30th January 1982 for one week
There’s not a lot to say about this. Shakin’ Stevens clearly has a formula for Number Ones – this is the third of his I’ve written about. But it has the same sort of sound as both of his others.
I imagine that if you were called Julie in 1982 you hated this song.
It hasn’t aged well, and that is why you are unlikely to have ever heard this. I don’t think I have until now.
3/10
1st August 1981 for four weeks
A four week Number 1 record for Shaky.
I can’t explain it, but there’s barely a mention for his version of the song on Wikipedia, despite it being the most successful one. It’s almost like people don’t want to remember Shakin’ Stevens.
The song is ok; not very exciting. It’s not This Ole House – it won’t stay in your head. In fact, I’ve already forgotten it.
310
6th September 1980 for one week
This was The Jam’s second Number 1, after Going Underground. Start! kind of proves how brilliant Going Underground was, as this is pretty average.
I can’t recall ever hearing this song before this moment. Ever. That also tells you it is quite a weak song really.
I could imagine the song went down well with the teenagers of the time as the guitars on it are great. But it doesn’t hold up well in 2019.
3/10
23rd August 1980 for two weeks
This might be controversial but I just don’t get David Bowie. Apart from a couple of songs, I find most of his music bizarre and unappealing. I can’t quite understand how he is cited as a musical genius and how his music is considered to be some of the best.
Ashes To Ashes is one of his better tracks. The bass line and hook is good. But the vocal just feels a bit meh and, to be honest, spoils the track. I am left wondering what its appeal was.
3/10
16th February 1980 for two weeks
You have to wonder what was going on in 1980 for Coward Of The County to follow from Too Much Too Young. Surely they appealed to very different audiences, and yet somehow appealed enough for both to reach Number 1.
Coward Of The County is one of those songs that tells a story. A typical country and western song.
This is not 1980’s finest hour.
3/10
16th June 1979 for two weeks
Despite the incredible success of many of the Number 1s of 1979, Ring My Bell was the longest running Number 1 single of the year.
I find the song a bit unremarkable. The chorus is a bit of an ear worm and it will stick in your head for hours. Maybe that means the song is more memorable than I realise. But I re-listened to the song a minute a go and I cannot remember any of it apart from the chorus.
3/10
3rd March 1979 for 2 weeks
I have never seen the single cover for Tragedy before. Now I’ve seen it, all I can think about is that someone got their finger in front of the lens…
Unfortunately, for me, the original version of Tragedy by the Bee Gees will never sound as good as Steps’. The Steps version is so familiar these days that it’s as if the Bee Gees version is the cover version.
Steps made this into a fun song. The Bee Gees version is not fun – it sounds quite serious, almost taking itself too seriously.
In the days of flares and big hair, having never heard the Steps version, perhaps I would have a different opinion. But, I find this hard to like.
3/10
It’s nice to be a lunatic. That’s the stand out line from Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick.
I can’t really understand why this ever went to Number 1. It’s average at best. It must have been one of those ‘of its time’ singles as I really don’t get it. It’s a little bit catchy, I suppose. Maybe the teenagers of the time got drawn into its shouty tone? Who knows.
Unbelievably it is a million seller! People are weird sometimes.
3/10
Number 1s of my lifetime 