Top 100: 14 November 1982 - #94 - 1 week

(West) Germany
14 March 1983 - #69 - 2 weeks

Ireland
28 February 1982 - #3 - 7 weeks

Israel
8 March 1982 - #6 - 10 weeks

The Netherlands
Nationale Hitparade: 1 May 1982 - #39 - 3 weeks
De Nederlandse Tip 30: April 1982 - #4 - 6 weeks

New Zealand
29 August 1982 - #2 - 15 weeks

South Africa
22 May 1982 - #3 - 16 weeks

UK
Music Week: 6 February 1982 - #2 - 12 weeks
New Musical Express: 27 February 1982 - #2 - 7 weeks
Melody Maker: 20 February 1982 - #2 - 8 weeks

USA
Billboard: 4 September 1982 - #1 (1) - 27 weeks
Cash Box: 11 September 1982 - #2 - 29 weeks
Radio & Records: 22 October 1982 - #11 - 7 weeks

Zimbabwe
5 February 1983 - #7 - 13 weeks

19.2. Mickey by Lolly

Ireland
9 September 1999 - #14 - 8 weeks

UK
18 September 1999 - #4 - 10 weeks

Oh, Here's one of my least favorite 80's songs... But still, it was a huge hit.

[grendizer]

Abracadabra from Steve Miller Band in Japan.

Oricon : 1982.07.21 # 66, 7 weeks, 22.320
All Japan : # 1 (14 weeks) Entry 1982.08.14

[grendizer]

Mickey by Toni Basil in Japan.

Oricon : 1982.12.05 # 88, 3 weeks, 7.080
All Japan : No entry

[Gambo]

Originally recorded as 'Kitty' by Racey of course in 1979, though I must confess that despite having known this for many years, I've still not heard the original song.

[Passing_Strang]

Again my gratitude for the info provided - and, speaking of Steve Miller song, now, with the addition of Japanese charts, we can see that it charted in EVERY country that had a chart at that time! 25 of them, to be precise - that's such a rare result, so far only Kim Carnes, M and Lipps inc. come close. And there won't be many songs as successful on my list. Maybe with the overall number of countries it charted in that's the most successful one here. Quite an achievement, I must say.

Now, to close the second run of ten songs, another case of a big hit that became a deserved and much-loved classic by now. Of course in some countries the band had bigger hits, but overall that's their most widespread and emblematic song. Also, it comes from the album that's my favourite not only from this band but also from the whole of pop music ever (a bit like in the case of The Human League). To be honest, not my absolute favourite from that album but still a stellar work and always welcome when I hear it.

[Passing_Strang]

20. THE LOOK OF LOVE by ABC

Written by: ABC (Martin Fry/Mark White/Stephen Singleton/David Palmer)
Produced by: Trevor Horn
Country of origin: UK
Release date: 7 May 1982

Australia
13 September 1982 - #7 - 18 weeks

Belgium
3 July 1982 - #19 - 3 weeks

Canada
11 September 1982 - #1 (1) - 20 weeks

Finland
August 1982 - #7 - 5 months

France
TMP France: 14 November 1982 - #7 - 19 weeks
InfoDisc: 17 December 1982 - #60 - 3 weeks

(West) Germany
23 August 1982 - #36 - 15 weeks

Iceland
11 June 1982 - #2 - 2 weeks

Ireland
23 May 1982 - #12 - 7 weeks

Israel
14 June 1982 - #4 - 12 weeks

Japan
Oricon: 25 July 1982 - #53 - 10 weeks
All Japan Pop 20: 4 September 1982 - #1 (1) - 16 weeks

The Netherlands
De Nederlandse Top 40: 29 May 1982 - #12 - 7 weeks
Nationale Hitparade: 5 June 1982 - #11 - 7 weeks

New Zealand
29 August 1982 - #5 - 15 weeks

Poland
21 August 1982 - #26 - 1 week

Portugal
December 1982 - #3 - 7 months

Spain
23 October 1982 - #13 - 20 weeks

Sweden
3 August 1982 - #8 - 14 weeks

UK
Record Business/Sounds: 15 May 1982 - #4 - 13 weeks
Music Week: 15 May 1982 - #4 - 11 weeks; 8 January 1983 - #71 - 3 weeks
Melody Maker: 22 May 1982 - #3 - 8 weeks
New Musical Express: 22 May 1982 - #4 - 8 weeks

USA
Billboard: 11 September 1982 - #18 - 25 weeks
Cash Box: 11 September 1982 - #9 - 24 weeks
Radio & Records: 22 October 1982 - #18 - 7 weeks

Zimbabwe
23 October 1982 - #20 - 2 weeks

20.1. THE LOOK OF LOVE '90 by ABC

Finland
30 April 1990 - #9 - 4 weeks

Germany
21 May 1990 - #31 - 10 weeks

Ireland
19 April 1990 - #30 - 1 week

New Zealand
24 June 1990 - #44 - 1 week

UK
14 April 1990 - #68 - 2 weeks

20.2. The Look of Love by Eclipse

Australia
16 June 1996 - #30 - 8 weeks

[Jerz]

I considered to be one of my favorite classic and great new wave hit that I heard. I wondered why the first of two parts for this single considered to be a hit, not part two. ABC had other Top 40 hits in Billboard Hot 100 that followed after this: Poison Arrow, Be Near Me (their first top 10 hit), How to Be a Millionaire and When Smokey Sings (second top 10 hit; their highest-peaked hit). ABC was one of the first new wave band to became a sophisti-pop band.

My favorite ABC songs aside from this: Poison Arrow, Be Near Me and When Smokey Sings.

They still active in music as of now.

[Robbie]

A few Record Business chart details...

Centerfold - J Geils Band

13 February 1982 - #4 - 11wks

55-18-4-4-5-5-12-21-41-63-84

Abracadabra - The Steve Miller Band

19 June 1982 - #2 - 13wks

81-40-12-3-4-2-3-10-11-22-39-62-93

Mickey - Toni Basil

27 July 1981 - #80 - 3wks (plus 1 week "Bubbling Under at #101)

(101)-88-80-84

In addition 'Mickey' also spent one week in the BMRB Breakers chart on 8 August 1981

6 February 1982 - #2 - 14wks

70-57-29-16-6-3-2-3-5-14-31-33-46-89

The Look Of Love (Part 1) - ABC

15 May 1982 - #4 - 13wks

64-17-10-7-6-4-6-6-16-24-38-48-79

[Gambo]

An unquestionable classic that sported notable melodic and lyrical elan, not to mention stylish performance and deft production courtesy of Mr Horn, who let the band's original writing and sound shine through while adding just enough of his own polish - unlike the Frankie hits which were really just Trevor Horn studio craftings once he'd finished with them. I was bought the parent album for my birthday in '82 and am eternally grateful; one of the few genuinely listenable works where every track could've been a single, and despite being so wholly if its time, still sounds great in '17.

I recall Martin Fry saying how liberating it felt amidst some of the starker and more avant garde new wave acts to just sing freely about love as an emotion that touches everyone sooner or later in life, rather than having to sing about something industrial or technological - "electric pylons" was his shorthand for the vibe. Maybe that's why 'Lexicon' still holds up today.