The Jam – Town Called Malice/Precious

town called malice

13th February 1982 for three weeks

I cannot for the life of me remember hearing this for the first time. But somehow it is a song that I love. It is just a superb song – instantly memorable and uplifting!

Even when they run out of ideas for words and bop-bop it out, the whole thing just works!

It wouldn’t be out of place on today’s chart, 38 years later!

It is definitely a favourite of mine and it has been used in films and TV shows over the years!

I have literally just listened to Precious for the first time. I’ve never heard it before now. The right song was the big success from the single. Precious is not good.

10/10

The Human League – Don’t You Want Me

don't you want me

12th December 1981 for five weeks

And here we are – right at the end of 1981 we reach the best song of the year. Possibly the best song of the Eighties.

Don’t You Want Me is pop perfection. It’s a get up on the dance floor, listen to the radio, sing out loud in the car complete classic.

I defy anyone to not find something to love about Don’t You Want Me. It has aged brilliantly and is still exciting to listen to in 2019 as it was in 1981. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of it.

10/10

ABBA – Super Trouper

29th November 1980 for three weeks

Another absolute classic song from ABBA. This was to be their final Number 1 in the UK and what a way to go.

It is only in writing this that I’ve discovered what a Super Trouper is – the lights that follow you around when performing on stage. I didn’t know that. I don’t know what I thought it actually was.

As an ABBA fan, I find it hard to fault. It’s a perfect pop song and one of their finest.

10/10

The Jam – Going Underground/ Dreams Of Children

Going Underground

22nd March 1980 for three weeks

And suddenly the best Number 1 single of 1980 is with us. Going Underground is an absolute classic and is still really popular today.

Apparently it was a double A-side (this isn’t a thing anymore in 2019) with Dreams Of Children. I’ve not heard that at all.

Going Underground sounds amazing at full volume in the car, or it was always massive in the clubs on an indie night.

It makes you feel alive and happy and you couldn’t ask more of a song than that.

Buffalo Tom did a version of the song which was released in 1999 which was quite good but much slower. It’s still worth a listen.

10/10