Friday, May 11, 2007

Do you remember the week of the 14th July 1985?... I don't know if Triple M can!

CURRENT MOOD: AMUSED
Well, it's that time again, to see how Triple M can make mince meat of a music chart.  This is no music chart, in fact, it's another list of personal favourites from either Andy G, or his program director.  Let's do it again, and get straight to the music..... 

Here is Triple M's chart exactly how they played it on Friday 11th May.  And as per-usual, noting all the corrections, direct from the Australian Music Report.

Triple M 104.9 COLD 30
Friday 11th May 2007

WEEK ENDING SUNDAY 14th July 1985

CH#  TRACK TITLE ARTIST/GROUP (correct chart date) LABEL CAT No:

30.  Road to Nowhere Talking Heads (14 Oct 1985) EMI EMI 1578
29.  Dancing on the Jetty  Inxs (14 Jan 1985) WEA 7=259198
28.  Everybody wants to work (beach party EP) Uncanny X-Men (13 Aug 1984) Mushroom 14068
27.  Like wow!, wipeout The Hoodoogurus (21 Oct 1985) Big Time BST 1588
26.  The Riddle Nik Kershaw (24 Dec 1984) MCA NIK 6
25.  Don't come around here no more Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (29 Apr 1985) MCA 7-52496
24.  Walls come tumbling down The Style Council (10 Jun 1985) Polydor 883-004-7
23.  Species deceases Midnight Oil (2 Dec 1985) CBS / Sprint EX 12023
22.  Running up that hill Kate Bush (23 Sep 1985) EMI EMI 1553
21.  Current Stand Kids In the Kitchen (2 Sep 1985) White Label K 9804
20.  Lonely old night John Cougar Mellencamp (14 Oct 1985 Mercury / Riva 880 984-7
19.  Close to you  The Cure (9 Dec 1985) WEA / Fiction CURE 2
18.  And we danced The Hooters (23 Sep 1985) CBS BA 3333
17.  Slave to the rhythm Grace Jones (16 Dec 1985) Manhattan MH 1619
16.  California girls David Lee Roth (25 Feb 1985) Warner Bros 7-29102
15.  A good heart Feargal Sharkey (25 Nov 1985) Virgin VS 808
14.  Working class man Jimmy Barnes (25 Nov 1985) Mushroom K 9883
13.  Lost weekend Lloyd Cole and the Commotions (20 Jan 1986) Polydor 883-567-7
12.  Take on me A-ha (9 Sep 1985) Warner Bros 7-29011
11.  Pleasure and pain The Divinyls (23 Sep 1985) Chrysalis K 9799
10.  We close our eyes Go west (6 May 1985) Chrysalis K 9622
9.   Sussudio Phil Collins (4 Mar 1985) WEA 7-259181
8.   She sells sanctuary The Cult (THIS TRACK NEVER CHARTED) (Obviously, One of Andy's personal picks)
7.   Raspberry Beret Prince (5 Aug 1985) Paisley Park 7-28929
6.   The heat is on Glenn Frey (25 Mar 1985) MCA 7-52512
5.   Out of mind, out of sight The Models (15 July 1985) Mushroom K 9673
4.   Man overboard Do Re Mi (17 Jun 1985) Virgin VGZ 003
3.   Born in the USA Bruce Springsteen (28 Jan 1985) CBS BA 223245
2.   Shout Tears for Fears (11 Feb 1985) Mercury 880 294-7
1.   What you need Inxs (9 Sep 1985) WEA 7-258971

The first three big discrepencies are Jimmy Barnes, Feargal Sharkey, and Grace Jones.  None of these singles weren't even in the record shops until late October, and had not even charted until November and December.  Let's take a look at the Cure.  "Close to you" did not even appear on the chart until Monday 9th December, and the best one, Lloyd Cole and the Commotions with "Lost weekend"....... that didn't even chart until 1986?

On the other hand, Inxs's "Dancing on the Jetty" charted during January and February, and only got as high as #39 on the Australian Music Report.  It only got as high as #28 on my personal charts, and considering it being a minor hit, this song would have been long gone by July.  At this time, Uncanny X'Men's "Everybody wants to work", was already a year old, as it first appeared on the "Party" EP, which charted in August '84.  The song didn't get strong air-play until late September and October of '84, and considering that Triple M's chart was of July 1985, this track was also long gone.

The Cult's "She sell sanctuary" never charted, as this group's first single, "Love removal machine" didn't appear until Monday 13th April 1987, under the Beggars Banquet label.

Now lets go to my chart from this time.....

