31/01/81 Record Mirror

Record Mirror Jan 31st 1981 (25p) link

Front cover: Phil Collins (Gen X, April Wine, The Who, Boomtown Rats)

NEWS. The Pretenders (Message of Love single), BA Robertson, Marvin Gaye album, Wendy O'Williams, The Stranglers Themeninblack album, Bruce Springsteen UK dates, Stray CAts new single and dates, Steve Winwood cassette single, Dance Craze movie release.

INTERVIEW: Phil COllins

ALBUMS: 

FEATURE: Boomtown Rats on tour

SINGLES reviwed by "Rats Manager"
 

Friday's 40th Five (4/81)

Remembering the music of 1981, week by week, in 2021. New releases, new entries, new number 1s, plus indie favourites and album cuts, all from this week 40 years ago.

Week 4: 26 January - 01 February

1. Teardrop Explodes - Reward. Another strong new release and bubbling under the charts after its release last week. 

2. The Passions - I'm In Love With a German Film Star. Released last week and just outside the Top 40 this. Not their first single but would become their one and only hit.

3. Spandau Ballet - Another new release and its the highest new entry on the Top 40 this week at no.24.

4. The Jam - That's Entertainment. released as a single on the Continent only, but copies were finding their way into the UK, much to The Jam's chagrin.

5. XTC - Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me). Third track from 1980 album Black Sea is another chart entry at no.36 this week.

Friday 40th Five (3/81)

Remembering the music of 1981, week by week, in 2021. New releases, new entries, new number 1s, plus indie favourites and album cuts, all from this week 40 years ago.

Week 3: 19-25 January

1. John Lennon - Woman. With Lennon fever still raging in the wake of his sudden death, Lennon's new single into the charts at no.3 this week (held back by Antmusic and his own Imagine).

2. Blondie - Rapture. New single from last year's Autoamerican, their radical rock/rap crossover song, is another new entry at no.14.

3. Ultravox - Vienna. Title track from another 1980 album is also in at no.16, and will indeed breathe new life into its parent LP.

4. The Boomtown Rats - The Elephant's Graveyard. The Rats' new album Mondo Bongo is the hisghest new entry in the album charts at no.9 this week.

5. Ski Patrol - Extinguish. Sunderland post-punkers' debut Peel session is broadcast to the nation this week. 

Friday 40th Five (2/81)

Remembering the music of 1981, week by week, in 2021. New releases, new entries, new number 1s, plus indie favourites and album cuts, all from this week 40 years ago.

Week 2: 12-18 January

1. Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight

2. David Bowie - Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)

3. Visage - Fade To Grey

4. Elvis Costello - Clubland. Released at the end of 1980 ahead of the upcoming new album 

5. Buzzcocks - Running Free. Largely forgotten single from the fag-end of 1980. Smash Hits gave it a decent review although John Peel, and the record buying public, seem to have ignored it.