Sunday, April 15, 2018

UK Chart #1 Singles 1980-1989

The music charts of the United Kingdom not only use a very different methodology for determining the rankings of various singles, they also reflect a different market from that tracked by either Billboard or Cash Box. Consequently, the list of top songs is very different: Artists who never even scored notable hits in the United States topped the charts multiple times in the U.K. Some artists who dominated the American music scene barely register as a faint blip on the radar screen in the U.K. This really should not come as a surprise - even though some Americans don't seem to realize this, the U.K. is a different country from the United States.

Because the 1980s Project is intended to reflect my thoughts on the music of the era, I am including the chart-topping songs from the U.K. charts in my review. I spent a decent chunk of the 1980s outside of the United States, first in what was then Zaire (which is now called the Democratic Republic of the Congo), then later in Nigeria, and then part-time in Togo. In those countries, the English-language music I was exposed to often reflected the U.K. charts as much as it reflected the U.S. charts. The following list is comprised of all of the #1 singles from the U.K. Chart in chronological order for the years 1980 through 1989:

04/16/18: Another Brick in the Wall (Part II) by Pink Floyd (5 weeks starting on 12/15/79)
05/07/18: Brass in Pocket by the Pretenders (2 weeks starting on 01/19/80)
05/14/18: The Special A.K.A. Live! [Too Much Too Young] by The Special A.K.A. featuring Rico (2 weeks starting on 02/02/80)
05/28/18: Coward of the County by Kenny Rogers (2 weeks starting on 02/16/80)
06/18/18: Atomic by Blondie (2 weeks starting on 03/01/80)
07/02/18: Together We Are Beautiful by Fern Kinney (the week of 03/15/80)
07/09/18: Going Underground/Dreams of Children by the Jam (3 weeks starting on 03/22/80)
07/16/18: Working My Way Back to You – Forgive Me Girl by the Spinners (2 weeks starting on 04/12/80)
07/23/18: Call Me by Blondie (the week of 04/26/80)
07/30/18: Geno by Dexys Midnight Runners (2 weeks starting on 05/03/80)
08/06/18: What's Another Year by Johnny Logan (2 weeks starting on 05/17/80)
08/20/18: Theme from M*A*S*H (Suicide is Painless) by the Mash (3 weeks starting on 05/31/80)
08/27/18: Crying by Don McLean (3 weeks starting on 06/21/80)
09/24/18: Xanadu by Olivia Newton-John and the Electric Light Orchestra (2 weeks starting on 07/12/80)
10/01/18: Use It Up and Wear It Out by Odyssey (2 weeks starting on 07/26/80)
10/15/18: The Winner Takes It All by ABBA (2 weeks starting on 08/09/80)
10/29/18: Ashes to Ashes by David Bowie (2 weeks starting on 08/23/80)
11/12/18: Start! by the Jam (the week of 09/06/80)
11/26/18: Feels Like I'm in Love by Kelly Marie (2 weeks starting on 09/13/80)
12/03/18: Don't Stand So Close to Me by the Police (4 weeks starting on 09/27/80)
12/17/18: Woman in Love by Barbra Streisand (3 weeks starting on 10/25/1980)
12/24/18: The Tide Is High by Blondie (2 weeks starting on 11/15/80)
01/07/19: Super Trouper by ABBA (3 weeks starting on 11/29/80)
01/21/19: (Just Like) Starting Over by John Lennon (the week of 12/20/80)
01/28/19: There's No One Quite Like Grandma by St. Winifred's School Choir (2 weeks starting on 12/27/80)
02/04/19: Imagine by John Lennon (4 weeks starting on 01/10/81)
02/11/19: Woman by John Lennon (2 weeks starting on 02/07/81)
03/11/19: Shaddap You Face by Joe Dolce Music Theatre (3 weeks starting on 02/21/81)
03/25/19: Jealous Guy by Roxy Music (2 weeks on 03/14/81)
04/08/09: This Ole House by Shakin' Stevens (3 weeks starting on 03/28/81)
04/22/19: Making Your Mind Up by Bucks Fizz (3 weeks starting on 04/18/81)
05/06/19: Stand and Deliver by Adam and the Ants (5 weeks starting on 05/09/81)
05/20/19: Being with You by Smokey Robinson (2 weeks starting on 06/13/81)
06/03/19: One Day In Your Life by Michael Jackson (2 weeks starting on 06/27/81)
