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.