The 45 best-selling 45s of the 80s

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

I am off to bar in Hoxditch shortly to listen to what they are, for this is the premise behind some thing advertised I saw yesterday and I thought what the hell, where else I am going to be able to have a pint over Jennifer Rush. Also hearing Band Aid in August might make my head explode. We'll see...

― the neurotic awakening of s (blueski), Monday, 9 August 2004 15:43 (twenty-one years ago)

1 Band Aid Do They Know It's Christmas
2 Frankie Goes To Hollywood Relax
3 Stevie Wonder I Just Called To Say I Love You
4 Fankie Goes To Hollywood Two Tribes
5 Human League Don't You Want Me
6 Wham! Last Christmas
7 Culture Club Karma Chameleon
8 George Michael Careless Whisper
9 Jennifer Rush The Power Of Love
10 Dexy's Midnight Runnera Come On Eileen

― the neurotic awakening of s (blueski), Monday, 9 August 2004 15:45 (twenty-one years ago)

I remember 45rpm copies of Prince's "Little Red Corvette" FLYING off the shelves at my local record store....

― jsoulja (jsoulja), Monday, 9 August 2004 15:50 (twenty-one years ago)

this'll be Britland tho...

― the neurotic awakening of s (blueski), Monday, 9 August 2004 16:04 (twenty-one years ago)

numbers 2 and 4 were BOTH frankie goes to hollywood? jeez.

― peter smith (plsmith), Monday, 9 August 2004 16:16 (twenty-one years ago)

I had no idea that the Wham! Xmas single was that big of a hit.

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Monday, 9 August 2004 21:50 (twenty-one years ago)

numbers 2 and 4 were BOTH frankie goes to hollywood? jeez.

would be less surprising if this was 12"s instead of 7s

― kit brash (kit brash), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 03:42 (twenty-one years ago)

"Karma Chameleon" was one of the more average Culture Club hits, no? Not as good as "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" or "Church of the Poison Mind."

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 05:08 (twenty-one years ago)

i hope "o superman"'s in there.

― dog latin (dog latin), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 06:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Numbers 11-45:
11. Tainted Love - Soft Cell
12. Eye Of The Tiger (Theme From Rocky III - Survivor
13. Blue Monday - New Order
14. Stand And Deliver - Adam & The Ants
15. Especially For You - Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan
16. The Lion Sleeps Tonight - Tight Fit
17. Fame - Irene Cara
18. Ghostbusters - Ray Parker Jnr
19. Uptown Girl - Billy Joel
20. Ride On Time - Black Box
21. Swing The Mood - Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers
22. Do You Really Want To Hurt Me - Culture Club
23. Hello - Lionel Richie
24. I Know Him So Well - Elaine Paige & Barbara Dickson
25. Imagine - John Lennon
26. Don't Stand So Close To Me - The Police
27. Agadoo - Black Lace
28. Woman In Love - Barbra Streisand
29. Red Red Wine - UB40
30. "Antmusic" - Adam & the Ants
31. Into The Groove - Madonna
32. Save Your Love - Renee & Renato
33. Feels Like I'm In Love - Kelly Marie
34. Pass The Dutchie - Musical Youth
35. Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley
36. Prince Charming - Adam & The Ants
37. Mistletoe And Wine - Cliff Richard
38. Don't Leave Me This Way - Communards
39. I Don't Wanna Dance - Eddy Grant
40. This Ole House - Shakin' Stevens
41. The Land Of Make Believe - Bucks Fizz
42. Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now - Starship
43. Vienna - Ultravox
44. Seven Tears - Goombay Dance Band
45. Freedom - Wham!

― Marcello Carlin, Tuesday, 10 August 2004 07:54 (twenty-one years ago)

yeh, i typed them all up in my mobile phone just so you could beat me to posting the rest of the list - many thanks!

but 'Blue Monday' was 12" only so they be cheating no?

― the neurotic awakening of s (blueski), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 08:49 (twenty-one years ago)

I think it just applied to singles, be they 7" or 12". FGTH certainly wouldn't have come second and fourth if it hadn't been for the multiple 12-inch mixes.

― Marcello Carlin, Tuesday, 10 August 2004 08:51 (twenty-one years ago)

(IIRC "Two Tribes" shifted something like 1.7 million, and 1.2 million of those were 12-inch sales)

― Marcello Carlin, Tuesday, 10 August 2004 08:52 (twenty-one years ago)

My copy of Blue Monday plays at 45. I doubt if 'O Superman'would be in the 45 best sellers of 1981.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 08:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Well Prince Nelly (the DJ) made a big deal about the fact he was playing 'Blue Monday' even tho it was advertised as the best selling 45s...I didn't stay for the top ten tho so don't know about Frankie.

― the neurotic awakening of s (blueski), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 08:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Also a seven-inch remix of Blue Monday came out in '88 (and charted higher than the 12-inch original managed) so that probably contributed to its high position.

― Marcello Carlin, Tuesday, 10 August 2004 09:00 (twenty-one years ago)

the thing was i happily listened and nodded to it again last night for the millionth time. still not bored, still my favourite track ever i guess.

― the neurotic awakening of s (blueski), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 09:12 (twenty-one years ago)

I think listening to that lot in one night would make me melt like a wicked witch of the west. Stevie Wonder squeezed between Frankie Goes to Hollywood is enuf to make anyone wither away.

― Johnney B (Johnney B), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 09:56 (twenty-one years ago)

yeuuuchhhh what a thought...

― Marcello Carlin, Tuesday, 10 August 2004 09:58 (twenty-one years ago)

i have several 12" singles that play at 45rpms
i also have a few 7" singles that play at 33
so i guess you could technically play Blue Monday from a twelve inch record and still call it a "45", as long as the speed was indeed 45rpms (my copy plays at that speed quite nicely)

― rentboy (rentboy), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 12:00 (twenty-one years ago)

aw stevem i didn't realise it was an actual "event" of some kind! might've made a little more effort to get off the damn sofa...as it was, you just said, "they're playing Starship" and I thought it was just a cappy accident!

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 12:04 (twenty-one years ago)

it wasn't that great but i quite liked the (gay) pub, first time i'd been. it's an event called Retro Chart Rundown every Monday where usually they play a chart from a point in 80s time, so I'm up for a FAP there again in a few weeks.

― the neurotic awakening of s (blueski), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 12:31 (twenty-one years ago)

You lot should definitely consider doing a Retro Chart Rundown at a future FT club night.

― Marcello Carlin, Tuesday, 10 August 2004 12:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Stealing other people's ideas? I will not be a part of that...

― the neurotic awakening of s (blueski), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 13:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Well no, treat it like Frank Carson, viz. "You've heard them all before but I do them better."

― Marcello Carlin, Tuesday, 10 August 2004 13:23 (twenty-one years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.