1982 Top Thirteen

I'd hazard a guess my 80s memories are not the same as the true afficionados of that era - I really wasn't into the whole New Romantic scene at the time, however compared to the last couple of decades, their songs did have some merit, and quite a few are creeping in as the decade progresses.

I dare say if I'd done this at the time, the songs would all be there, but maybe in a different order because I wasn't making it to anything like as many discos/nightclubs back then.

1. PhD - I Won't Let You Down - 05-1982 (WEA)
2. Toni Basil - Mickey - 03-1982 (Radialchoice)
3. Foreigner - Waiting For A Girl Like You - 01-1982 (Atlantic)
4. The Stranglers - Golden Brown - 01-1982 (Liberty)
5. Irene Cara - Fame - 07-1982 (RSO)
6. Chicago - Hard To Say I'm Sorry - 10-1982 (Full Moon)
7. Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen - 07-1982 (Mercury)
8. Dire Straits - Private Investigations - 09-1982 (Vertigo)
9. Marvin Gaye - (Sexual) Healing - 11-1982 (CBS)
10. Fat Larry's Band - Zoom - 10-1982 (Virgin)
11. Daryl Hall & John Oates - Maneater - 11-1982 (RCA)
12. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - I Love Rock 'n' Roll - 05-1982 (Epic)
13. XTC - Senses Working Overtime - 02-1982 (Virgin)

And the also-rans:
The J. Geils Band - Centrefold - 02-1982 (EMI America)
Madness - Our House - 12-1982 (Stiff)
David Bowie & Bing Crosby - Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy - 12-1982 (RCA)
Phil Collins - You Can't Hurry Love - 12-1982 (Virgin)
Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger - 08-1982 (Scotti Brothers)
Clannad - Theme From Harry's Game - 11-1982 (RCA)
Duran Duran - Hungry Like The Wolf - 06-1982 (EMI)
ABC - The Look Of Love (Part 1) - 05-1982 (Neutron)
Kid Creole & The Coconuts - Annie I'm Not Your Daddy - 10-1982 (Ze)
Jon & Vangelis - I'll Find My Way Home - 01-1982 (Polydor)
Shakatak - Easier Said Than Done - 02-1982 (Polydor)
Charlene - I've Never Been To Me - 06-1982 (Motown)

1981 Top Thirteen

This one was particularly tricky to call.
1. Ultravox - Vienna - 02-1981
2. The Jacksons - Can You Feel It - 04-1981
3. Rainbow - I Surrender - 02-1981
4. Kim Carnes - Bette Davies Eyes - 05-1981
5. The Police - Every Little Thing She Does is Magic - 10-1981
6. Randy Crawford - You Might Need Somebody - 07-1981
7. Elvis Costello - A Good Year For The Roses - 10-1981
8. Godley & Creme - Under Your Thumb - 10-1981
9. The Look - I Am The Beat - 01-1981
10. Queen & David Bowie - Under Pressure - 11-1981
11. Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight - 01-1981
12. REO Speedwagon - Keep On Loving You - 05-1981
13. Squeeze - Labelled With Love - 11-1981

And the bubbling unders:
Kiki Dee - Star - 03-1981 
Dire Straits - Romeo And Juliet - 02-1981 
Quincy Jones - Razzamatazz - 07-1981 
Madness - It Must Be Love - 12-1981 
John Lennon - Imagine - 01-1981 
Diana Ross & Lionel Richie - Endless Love - 09-1981 
Bob Marley & The Wailers - No Woman No Cry - 07-1981 
Sugar Minott - Good Thing Going (We've Got A Good Thing Going) - 04-1981 
Julio Iglesias - Begin The Beguine (Volver A Empezar) - 11-1981 
Imagination - Body Talk - 07-1981 
The Pointer Sisters - Slow Hand - 09-1981
Cliff Richard - Wired For Sound - 09-1981
The Human League - Don't You Want Me - 12-1981 (Virgin)

1980 Top Thirteen

Here's the first one in a new decade when disco and funk are replaced with rock and punk:
1. Styx - Babe - 01-1980
2. Randy Crawford - One Day I'll Fly Away - 09-1980
3. Martha & The Muffins - Echo Beach - 04-1980
4. Police - Don't Stand So Close To Me - 09-1980
5. Billy Joel - It's Still Rock And Roll To Me - 09-1980
6. David Bowie - Ashes To Ashes - 08-1980
7. Billy Preston & Syreeta - With You I'm Born Again - 01-1980
8. The Pretenders - Talk Of The Town - 04-1980
9. Queen - Another One Bites The Dust - 09-1980
10. Rainbow - All Night Long - 03-1980
11. Cliff Richard - Carrie - 02-1980
12. Dennis Waterman - I Could Be So Good For You - 11-1980
13. Marti Webb - Take That Look Off Your Face - 03-1980

And a few which deserve an honorary mention:
Sheena Easton - 9 to 5 (Morning Train) - 08-1980
Michael Jackson - She's Out Of My Life - 05-1980
Judas Priest - Breaking The Law - 06-1980
Liquid Gold - Dance Yourself Dizzy - 03-1980
Don McLean - Crying - 06-1980
New Muzik - Living By Numbers - 02-1980
Olivia Newton-John/The Electric Light Orchestra - Xanadu - 07-1980
The Nolans - I'm In The Mood For Dancing - 01-1980
Odyssey - Use It Up And Wear It Out - 07-1980
Saxon - 747 (Strangers In The Night) - 07-1980
Barbra Streisand - Woman In Love - 10-1980
Jona Lewie - Stop The Cavalry - 12-1980
John & Yoko & The Plastic Ono Band - Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - 12-1980