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Our favourite number ones of the 80's - 1980

Kid BKid B Posts: 643
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in Music #1
The year of 1980 had two dozen UK number ones - please select up to three favourites. :)

Please choose up to three titles 243 votes

The Pretenders - Brass In Pocket
1%
VabosityMrMarpleCloudy2Kid B 4 votes
Pink Floyd - Another Brick In The Wall
7%
CLL DodgePeteAeugenespeedmistygalDirtyhippyHutchy_MuseDeb ArklePDS198580sQueenmialiciousrobo2RoseAnnemusicjukebox123PamthehoundBadLadAshratty0Jonathan1990Hitstastic0...0 19 votes
The Specials - Too Much Too Young (The Special AKA Live! EP)
3%
Posh BlokeJurassicMarkAidan11CAMERA OBSCURAdofferredpaprikaVabositymialiciousSammmymack 9 votes
Kenny Rogers - Coward Of The County
0%
ShaunIOWElvisfan4eva 2 votes
Blondie - Atomic
12%
Tony RichardsHaydenBrian1709Bella TrixPeteAJurassicMarkTel69mistygalcambs1965Peter the GreatajmanPANNAL1barbelerkeicarHutchy_MusedaziechainBrummie Girl Ancient IDTVTeddybleadsk0213818 30 votes
Fern Kinney - Together We Are Beautiful
1%
mac2708scrilla0...0Frazer_Young 4 votes
The Jam - Going Underground / Dreams of Children
8%
PeteAMuttley76Posh BlokeSecretLifeoBeesPeter the GreatCAMERA OBSCURAHutchy_MusedoffertabithakittenmialiciousRoseAnnek0213818Arcanabiscuitfactorymimik1ukPamthehounddearmrmanratty0Hitstasticstevecw 20 votes
Detroit Spinners - Working My Way Back to You
2%
Blondie Xscrillamusicjukebox123djfunnymanJonathan1990Hitstastic 6 votes
Dexys Midnight Runners - Geno
3%
swingalegNailzPosh BlokemushymanrobPeter the GreatAidan11VabosityJohnnyForgetSammmymack 9 votes
Johnny Logan - What's Another Year
0%
corkdoodstevecw 2 votes
Mash - Theme from M*A*S*H (Suicide is Painless)
1%
ShaunIOWPamthehoundLily_M 3 votes
Don McLean - Crying
1%
Deb ArkleVabosityFrazer_Young 3 votes
Olivia Newton-John and the Electric Light Orchestra - Xanadu
3%
ShaunIOWJamieHTcasperfan2002@ymac2708Ancient IDTVredpaprikaLily_MBasilRathbonFrazer_Young 9 votes
Odyssey - Use It Up and Wear It Out
2%
Tony RichardsBlondie XcorkdoodDeb Arklescrilla 5 votes
ABBA - The Winner Takes It All
11%
Brian1709NailzMuttley76SecretLifeoBeescambs1965ajmanSTeelyPANNAL1JamieHTvauxhall1964tabithakittenIrishguy123casperfan2002@yBrummie Girl Mandy28PDS1985SuperAPJredpaprikarobbieg413:)Zeus555 27 votes
David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes
10%
HaydenswingalegBella TrixeugenespeedmistygalMidiboycambs1965ajmanAidan11barbelerHutchy_MuseBrummie Girl Ancient IDTVVabosity80sQueenRoseAnnek0213818clarky323Hav_mor91DaisyBill 26 votes
The Jam - Start!
2%
Hutchy_Musedoffercody jarrettmimik1ukSammmymackDougalGeorgeKid B 7 votes
Kelly Marie - Feels Like I'm in Love
1%
StratusSphereCloudy2HitstasticElvisfan4eva 4 votes
The Police - Don't Stand So Close to Me
6%
Brian1709NailzMuttley76PANNAL1Arcanaclarky323musicjukebox123djfunnymanPamthehoundLily_MJonathan1990HitstasticDougalGeorgeKid Bstevecw 15 votes
Barbra Streisand - Woman in Love
1%
Irishguy123Billy_ValueMJsDirtyDianaZeus555 4 votes
Blondie - The Tide Is High
4%
Tony RichardsBella TrixJurassicMarkJamieHTbarbelercorkdoodtabithakittenIrishguy123SuperAPJdearmrmanCloudy2Hitstastic 12 votes
ABBA - Super Trouper
6%
HaydenswingalegSecretLifeoBeesJamieHTCAMERA OBSCURACherry7Upcasperfan2002@ySuperAPJmac270880sQueenZeus555Pamthehoundratty0Cloudy2HitstasticElvisfan4eva 16 votes
John Lennon - (Just Like) Starting Over
2%
eugenespeedbiscuitfactoryjulie2009TheTrader78PamthehoundHitstasticDougalGeorge 7 votes
St Winifred's School Choir - There's No One Quite Like Grandma
0%
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    Kid BKid B Posts: 643
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    #2
    The Police - Don't Stand So Close to Me
    Don't Stand So Close To Me was one of my trio and there's some early love for Atomic too.