---------------------------------------------------------------
WEEK ENDING SUNDAY 14th JULY 1985
---------------------------------------------------------------
CH#  TRACK TITLE ARTIST/GROUP LABEL CAT No:
---------------------------------------------------------------
1.   Crazy for you Madonna Geffen GEF 29051
2.   Money for nothing Dire Straits Vertigo 880 916-7
3.   Spanish eddie Laura Branigan Atlantic 7-89531
4.   Steady Jules Shear EMI America AMI 8259
5.   50 years Uncanny X-Men Mushroom K 9671
6.   Walking on sunshine Katrina and the Waves Capitol CP 1475
7.   Axel-F Harold Faltermeyer MCA 7.52536
8.   Run to me Dionne Warwick and Barry Manilow Arista ARIST 610 (UK)
9.   Heaven Bryan Adams A&M K 9683
10.  Get it on (bang a gong) The Power Station Parlophone A 1510
11.  Memory Elaine Paige Polydor 2059-364
12.  Life in a northern town The Dream Academy Warner Bros 7-28995
13.  Suddenly Billy Ocean Jive LS 1493
14.  Walls come tumbling down The Style Council Polydor 883 004-7
15.  Live it up Mental as Anything Regular RRSP 746
16.  Would I lie to you The Eurythmics RCA Victor 104407
17.  Lead the way I'm Talking Regular K 9778
18.  Just a gigglo/I ain't got nobody David Lee Roth Warner Bros 7-29040
19,  If you love somebody, set them free Sting A&M K 9693
20.  Voices carry Til Tuesday Epic ES 1035
21.  Take it back The Pookah Makes Three Virgin / 10 TEN 31
22.  Don't you forget about me Simple Minds Virgin VS 749
23.  Everything I need Men At Work CBS BA 3308
24.  Obsession Animotion Mercury 880-266-7
25.  A view to a kill Duran Duran EMI EMI 1502
26.  All she wants to do is dance Don Henley Geffen GEF 29065
27.  Two can play Australian Crawl Freestyle FREE 0004
28.  We will together The Eurogliders CBS BA 3277
29.  Into the Groove/Angel Madonna Sire 7-29008
30.  Every time you go away Paul Young CBS BA 3280

In reality, Go West's "We close our eyes", though it was a great song, had just finished an eight week stretch, and had just fallen off.  Tears for Fears, "Everybody wants to rule the world" had also charted well but had recently drifted out of the top 30.  Philips was heavily promoting it's CD players at the time, as Dire Straight's "So Far away" was used in their TV adverts.  The actual double-a side single with "The walk of life" had also moved out of the chart in late June, after a respectible ten week run.

Madonna was doing well during 1985, with singles like, "Like a virgin", "Material girl", "Into the groove / Angel", and on this particular week was scoring the #1 single with "Crazy for you".  Laura Branigans "Spanish eddie" started charting on the Australian Music Report in the first week of September, but had already gone to the top of my chart, as 2Day FM was heavily playing an advanced copy of it.

Just around the corner were new entries from the Models and Tears for Fears.  "Out of mind, out of sight", would receive very strong air-play through August and September.   "Head over heals" from Tears for Fears also got a good belting on FM radio during the same months.

Thursday, May 3, 2007

Taking triple M to task again.... How do you remember September 1989?

CURRENT MOOD: Rejuvenated
Well, just came back from swimming, and missed out on most of their imaginary chart tonight, but managed to catch their top five of September 1989.  Again, it's another shocker, with only one correct and four wrong.  Straight to the point and here we go....

Triple M's Cold 30 Countdown - September 1989
Aired Friday 4th May 2007
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Pn# Track Artist/Group (correct chart date) Label Cat No.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Onion skin Boom Crash Opera (19 Jun 1989) WEA 7-257572
4. Patience Guns 'n' Roses (29 May 1989 Geffen 7-22996
3. Dumb things Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls (30 Jan 1989) Mushroom K 676
2. Love shack The B-52's (20 Nov 1989) Reprise 7-22817
1. Poison Allice Cooper (4 Sep 1989) CBS 655061-7
Note that "love shack" from the B-52's wasn't even released yet, and well, Paul Kelly's "Dumb things".....? that had already charted in February-March and was long gone.  The Gunners did well with Patience, and with giving triple M the Benefit of the doubt here, (if they did do some research), that song might have just still been in the bottom of the ARIA chart.  The song was long gone from my chart, as there was little air-play of this song during September, when compared to all the other tracks on the below chart, again, taken from my personal archives.

I remember that Gyan, Roy Orbison and Roxette were hammered into you, harder then a sledge hammer back then, particularly on 2SM, 2UW and on 2WS.

