Friday's 40th Five (15/81)

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 15: 13-19 April

1. Dept. S - Is Vic There?  Surprise debut hit for these post-punkers, at no.40 this week and on TOTP.

2. Ennio Morricone - Chi Mai. Theme tune to BBC TV hit series The Life & Times of David Lloyd George, originally composed by the Italian maestro in 1971, now at no.4 with respectful Legs & Co. performance on TOTP.

3. The Cure - Primary. Taken from the group's new and third album Faith, the single actually did make TOTP this week, mistakenly announced by Peter Powell as being their 'debut' on the show.

4. Sugar Minott - Good Thing Going. This one by the veteran Jamaican vocalist has been around for a bit and is already up to no.7. The song was origianlly recorded by Michael Jackson in 1972

5. Theatre of Hate - Rebel Without A Brain. More London post-punk energy still coming through and this one is the highest new entry on the Indie charts this week.

Friday's 40th Five (14/81)

 Week 06-12 April 

1. Spandau Ballet - Glow. Brand new track to accompany Muscle Bound up the charts and onto the dance floors.

2. Public Image Limited - Flowers of Romance. New track from Lydon & friends hits the charts and makes for a very bizarre TOTP performance.

3. John Lennon - Watching the Wheels. Posthumous single release from the Lennon estate, the last to be taken from Double Fantasy.

4. Shalamar - Make That Move. US disco trio get first Brit hit since last year's I Owe You One.

5. Keith Marshall - Only Crying. Debut hit by former Hello frontman.

Friday's 40th Five (13/81)

 

30 March - 05 April

Friday's 40th Five (12/81)

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 12: 23 - 29 March 

1. Ultravox - Slow Motion. Re-release of Foxx-era single, riding on the wave of Vienna. Into the Top 40 at no.35.

2. Bucks Fizz - Making Your Mind Up. UK's Eurovision entry for this year is into the charts this week an on TOTP.

3. Orange Juice - Poor Old Soul. In the indie charts and on the Peel show. Their debut session from last year also gets a repeat this week.

4. Leve Lovich - New Toy. Still looking for a successful follow-up to '79's Lucky Number and Say When, this new one is at 54 this week (and on TOTP), although sadly gets no further.

5. Status Quo - Never Too Late. Title track from the Quo's new album, straight into the charts this week at no.2.

This week's: Record Mirror, Top 40.

Friday's 40th Five (11/81)

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 11: 16 - 22 March 

1. Landscape - Einstein a Go-Go. This one seems to have escaped the radar so far but is already at no.21 in the charts after the video was shown on TOTP last week.

2. Heaven 17 - (We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang. Debut single by ex-Human leaguers + 1 and is on heavy rotation on Peel's late show. 

3. Linx - Intuition. New entry at no.35 this week for Brit funksters.

4. The Polecats - John, I'm Only Dancing. A daring cover version by trendy rockabillies, just into the charts at the first of tow hits.

5. Hazel O'Connor - D-Days. Brand new single release from last year's Sons & Lovers album and destined for Top 10.

This week's: Smash Hits, Record Mirror, Top 40

Friday's 40th Five (10/81)

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 10: 9 -15 March 

1. New Order - Ceremony

2. Visage - Mind of  a Toy

3. Phil Collins - I Missed Again

4. Spandau Ballet - Reformation (album: Journeys to Glory)

5. XTC - Respectable Street 

Friday's 40th Five (09/81)

 

Week 02-08 March 1981

1. Kim Wilde - Kids in America Highest new entry at no.18 this week.

2. Jacksons - Can You Feel It? ..and another at no.34

3. Shakin' Stevens - This Ole House Another new entry at no.29.

4. The Selecter - Celebrate the Bullet Title track from new album at no.49 in the chart this week (and in Record Mirror)

5. Scritti Politti - The Sweetest Girl. From the NME/Rough Trade C81 cassette, track selected by John Peel for his show this week.