    I might have included Ashes To Ashes but figured it will get plenty of votes anyway.
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    ThorneyThorney Posts: 3,361
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    #3
    Quite hard, I decided to pick the 3 songs I liked most at the time rather than now, only 8 I don't like really.
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    HitstasticHitstastic Posts: 8,636
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    #4
    John Lennon - (Just Like) Starting Over
    I just voted for the songs I know and like.

    Pink Floyd - Another Brick In The Wall
    Blondie - Atomic
    The Jam - Going Underground
    Detroit Spinners - Working My Way Back to You
    ABBA - The Winner Takes It All
    David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes
    Kelly Marie - Feels Like I'm in Love
    The Police - Don't Stand So Close to Me
    Blondie - The Tide Is High
    ABBA - Super Trouper
    John Lennon - (Just Like) Starting Over

    I've bolded Going Underground as that song has my favourite lyric; "the public wants what the public gets" because 30+ years on, that lyric is still true.

    NB; I missed out Use It Up, Wear It Out but I don't mind this song either.
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    PDS1985PDS1985 Posts: 29,021
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    #5
    ABBA - The Winner Takes It All
    ABBA - Winner Takes it All and Super Trouper
    Pink Floyd - Another Brick in The Wall
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    CLL DodgeCLL Dodge Posts: 115,942
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    #6
    Pink Floyd - Another Brick In The Wall
    The Floyd (though it was a 1979 release)
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    djfunnymandjfunnyman Posts: 12,590
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    #7
    The Police - Don't Stand So Close to Me
    Don't stand so close to me best number 1, closely followed by Atomic
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    Kid BKid B Posts: 643
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    #8
    The Police - Don't Stand So Close to Me
    CLL Dodge wrote: »
    The Floyd (though it was a 1979 release)

    It's one of those 'cusps' - was number one in January 1980 and so qualifies though released earlier - and that's what this list of songs is of - number ones.
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    DirtyhippyDirtyhippy Posts: 2,059
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    #9
    Pink Floyd - Another Brick In The Wall
    Voted Floyd but Blondie - Atomic is a close second, Jam - Going Underground 3rd.
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    mushymanrobmushymanrob Posts: 17,992
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    #10
    Dexys Midnight Runners - Geno
    geno..... superb..
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    BasilRathbonBasilRathbon Posts: 933
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    #11
    David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes
    Can I vote for The Winner Takes it All 3 times? Probably the best pop song ever written and p*sses all over everything else in the list.
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    Kid BKid B Posts: 643
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    #12
    The Police - Don't Stand So Close to Me
    BasilRathbon wrote: »
    Can I vote for The Winner Takes it All 3 times? Probably the best pop song ever written and p*sses all over everything else in the list.

    Now this interests me and of course, if it were possible, I would let you vote for it three times.

    But I'm astonished at its popularity here. Whether you like Abba or not, what is so appealing about this song?

    To me it's an archetypal average pop number and I'd be keen to learn more of its values and what I'm not getting about it attracting so many votes here.
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    ArcanaArcana Posts: 37,521
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    #13
    The Police - Don't Stand So Close to Me
    Atomic
    Going Underground
    Ashes To Ashes
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    Deb ArkleDeb Arkle Posts: 12,584
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    #14
    Odyssey - Use It Up and Wear It Out
    Kid B wrote: »
    Now this interests me and of course, if it were possible, I would let you vote for it three times.

