The Intro After a couple of near misses, The Police found themselves back at the top of the hit parade for the fourth time with Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic. Before The trio’s third album, Zenyatta Mondatta, had spawned their third number 1, Don’t Stand So Close to Me. But the next record … The post 488. The Police – Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (1981) first appeared on Every UK Number 1. The post 488. The Police – Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (1981) appeared first on Every UK Number 1 ..read more

The Intro Look for this song anywhere online and the first thing you’ll read is ‘No, not that Dave Stewart’. Nonetheless this Dave Stewart, with Barbara Haskin’s version of the 60s teen classic It’s My Party by Lesley Gore is an interesting curio in the history of number 1s. Before It’s My Party had been … The post 487. Dave Stewart With Barbara Gaskin – It’s My Party (1981) first appeared on Every UK Number 1. The post 487. Dave Stewart With Barbara Gaskin – It’s My Party (1981) appeared first on Every UK Number 1 ..read more

The Intro 1981 was the year of Adam and the Ants. No sooner had Ant and co. hit the top spot with Stand and Deliver! than they were at number 1 again with another early 80s classic. Before Following the success of Stand and Deliver!, Adam and the Ants spent most of the summer in … The post 486. Adam and the Ants – Prince Charming (1981) first appeared on Every UK Number 1. The post 486. Adam and the Ants – Prince Charming (1981) appeared first on Every UK Number 1 ..read more

The Intro It’s rare for a cover version to be better than the original. But by slowing down the tempo, stripping the elements back to sparse synthesisers, and adding a big dollop of sleaze, Soft Cell’s Tainted Love became one of the best number 1s of the early 80s. Before Tainted Love had been written … The post 485. Soft Cell – Tainted Love (1981) first appeared on Every UK Number 1. The post 485. Soft Cell – Tainted Love (1981) appeared first on Every UK Number 1 ..read more

The Intro In some ways, early 80s pop was progressive. New romantics were blurring the gender lines and make up was worn by many men in music videos. But then you have this example of cultural appropriation set to an admittedly very catchy tune. But understandably, Scottish folk singer Mary Sandeman, AKA one-hit wonder Aneka, … The post 484. Aneka – Japanese Boy (1981) first appeared on Every UK Number 1. The post 484. Aneka – Japanese Boy (1981) appeared first on Every UK Number 1 ..read more

The Intro Ghost Town had spent three weeks at number 1, soundtracking the country’s dissent over rising unemployment. What did it take to reunite the country? It took the Royal Wedding of Prince Charles II and Lady Diana Spencer, and the retro rock’n’roll of Shakin’ Stevens, who was at the peak of his fame with … The post 483. Shakin’ Stevens – Green Door (1981) first appeared on Every UK Number 1. The post 483. Shakin’ Stevens – Green Door (1981) appeared first on Every UK Number 1 ..read more

The Intro Few number 1s have captured the zeitgeist like The Specials’ Ghost Town. This classic state of the nation address was released and climbed the charts amidst mass rioting that had spread to most cities in the UK. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s politics had resulted in rising unemployment and disaffected youth. Ghost Town was … The post 482. The Specials – Ghost Town (1981) first appeared on Every UK Number 1. The post 482. The Specials – Ghost Town (1981) appeared first on Every UK Number 1 ..read more

The Intro By 1981, Off the Wall turned Michael Jackson into a bona fide solo star. And he became so popular that One Day In Your Life, a song that dated back to 1975, earned him the first of his seven UK number 1s. Here’s how one of the biggest celebrities of all time started … The post 481. Michael Jackson – One Day In Your Life (1981) first appeared on Every UK Number 1. The post 481. Michael Jackson – One Day In Your Life (1981) appeared first on Every UK Number 1 ..read more

The Intro 11 years after Smokey Robinson and The Miracles had a UK number 1 with the classic The Tears of a Clown, their frontman was a solo star and perhaps surprisingly became a chart-topper once more with Being With You. Before Robinson had been ready to quit The Miracles back in 1969 and concentrate … The post 480. Smokey Robinson – Being With You (1981) first appeared on Every UK Number 1. The post 480. Smokey Robinson – Being With You (1981) appeared first on Every UK Number 1 ..read more

The Intro Adam and the Ants captivated children of the 80s – myself included. Adam Ant was my first ever musical hero, and where my love of music began. Here’s how a new wave band with niche appeal became a sensation and shot to number 1 for the first time with Stand and Deliver!. Before … The post 479. Adam and the Ants – Stand & Deliver! (1981) first appeared on Every UK Number 1. The post 479. Adam and the Ants – Stand & Deliver! (1981) appeared first on Every UK Number 1 ..read more