06/10/19: Ghost Town by the Specials (3 weeks starting on 07/11/81)
07/08/19: Green Door by Shakin' Stevens (4 weeks starting on 08/01/81)
07/29/19: Japanese Boy by Aneka (the week of 08/29/81)
08/05/19: Tainted Love by Soft Cell (2 weeks starting on 09/05/81)
08/12/19: Prince Charming by Adam and the Ants (4 weeks starting on 09/19/81)
08/19/19: It's My Party by Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin (4 weeks starting on 10/17/81)
09/09/19: Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic by the Police (the week of 11/14/81)
02/08/16: Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie (2 weeks starting on 11/21/81)
09/23/19: Begin The Beguine (Volver A Empezar) by Julio Iglesias (the week of 12/05/81)
09/30/19: Don't You Want Me by the Human League (5 weeks starting on 12/12/81)
10/07/19: The Land of Make Believe by Bucks Fizz (2 weeks starting on 01/16/82)
10/21/19: Oh Julie by Shakin' Stevens (the week of 01/30/82)
11/04/19: Computer Love/The Model by Kraftwerk (the week of 02/06/82)
11/11/19: Town Called Malice/Precious by the Jam (3 weeks starting on 02/13/82)
11/18/19: The Lion Sleeps Tonight by Tight Fit (3 weeks starting on 03/06/82)
12/09/19: Seven Tears by the Goombay Dance Band (3 weeks starting on 03/27/82)
12/23/19: My Camera Never Lies by Bucks Fizz (the week of 04/17/82)
12/30/19: Ebony and Ivory by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder (3 weeks starting on 04/24/82)
01/13/20: A Little Peace by Nicole (2 weeks starting on 05/15/82)
01/20/20: House of Fun by Madness (2 weeks starting on 05/29/82)
01/27/20: Goody Two Shoes by Adam Ant (2 weeks starting on 06/12/82)
02/03/20: I've Never Been to Me by Charlene (the week of 06/26/82)
02/10/20: Happy Talk by Captain Sensible (2 weeks starting on 07/03/82)
02/17/20: Fame by Irene Cara (3 weeks starting on 07/17/82)
03/09/20: Come On Eileen by Dexys Midnight Runners and the Emerald Express (4 weeks starting on 08/07/82)
03/02/20: Eye of the Tiger by Survivor (4 weeks starting on 09/04/82)
04/06/20: Pass the Dutchie by Musical Youth (3 weeks starting on 10/02/82)
04/13/20: Do You Really Want to Hurt Me by Culture Club (3 weeks starting on 10/23/82)
05/04/20: I Don't Wanna Dance by Eddy Grant (3 weeks starting on 11/13/82)
05/25/20: Beat Surrender by the Jam (2 weeks starting on 12/04/82)
06/08/20: Save Your Love by Renée and Renato (4 weeks starting on 12/18/82)
06/22/20: You Can't Hurry Love by Phil Collins (2 weeks starting on 01/15/83)
06/29/20: Down Under by Men at Work (3 weeks starting on 01/29/83)
07/13/20: Too Shy by Kajagoogoo (2 weeks starting on 02/19/83)
07/27/20: Billie Jean by Michael Jackson (the week of 03/05/83)
08/21/17: Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler (2 weeks starting on 03/12/83)
08/03/20: Is There Something I Should Know? by Duran Duran (2 weeks starting on 03/26/83)
08/17/20: Let's Dance by David Bowie (3 weeks starting on 04/09/83)
08/31/20: True by Spandau Ballet (4 weeks starting on 04/30/83)
09/07/20: Candy Girl by New Edition (the week of 05/28/83)
09/21/20: Every Breath You Take by the Police (4 weeks starting on 06/04/83)
09/28/20: Baby Jane by Rod Stewart (3 weeks starting on 07/02/83)
10/12/20: Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home) by Paul Young (3 weeks starting on 07/23/83)
10/19/20: Give It Up by KC and the Sunshine Band (3 weeks starting on 08/13/83)
10/26/20: Red Red Wine by UB40 (3 weeks starting on 09/03/83)
11/30/20: Karma Chameleon by Culture Club (6 weeks starting on 09/24/83)
12/21/20: Uptown Girl by Billy Joel (5 weeks starting on 11/05/83)
01/04/21: Only You by the Flying Pickets (5 weeks starting on 12/10/83)
01/25/21: Pipes of Peace by Paul McCartney (2 weeks starting on 01/14/84)
02/01/21: Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood (5 weeks starting on 01/28/84)
02/22/21: 99 Red Balloons by Nena (3 weeks starting on 03/03/84)
