we will be counting down the the Top 200 best selling female solo hits of the 80s over the next few months.
Only solo records will be included and based on the UK Charts
I should like to thank MFR, wikipedia, Youtube, Wikipedia all for their assistance in this thread.
I have not had access to the all sales for this period so I cannot present this as the "Official" chart HOWEVER I have been able to have a look at SOME panel sales for the decade which has resulted in the altering of some of my estimates to fit in with these panel sales (especially sales for 80-84 period).
I therefore believe this list to be pretty accurate though it does contain some estimates.
Furthermore this chart has been compiled from year end totals and charts NOT from the "top 100 best selling singles of the 80s" chart as I believe this to be erroneous on at least two accounts.
1- "Especially for you" is a case in point where shipment figures have been used instead of counter sales. Black Box is another case in point.
2- The top 10 of 1980 (for example) are presented in the 80s list in the same order despite the fact that John Lennon sold well into 1981 and thusly would have overtaken at least 3 or 4 of those records all considered. For this observation I have to credit MJ Dangerous.
I have also combined sales of tracks that were issued more than once in the decade.
121. MY TOOT TOOT- Denise LaSalle
122. MY BABY JUST CARES FOR ME- Nina Simone
123. IKO IKO- Natasha
124. A NEW ENGLAND- Kirsty MacColl
125. CAUSING A COMMOTION- Madonna
126. LOVE RESURRECTION- Alison Moyet
127. SO EMOTIONAL- Whitney Houston
128. RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED FROM- Sinitta
129. I FEEL THE EARTH MOVE- Martika
130. WIND BENEATH MY WINGS- Bette Midler
131. WEAK IN THE PRESENCE OF BEAUTY- Alison Moyet
132. COULD'VE BEEN- Tiffany
133. FRENCH KISSIN IN THE USA- Debbie Harry
134. NEVER TOO LATE- Kylie Minogue
135. WHO'S LEAVING WHO- Hazell Dean
136. JOE LA TAXI- Vanessa Paradis
137. GIRLIE GIRLIE- Sophia George
138. I DROVE ALL NIGHT- Cyndi Lauper
139. VOYAGE VOYAGE- Desireless
140. O SUPERMAN- Laurie Anderson
141. MOVE OVER DARLING- Tracey Ullman
142. PINK CARILLAC- Natalie Cole
143. FOUR LETTER WORD- Kim Wilde
144. KNOCK ON WOOD/ LIGHT MY FIRE- Amii Stewart
145. BEHIND THE GROOVE- Teena Marie
146. EXPRESS YOURSELF- Madonna
147. COME INTO MY LIFE- Joyce Sims
148. YOU MIGHT NEED SOMEBODY- Randy Crawford
149. LICENCE TO KILL- Gladys Knight
150. CHERISH- Madonna
151. I DON'T WANNA LOSE YOU- Tina Turner
152. SET ME FREE- Jaki Graham
153. I FOUND SOMEONE- Cher
154. GREATEST LOVE OF ALL- Whitney Houston
155. DEAR JESSIE- Madonna
156. JUST WHAT I ALWAYS WANTED- Mari Wilson
157. SUPERWOMAN- Karyn White
158. COMING AROUND AGAIN- Carly Simon
159. FAST CAR- Tracy Chapman
160. ROUND AND AROUND- Jaki Graham
161. D-DAYS- Hazel O'Connor
162. JANUARY FEBRUARY- Barbara Dickson
163. ALL THE LOVE IN THE WORLD- Dionne Warwick
164. MANCHILD- Neneh Cherry
165. ON THE INSIDE (THEME FROM PRISONER: CELL BLOCK H)- Lynne Hamilton
166. SHOUT- Lulu
167. I NEED YOUR LOVIN- Alyson Williams
168. ROSES- Haywoode
169. BETTE DAVIS EYES- Kim Carnes
170. FINE TIME- Yazz
171. CROSS MY BROKEN HEART- Sinitta
172. I LOVE MY RADIO- Taffy
173. I DON'T WANNA GET HURT- Donna Summer
174. LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD- Pat Benitar
175. SHAKE YOUR LOVE- Debbie Gibson
176. BODY ROCK- Maria Vidal
177. NOTHING'S GONNA STOP ME NOW- Sam Fox
178. CIRCLE IN THE SAND- Belinda Carlise
