One of Clark’s biggest 60s hits (a No 2 hit in December 1964) “Downtown” was also covered for a top 3 hit by Emma Bunton back in 2006. It’s a song written by Tony Hatch about New York, and ended up becoming a US chart topper for her, a new greatest hits collection in 1988 called for a remix and an update and producer Eddy Ouwens took the helm to steer it back to the top 10.
With a chorus that was later an "influence" on Whitney’s “How Will I Know” this track was part of a mini revival by Franklin in the mid 80s. She’d been out of the top 20 for some 14 years before that Eurythmics duet propelled back there in late 85 and this track was released simultaneously to ensure back to back top 20’s for the soul superstar.
It will surprise few I know that Madonna places more singles on this rundown than any other female, indeed such is the scale of her dominance that it is in fact three times as many as the runner up. Only one hit single, 1984’s “Lucky Star”, fails to make our rundown. “The Look Of Love” was her final release from the soundtrack to “Who’s That Girl” and in hitting No 9, it became her lowest charting track since, you guessed it “Lucky Star” and was inspired by a look given by James Stewart to Grace Kelly in the film “Rear Window”. Thank god for those Xmas sales otherwise it’s highly doubtful it would have made the rundown at all.
Nice idea for a thread. I'm not too knowledgeable about the UK Charts so this is a great idea. People whining about post counts...upping your post count is a contest now?
I too would consider including multiple songs in one post to avoid clutter until you get to the top 50 or so. Thanks for sharing.
It will surprise few I know that Madonna places more singles on this rundown than any other female, indeed such is the scale of her dominance that it is in fact three times as many as the runner up. Only one hit single, 1984’s “Lucky Star”, fails to make our rundown. “The Look Of Love” was her final release from the soundtrack to “Who’s That Girl” and in hitting No 9, it became her lowest charting track since, you guessed it “Lucky Star” and was inspired by a look given by James Stewart to Grace Kelly in the film “Rear Window”. Thank god for those Xmas sales otherwise it’s highly doubtful it would have made the rundown at all.
I've never thought this song would be on this list, I love the live version.
A discovery by Paul Weller, Tracie answered an ad placed in Smash Hits for a vocalist and was singled out for success. In an attempt to get her exposure he gave her backing vocals on the final Jam Single “Beat Surrender” and the Style Council first single “Speak Like A Child” where she also got a video role. After a supporting act role to the Style council in 83 she managed to secure this top 10 hit.
193. NEVER TRUST A STRANGER- Kim Wilde (119,000)
RELEASED: 1988
PEAK POSITION: 7
WKS ON CHART:; 9
Talking about the nearest runner up to Madonna, here she is. Kim Wilde is in terms of this rundown the biggest UK female act of the decade, and after a great start during 1981-82 she struggled to make headway in the charts on any kind of consistent basis until 1988’s “Close” album delivered up three top 10 hits all of which are here, and a spot supporting Michael Jackson’s “Bad” tour that year didn't hurt.
With the coming of Disco Gaynor’s career took off with a cover of the Jackson 5’s “Never Can Say Goodbye” and hit the big time in 1979 with “I Will Survive”. With the death of Disco Gaynor’s career similarly suffered and exile from the top 20 seemed assured until this track, something of a gay classic now, “I Am What I Am” is from the musical “La Cage Aux Folles” which had started its Broadway run in 1983 Gaynor’s interpretation therefore benefitted both acts, and it would be another 10 years before she would sell this many copies of a single again.
191. STATE OF INDEPENDENCE- Donna Summer (123,000)
RELEASED; 1982
PEAK POSITION: 14
WKS ON CHART: 11
Though not having anything like the success she had in the 70s, the 80s weren’t exactly barren for the disco superstar. This track was written by Jon & Vangelis and released by them as a single in 1981 and again in 1984 when it just scrapped the charts, and in between those two releases came this cover by Summer. Backing singers for this track included Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder and Dionne Warwick, and it’s the first of three appearances on this list for Summer, the song was a top 20 hit all over again in 1996 in remixed form.