03/08/21: Hello by Lionel Richie (6 weeks starting on 03/24/84)
03/29/21: The Reflex by Duran Duran (4 weeks starting on 05/05/84)
04/12/21: Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham! (2 weeks starting on 06/02/84)
04/26/21: Two Tribes by Frankie Goes to Hollywood (9 weeks starting on 06/16/84)
05/24/21: Careless Whisper by George Michael (3 weeks starting on 08/18/84)
06/07/21: I Just Called to Say I Love You by Stevie Wonder (6 weeks starting on 09/08/84)
06/28/21: Freedom by Wham! (3 weeks starting on 10/20/84)
07/19/21: I Feel for You by Chaka Khan (3 weeks starting on 11/10/84)
07/26/21: I Should Have Known Better by Jim Diamond (the week of 12/01/84)
07/04/22: The Power of Love by Frankie Goes to Hollywood (the week of 12/08/84)
07/25/84: Do They Know It's Christmas? by Band Aid (5 weeks starting on 12/15/84)
08/08/22: I Want to Know What Love Is by Foreigner (3 weeks starting on 01/19/85)

I Know Him So Well by Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson (4 weeks starting on 02/09/85)
You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) by Dead or Alive (2 weeks starting on 03/09/85)
Easy Lover by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins (4 weeks starting on 03/23/85)
We Are the World by USA for Africa (2 weeks starting on 04/20/85)
Move Closer by Phyllis Nelson (the week of 05/04/85)
19 by Paul Hardcastle (5 weeks starting on 05/11/85)
You'll Never Walk Alone by the Crowd (2 weeks starting on 06/15/85)
Frankie by Sister Sledge (4 weeks starting on 06/29/85)
There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart) by Eurythmics (the week of 07/27/85)
Into the Groove by Madonna (4 weeks starting on 08/03/85)
I Got You Babe by UB40 and Chrissie Hynde (the week of 08/31/85)
Dancing in the Street by David Bowie and Mick Jagger (4 weeks starting on 09/07/85)
If I Was by Midge Ure (the week of 10/05/85)
The Power of Love by Jennifer Rush (5 weeks starting on 10/12/85
A Good Heart by Feargal Sharkey (2 weeks starting on 11/16/85)
I'm Your Man by Wham! (2 weeks starting on 11/30/85)
Saving All My Love for You by Whitney Houston (2 weeks starting on 12/14/85)
Merry Christmas Everyone by the Shakin' Stevens (2 weeks starting on 12/28/85)
West End Girls by the Pet Shop Boys (2 weeks starting on 01/11/86)
The Sun Always Shines on T.V. by A-Ha (2 weeks starting on 01/25/86)
When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going by Billy Ocean (4 weeks starting on 02/08/86)
Chain Reaction by Diana Ross (3 weeks starting on 03/08/86)
Living Doll by Cliff Richard and the Young Ones (3 weeks starting on 03/29/86)
A Different Corner by George Michael (3 weeks starting on 04/19/86)
Rock Me Amadeus by Falco (the week of 05/10/86)
The Chicken Song by Spitting Image (3 weeks starting on 05/17/86)
Spirit in the Sky by Doctor and the Medics (3 weeks starting on 06/07/86)
The Edge of Heaven by Wham! (2 weeks starting on 06/28/86)
Papa Don't Preach by Madonna (3 weeks starting on 07/12/86)
The Lady in Red by Chris de Burgh (3 weeks starting on 08/02/86)
I Want to Wake Up with You by Boris Gardner (3 weeks starting on 08/23/86)
Don't Leave Me This Way by the Communards (4 weeks starting on 09/13/86)
True Blue by Madonna (the week of 10/11/86)
Every Loser Wins by Nick Berry (3 weeks starting on 10/18/86)
Take My Breath Away by Berlin (4 weeks starting on 11/08/86)
The Final Countdown by Europe (2 weeks starting on 12/06/86)
Caravan of Love by the Housemartins (the week of 12/20/86)
Reet Petite (The Sweetest Girl in Town) by Jackie Wilson (4 weeks starting on 12/27/86)
Jack Your Body by Steve "Silk" Hurley (2 weeks starting on 01/24/87)
I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) by Aretha Franklin and George Michael (2 weeks starting on 02/07/87)
Stand by Me by Ben E. King (3 weeks starting on 02/21/87)
Everything I Own by Boy George (2 weeks starting on 03/14/87)
Respectable by Mel and Kim (the week of 03/28/87)