    But I'm astonished at its popularity here. Whether you like Abba or not, what is so appealing about this song?

    To me it's an archetypal average pop number and I'd be keen to learn more of its values and what I'm not getting about it attracting so many votes here.
    I watched a documentary about Abba a while ago, and that song was described as the ultimate in musical sadism - Bjorn & Agnetha had just split up, and he wrote "but tell me, does she kiss like I used to kiss you" for her to sing.

    IMO a lot of Abba's songs are lyrically excellent - simple, but with a sort of steely truth to them, and I think this is one of their best in that regard. It describes the sort of emotional thump we get when we split up.

    Having said that, I didn't vote for it - I think that's because I tend to play Abba a lot, so they've become a little too familiar.
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    Aidan11Aidan11 Posts: 539
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    #15
    David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes
    Difficult choice to get it down to three as there were so many good tunes (as well as some really naff ones) at the top of the tree that year.

    Decided in the end on Dexys, The Specials and Bowie.
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    Frazer_YoungFrazer_Young Posts: 5,152
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    #16
    Olivia Newton-John and the Electric Light Orchestra - Xanadu
    I've chosen Together We Are Beautiful, Crying and Xanadu, purely because these were some of the first singles that I ever bought and I have always loved these songs. I think that the early 1980s had some great hit singles and number ones in particular. There were lots of others on this list that I would also have voted for, if I could, but I had to choose three songs that are special to me and so I chose these. Maybe other DS voters understand my reasons for choosing these songs and hopefully others will love the songs as much as I do.
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    Elvisfan4evaElvisfan4eva Posts: 15,117
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    #17
    ABBA - Super Trouper
    Some excellent No.1's in 1980. Voted Super Trouper, Coward Of The County and also one of my fave songs of all time by Kelly Marie. Could have voted for 6 or 7 though. My 4th choice would be Together We Are Beautiful.
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    Kid BKid B Posts: 643
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    #18
    The Police - Don't Stand So Close to Me
    Ashes To Ashes now just two behind Atomic - the resurgence has begun!
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    Blondie XBlondie X Posts: 28,662
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    #19
    Odyssey - Use It Up and Wear It Out
    My top 3 are
    Working My Way Back To You
    Use It Up, Wear It Out
    Atomic
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    Multimedia81Multimedia81 Posts: 83,587
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    #20
    Blondie had 3 number 1s in 1980, including Call Me, which does not feature on the list. I would have chosen this along with Another Brick in the Wall and Going Underground.
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    Kid BKid B Posts: 643
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    #21
    The Police - Don't Stand So Close to Me
    Multimedia81 wrote: »
    Blondie had 3 number 1s in 1980, including Call Me, which does not feature on the list.

    This is absolutely true and thank you for this correction. This was an oversight on my part as I just checked the Wiki list and Call Me was in between Working My Way Back To You and Geno. :blush:

    I can only apologise and say that this can sometimes happen when copying and pasting large lists of data. Obviously I have done Call Me a disservice and can only hope the mission does not need to be aborted because of this.

    My overall plan is to do each year until October and the two winners from each year to feature in a grand final.

    Thank you again for informing me of this error.
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    Multimedia81Multimedia81 Posts: 83,587
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    #22
    Kid B wrote: »
    This is absolutely true and thank you for this correction. This was an oversight on my part as I just checked the Wiki list and Call Me was in between Working My Way Back To You and Geno. :blush:

    I can only apologise and say that this can sometimes happen when copying and pasting large lists of data. Obviously I have done Call Me a disservice and can only hope the mission does not need to be aborted because of this.

    My overall plan is to do each year until October and the two winners from each year to feature in a grand final.

    Thank you again for informing me of this error.

    I appreciate it can be difficult to spot all of them, even when we know them all. I shall partake in at least some other years. I particularly look forward to your 1981 poll next month as Stand & Deliver is one of my all-time favourite songs. :cool: From memory, at least 3 no 1s were among my top 40 songs of the decade. :)
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    Kid BKid B Posts: 643
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    #23
    The Police - Don't Stand So Close to Me
    Multimedia81 wrote: »
    I appreciate it can be difficult to spot all of them, even when we know them all. I shall partake in at least some other years. I particularly look forward to your 1981 poll next month as Stand & Deliver is one of my all-time favourite songs. :cool: From memory, at least 3 no 1s were among my top 40 songs of the decade. :)

    I promise to concentrate much harder in the years to come.

