March 1979. Four weeks of chart rundowns to look back over and determine whether any of the new entries are worth recalling as fab 45s from 45 years ago. To be fair to the first chart of the month, some classics highlighted in earlier editions of this series were still selling steadily – Oliver’s Army (#2), Heart Of Glass (#6), Into The Valley (#13), The Sound of The Suburbs (#16), English Civil War (#28) and Stop Your Sobbing (#37). It just about compensated for a lot of the rubbish that was being inflicted on our ears – this was the time when Violinski, a spin-off from the Electric Light Orchestra, were enjoying what thankfully turned to be a one-hit wonder.
mp3: Buzzcocks – Everybody’s Happy Nowadays
In with a bang at #44, and in due course climbing to #29, this turned out to be the last time a Pete Shelley lead vocal for a new Buzzcocks single would disturb the Top 50. Not that any of us knew that was how things would turn out.
The new chart was also delighted to welcome someone else who was very much part of the thriving post-punk scene in Manchester:-
mp3: John Cooper Clarke – ¡ Gimmix ! Play Loud
The one and only time that JCC ever had a hit single. This came in on 4 March at #51 and went up to #39 the following week. Sadly, it didn’t lead to a Top of the Pops appearance.
Now here’s one that’s a perfect illustration of why I think 1979 wins any poll for the best year for new music:-
A new song not included on any previous studio album, nor would it feature on any future studio album. Came in at #30 on 11 March and stayed around for nine weeks, peaking at #15. It also had a tremendous b-side in the shape of the haunting The Butterfly Collector. Who’s up for a TOTP reminder of how cool Paul Weller was back then?
Oh, and you don’t have to be new wave/post-punk to be picked out for inclusion in this series:-
mp3: Kate Bush – Wow!
The success of this was probably a big relief to everyone who was involved in the career of Kate Bush. Two big hits in the first-half of 1978 had been followed up with a disappointing effort from Hammer Horror, which failed to reach the Top 40. The first new song of the year came in at a very modest #60 but, during what proved to be a ten-week stay in the charts, would peak at #15.
Midnight Express had been one of the biggest films of 1978, and its soundtrack would go on to win an Oscar the following year. The one single that was lifted from the soundtrack album was a big hit in clubs and discos, particularly the full-length and extended 13-minute version. The edited version for the 7″ release did make it into the charts, entering on 11 March at #65 and peaking at #48 two weeks later.
Squeeze are still going strong these days, selling out decent-sized venues all over the UK when they head out on tour. They never quite enjoyed a #1 hit in their career, but the chart of 18 March saw a new entry from them at #33 which eventually peaked at #2 an 11-week stay:-
And finally for this month, here’s who were enjoying chart success in the final week of March 1979:-
mp3: Siouxsie and The Banshees – The Staircase (Mystery)
In at #33 and climbing in due course to #24, it was all anyone needed to hear to realise that Hong Kong Garden wasn’t going to be a one-and-bust effort for Ms Sioux and her gang.
Don’t get me wrong. There really was a lot of dreadful nonsense clogging up the charts in March 1979, particularly at the top end of things, and there were probably as many hit singles whose natural home was on the easy-listening station of Radio 2 than on the pop-orientated Radio 1. But I think it’s fait to say that there were a few diamonds to be found amongst the dross.
Keep an eye out later this month for a look at some memorable 45s which were released in March 1979 but didn’t trouble the charts. And I’ll be back in four or five weeks time with the next instalment of this particular series when we will spring into April.