National top 30 singles chart
WEEK ENDING SUNDAY 3rd September 1989
----------------------------------------------------------------------
CH#  TRACK TITLE ARTIST/GROUP LABEL CAT No:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1.   Under the board-walk Bette Midler Atlantic 7-88976
2.   This time I know it's for real Donna Summer WEA 7-257780
3.   Dressed for success Roxette Parlophone 2271
4.   Wait Gyan WEA / Trafalgar 7-257620
5.   California blue Roy Orbison Virgin VS 1193
6.   Communication John Farnham and Danni-Elle RCA Victor 105072
7.   Talk it over Grayson Huge RCA Victor 8802-7-R
8.   All I want is you-Everlasting love U2 Island X 14678
9.   She has to be loved Jenny Morris WEA 7-257487
10.  I'll be loving you forever New Kids on the Block CBS 654863
11.  Right back to where we started from Sinitta Liberation LS 2063
12.  Healing hand Elton John Rocket 874 798-7
13.  The end of the innocence Don Henley Geffen 7-22925
14.  Second chance Thirty-Eight Special A&M K 831
15.  Sugar train Daryl Braithwaite CBS 655109 7
16.  The best (album version) Tina Turner Interfusion K 916
17.  Running down a dream Tom Petty MCA 7-53682
18.  Forever your girl Paula Abdul Virgin / Siren SRN 112
19.  Miss you like crazy Natalie Cole EMI America US 2213
20.  Love is Alannah Myles Atlantic 7-88918
21.  Can I get a witness Sam Brown A&M K 850
22.  If you don't know me by now Simply Red WEA 7-246993
23.  Bat-dance Prince Warner Bros 7-22924
24.  The best of me Cliff Richard EMI EMI 2252
25.  Jackie Brown John Cougar (Mellencamp) Mercury 874 644-7
26.  Say good-bye Indecent Obsession Melodian LS 2064
27.  All I wanna do is dance Colette CBS 655047-7
28.  Telephone Booth Ian Moss Mushroom K 881
29.  The look Roxette Parlophone 2212
30.  Mixed emotions The Rolling Stones CBS 655193-7

So, after all that, do Triple M still want to consider giving me a job as music researcher??????????

OH; HELL, I nearly forgot, I nearly forgot; It's Star Wars day today, so........ May the forth be with you

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Going back to this week in May 1980

CURRENT MOOD: GREAT
Hitting the magic buttons, and slipping back exactly 27 years ago this week, as we go back to the time when I was a mischievous little bastard.  Friday 2nd May 1980 came on as a cool Autumn day, and it was the last day before the May holidays.  It was time to get back at those kids who annoyed me, and as they ran around the classrooms, my quick thinking mind said, "quick, quick, quick; turn the lock and slam the door, then they'll be locked in for two weeks".

Unfortunately, my fingers didn't have that same lightening fast speed, as my thumb got crushed in the door, flatter then a pancake, and ah!, hell, it was a few days at home, with my hand dangling in a bucket of hot water and dettol..... OUCH!!!!!!!  And musically, this is what we were listening to on the radio.....

National Top 30 Singles Chart
WEEK ENDING SUNDAY 4th May 1980
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CH#  TRACK TITLE ARTIST/GROUP LABEL CAT No:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.   Skinny Girls Alan O'Day Pacific PC 5376
2.   You may be right Billy Joel CBS BA 222663
3.   People Misex CBS BA 222652
4.   On the radio Donna Summer Casablanca NB 2236
5.   Rock with you Michael Jackson Epic ES 400
6.   Call me Blondie Chrysalis K 7830
7.   Brass in pocket The Pretenders Sire ARE 11
8.   Same old girl Darryl Cotton EMI EMI 204
9.   Total control The Motels Capitol CP 160
10.  The rose Bette Midler Atlantic 45-5411
11.  Rockabilly rebel Major Matchbox Magnet K 7818
12.  Don't let go Isaac Hayes Polydor 2121 401
13.  I can't help it Andy Gibb and Olivia Newton John ATA K 7851
14.  Turning Japanese The Vapors United Artists UA 224
15.  Rosie Joan Armatrading A&M K 7746
16.  Tire of toein' the line Rocky Burnette EMI EMI 166
17.  I got you Splitenz Mushroom K 7759
18.  Refugee Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers MCA/Backmen MCA 41169
19.  Coming up Paul McCartney Parlophone A 233
20.  Follow that girl The Aliens Mushroom K 7804
21.  Gonna get along without you now Viola Wills RCA Victor 103496
22.  The loco-motion Ritz Epic/Park Lane ES 414
23.  Carrie Cliff Richard EMI EMI 168
24.  I had a dream Abba RCA Victor 103511
25.  The boys light up Australian Crawl EMI EMI 222
26.  Sara Fleetwood Mac Warner Bros WB 49150
27.  Longer Dan Fogelberg Epic/Full Moon ES 418
28.  Carmilla Jon English Mercury 6037 958
29.  Are you ready Teri De Sario and KC Casablanca 6198 358
30.  He's my number one Christie Allen Mushroom K 7757