179. MY ONE TEMPTATION- Mica Paris
180. STEP RIGHT UP- Jaki Graham
181. SLAVE TO THE RHYTHM- Grace Jones
182. I'M COMING OUT- Diana Ross
183. WHEN I THINK OF YOU- Janet Jackson
184, STAR- Kiki Dee
185. I'M EVERY WOMAN (REMIX)- Chaka Khan
186. TRUE COLOURS- Cyndi Lauper
187, I GET WEAK- Belinda Carlise
188. PROVE YOUR LOVE- Taylor Dayne
189. WATER ON GLASS/ BOYS- Kim Wilde
190, SAT IN YOUR LAP- Kate Bush
191. STATE OF INDEPENDENCE- Donna Summer
192. I AM WHAT I AM- Gloria Gaynor
193. NEVER TRUST A STRANGER- Kim Wilde
194. THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT- Tracie
195. THE LOOK OF LOVE- Madonna
196. WHO'S ZOOMIN WHO?- Aretha Franklin
197. DOWNTOWN 88- Petula Clark
198. DROP THE PILOT- Joan Armatrading
199. SERIOUS- Donna Allen
200. SOMEBODY ELSE'S GUY- Jocelyn Brown
Pop Star to opera star returned Brown to public consciousness last year, but way back in 1984 she struck it moderately big with this hit, her sole top 20 hit here. More known as a guest vocalist now, she appeared on 4 top 10 hits in the 90s the highest being the No 3 hit “Don’t Talk Just Kiss” by Right Said Fred, in sampled form on George Michael’s “Too Funky”, and this track itself returned to the top 20 by CeCe Peniston in 1998.
She only released 2 singles in the 80s both were top 10’s but only one is on this rundown, 1987’s “Serious” which many younger members would probably know better in its sampled form on 1995’s Top 10 hit “U Sure Do”. Allen was a backing singer (this is a familiar tale now isn’t it) for some 9 years for Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine amongst others, all in all though 50% of her hit singles were top 10 hits- an enviable percentage.
Criminally she’s only managed two top 20 hits in our charts. 1976’s “Love and Understanding” just made the top 10 and this track which narrowly missed matching the aforementioned tracks peak position. Now something of a forgotten classic Armatrading has long been confined the tag “more of an album artist”- perhaps so but “Drop The Pilot” proved she was capable of some stonking singles.
You are clever. Nice way of bumping your thread on a daily basis without making it too obvious. And, of course, to crack up that somewhat low postcount of yours. Love the concept though, ATRL should learn more about what is really ''iconic'' and ''classic''.
What is it post counts that people seem to be obsessed with? Is there a prize?
I only post a bit at a time as it gives people the opportunity to comment on the tracks and to generate discussion. Apologies if it seems a bit "too much too soon" but I hadn't anticipated it being a problem, i'm assuming if people aren't interested then they won't read it or comment on it.
For those that have posted positive comments thanks I'm hoping it will be of interest to some.
What is it post counts that people seem to be obsessed with? Is there a prize?
I only post a bit at a time as it gives people the opportunity to comment on the tracks and to generate discussion. Apologies if it seems a bit "too much too soon" but I hadn't anticipated it being a problem, i'm assuming if people aren't interested then they won't read it or comment on it.
For those that have posted positive comments thanks I'm hoping it will be of interest to some.
Ignore them. And if you ever want to really raise your post count, go pollute Stand Your Ground. They won't even be able to tell.
I would suggest posting a few at a time, though. Maybe 3 per post until you get to the big ones.