Let It Be by Ferry Aid (3 weeks starting on 04/04/87)
La Isla Bonita by Madonna (2 weeks starting on 04/25/87)
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship (05/09/87)
I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) by Whitney Houston (2 weeks starting on 06/06/87)
Star Trekkin' by the Firm (2 weeks starting on 06/20/87)
It's a Sin by the Pet Shop Boys (3 weeks starting on 07/04/87)
Who's That Girl by Madonna (the week of 07/25/87)
La Bamba by Los Lobos (2 weeks starting on 08/01/87)
I Just Can't Stop Loving You by Michael Jackson and Siedah Garrett (2 weeks starting on 08/15/87)
Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley (5 weeks starting on 08/29/87)
Pump Up the Volume/Anitina (The First Time I See She Dance) by MARRS (2 weeks starting on 10/03/87)
You Win Again by the Bees Gees (4 weeks starting on 10/17/87)
China in Your Hand by T'Pau (5 weeks starting on 11/14/87)
Always on My Mind by the Pet Shop Boys (4 weeks starting on 12/19/87)
Heaven Is a Place on Earth by Belinda Carlisle (2 weeks starting on 01/16/88)
I Think We're Alone Now by Tiffany (3 weeks starting on 01/30/88)
I Should Be So Lucky by Kylie Minogue (5 weeks starting on 02/20/88)
Don't Turn Around by Aswad (2 weeks starting on 03/26/88)
Heart by the Pet Shop Boys (3 weeks starting on 04/09/88)
Theme from S-Express by S-Express (2 weeks starting on 04/30/88)
Perfect by Fairground Attraction (the week of 05/14/88)
With a Little Help from My Friends by Wet Wet Wet (4 weeks starting on 05/21/88)
She's Leaving Home by Billy Bragg and Cara Tivey (4 weeks starting on 05/21/88)
Doctorin' the Tardis by the Timelords (the week of 06/18/88)
I Owe You Nothing by the Bros (2 weeks starting on 06/25/88)
Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You by Glenn Medeiros (4 weeks starting on 07/09/88)
The Only Way Is Up by Yazz and the Plastic Population (5 weeks starting on 08/06/88)
A Groovy Kind of Love by Phil Collins (2 weeks starting on 09/10/88)
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother by the Hollies (2 weeks starting on 09/24/88)
Desire by U2 (the week of 10/08/88)
One Moment in Time by Whitney Houston (2 weeks starting on 10/15/88)
Orinoco Flow by Enya (3 weeks starting on 10/29/88)
First Time by Robin Beck (3 weeks starting on 11/19/88)
Mistletoe and Wine by Cliff Richard (4 weeks starting on 12/10/88)
Especially for You by Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan (3 weeks starting on 01/07/89)
Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart by Marc Almond featuring Gene Pitney (4 weeks starting on 01/28/89)
Belfast Child by Simple Minds (2 weeks starting on 02/25/89)
Too Many Broken Hearts by Jason Donovan (2 weeks starting on 03/11/89)
Like a Prayer by Madonna (3 weeks starting on 03/25/89)
Eternal Flame by the Bangles (4 weeks starting on 04/15/89)
Hand on Your Heart by Kylie Minogue (the week of 05/13/89)
Ferry 'Cross the Mersey by the Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden and Stock Aitken Waterman (3 weeks starting on 05/20/89)
Sealed with a Kiss by Jason Donovan (2 weeks starting on 06/10/89)
Back to Life (However Do You Want Me) by Soul II Soul featuring Caron Wheeler (4 weeks starting on 06/24/89)
You'll Never Stop Me Loving You by Sonia (2 weeks starting on 07/22/89)
Swing the Mood by Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers (5 weeks starting on 08/05/89)
Ride On Time by Black Box (6 weeks starting on 09/09/89)
That's What I Like by Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers (3 weeks starting on 10/21/89)
All Around the World by Lisa Stansfield (2 weeks starting on 11/11/89)
You Got It (The Right Stuff) by New Kids on the Block (3 weeks starting on 11/25/89)
Let's Party by Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers (the week of 12/16/89)
Do They Know It's Christmas? by Band Aid II (3 weeks starting on 12/23/89)

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