    (Didn't I say that back in school?)

    Do you think I could sneak Call Me into 1981 just to make amends?

    This is the Wiki list...

    473 John Lennon "Imagine" 10 January 1981 4
    474 John Lennon "Woman" * 7 February 1981 2
    475 Joe Dolce Music Theatre "Shaddap You Face" 21 February 1981 3
    476 Roxy Music "Jealous Guy" 14 March 1981 2
    477 Shakin' Stevens "This Ole House" 28 March 1981 3
    478 Bucks Fizz "Making Your Mind Up" 18 April 1981 3
    479 Adam and the Ants "Stand and Deliver" 9 May 1981 5
    480 Smokey Robinson "Being with You" 13 June 1981 2
    481 Michael Jackson "One Day In Your Life" 27 June 1981 2
    482 The Specials "Ghost Town" 11 July 1981 3
    483 Shakin' Stevens "Green Door" 1 August 1981 4
    484 Aneka "Japanese Boy" 29 August 1981 1
    485 Soft Cell "Tainted Love" † 5 September 1981 2
    486 Adam and the Ants "Prince Charming" 19 September 1981 4
    487 Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin "It's My Party" 17 October 1981 4
    488 The Police "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" 14 November 1981 1
    489 Queen and David Bowie "Under Pressure" 21 November 1981 2
    490 Julio Iglesias "Begin The Beguine (Volver A Empezar)" 5 December 1981 1
    491 The Human League "Don't You Want Me" 12 December 1981 5

    As you like Stand And Deliver, as do I, where is Ant Music then or didn't that make top spot?
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    JurassicMarkJurassicMark Posts: 12,888
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    #24
    Blondie - The Tide Is High
    In this order:

    Blondie - Atomic
    The Specials - Too Much Too Young
    Blondie - The Tide Is High

    Purchased 'The Tide Is High' when it came out and preferred it to 'Atomic' but that's changed over time.
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    chrisqcchrisqc Posts: 1,291
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    #25
    Xanadu by far then Winner takes it all and tide is high
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    Multimedia81Multimedia81 Posts: 83,587
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    #26
    Kid B wrote: »
    I promise to concentrate much harder in the years to come.

    (Didn't I say that back in school?)

    Do you think I could sneak Call Me into 1981 just to make amends?

    This is the Wiki list...

    473 John Lennon "Imagine" 10 January 1981 4
    474 John Lennon "Woman" * 7 February 1981 2
    475 Joe Dolce Music Theatre "Shaddap You Face" 21 February 1981 3
    476 Roxy Music "Jealous Guy" 14 March 1981 2
    477 Shakin' Stevens "This Ole House" 28 March 1981 3
    478 Bucks Fizz "Making Your Mind Up" 18 April 1981 3
    479 Adam and the Ants "Stand and Deliver" 9 May 1981 5
    480 Smokey Robinson "Being with You" 13 June 1981 2
    481 Michael Jackson "One Day In Your Life" 27 June 1981 2
    482 The Specials "Ghost Town" 11 July 1981 3
    483 Shakin' Stevens "Green Door" 1 August 1981 4
    484 Aneka "Japanese Boy" 29 August 1981 1
    485 Soft Cell "Tainted Love" † 5 September 1981 2
    486 Adam and the Ants "Prince Charming" 19 September 1981 4
    487 Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin "It's My Party" 17 October 1981 4
    488 The Police "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" 14 November 1981 1
    489 Queen and David Bowie "Under Pressure" 21 November 1981 2
    490 Julio Iglesias "Begin The Beguine (Volver A Empezar)" 5 December 1981 1
    491 The Human League "Don't You Want Me" 12 December 1981 5

    As you like Stand And Deliver, as do I, where is Ant Music then or didn't that make top spot?

    Glad you like Stand & Deliver too. :) AntMusic didn't make no 1 though. :( Mind you, my 2nd favourite Ant song is Young Parisians. ;-)
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