1984 in British music

Summary

1984 was a year of several huge selling releases, including at the time the biggest selling single ever. Six singles this year sold over a million copies, the joint highest number ever along with 1998. Out of the top 10 biggest selling songs of the 1980s, six of them all peaked in 1984 including the entire top 4.

One of the biggest bands of the year was Frankie Goes to Hollywood, a five-piece from Liverpool fronted by Holly Johnson. Their debut single "Relax" was banned by the BBC for sexually suggestive content, and was number 1 for five weeks. Their second single "Two Tribes" referenced the ongoing cold war and featured a music video of lookalikes of American president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Konstantin Chernenko violently fighting, and was number 1 for nine weeks in the summer, both songs selling over a million. In November they made chart history when their third single, "The Power of Love", also made number 1. They were only the second band in chart history to have their first three releases all go to number 1, following Gerry & The Pacemakers twenty years earlier; however, it would be their last. Their album "Welcome to the Pleasuredome" also reached number 1.

Wham! had their first number 1 single this year after four earlier top 10 hits, the upbeat "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go". This would soon be followed by their second, "Freedom" later in the year, and their second album Make It Big also reached the top. One of the members of the band, George Michael, also released a solo single this year, the ballad "Careless Whisper" co-written by his bandmate Andrew Ridgeley. It was number 1 for three weeks and sold over a million.

A big-selling singer who would go on to have many hits over the next two decades first appeared this year, American singer Madonna. Her debut hit "Holiday" reached number 6, and "Like a Virgin" charted three places higher at number 3. From the same country came Prince, who had his first two top 10 hits with "When Doves Cry" and "Purple Rain". For both artists, 1985 would bring even more hits as would the rest of the decade.

After eighteen years, Stevie Wonder achieved his first solo number 1 single with "I Just Called to Say I Love You", from the soundtrack of the film The Woman in Red, selling over a million. He had first charted at the age of 15 with "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" in 1966, and had previously had a number 1 in 1982 with a duet with Paul McCartney, "Ebony and Ivory". In 1984 his harmonica playing featured in Chaka Khan's number one hit "I Feel for You" and in 1985 Eurythmics' number 1 hit "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)".

The Christmas number one single contained over 40 artists. "Do They Know It's Christmas?", written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, was made in response to ongoing famine in Ethiopia, so the supergroup Band Aid was formed to sing a charity record about it, all proceeds from the song going to the charity to raise money for help. Popular acts of the day such as Wham!, U2, Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran and Boy George sung on the record.

Not only did the song become the Christmas number one, it sold over three million copies and became the biggest selling single of all time, a record that held for the next thirteen years. The song at number 2, Wham!'s Last Christmas, sold over a million (making it the highest selling song ever not to be number 1) and proceeds from that also went to the charity. Further Band Aid singles would be released in 1989 (Band Aid II) and 2004 (Band Aid 20), both also Christmas number one.

Events
  • 9 January - first complete performance of Oliver Knussen's Where the Wild Things Are by Glyndebourne Touring Opera at the National Theatre, London.
  • 11 January – BBC Radio 1 DJ Mike Read announces on air that he will not play the single "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood because of its suggestive lyrics. The BBC places a total ban on the record at about the same time.
  • 21 January – "Relax" reaches number one in the UK singles chart, despite the BBC ban; it will spend a total of 42 weeks in the Top 40.
  • 14 February – Elton John marries studio engineer Renate Blauel.
  • 1 March – Sting plays his last concerts with The Police at the end of the Synchronicity tour; the band takes a "pause" after the tour and only play a few special events together after this, until 2007, when they would organize a reunion tour.
  • 1 May – Mick Fleetwood files for bankruptcy in the United States.
  • 5 August – Now 3 becomes the 300th album to reach number one on the UK Albums Chart.
  • 23 October – A report on the Ethiopian famine by BBC journalist Michael Buerk is broadcast in the UK and receives an unprecedented public response. Among those watching is Bob Geldof, who is inspired to release a charity record to raise money to help with famine relief.
  • 25 November – The Band Aid single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" is recorded at SARM Studios in Notting Hill, London, by a gathering of performers that includes Paul Young, Simon Le Bon, Bono, Phil Collins, Paul Weller, Sting, Boy George and Tony Hadley.
  • 28 November – The Bring Me Sunshine charity concert at the London Palladium, in memory of Eric Morecambe, includes musical performances by Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Des O'Connor and Ernie Wise.
  • 2 December – Frankie Goes to Hollywood become the first act to take their first three singles to the UK #1 position since Gerry & The Pacemakers in 1963, when "The Power of Love" tops the chart.
  • 3 December – Bob Geldof and Band Aid release the single "Do They Know It's Christmas", which becomes the fastest-selling single of all time in the UK.
  • 11 December - While on tour, Bucks Fizz's tour bus crashes. All members of the group are injured and member Mike Nolan suffers brain damage after falling into a coma.
  • 13 December – George Harrison makes a rare public appearance, joining Deep Purple on stage in Sydney, Australia for their encore rendition of "Lucille".

Charts

Number one singles

[1]

Chart date
(week ending)		SongArtist(s)Weeks
7 January"Only You"Flying Pickets1
14 January"Pipes of Peace"Paul McCartney2
21 January
28 January"Relax"Frankie Goes to Hollywood5
4 February
11 February
18 February
25 February
3 March"99 Red Balloons"Nena3
10 March
17 March
24 March"Hello"Lionel Richie6
31 March
7 April
14 April
21 April
28 April
5 May"The Reflex"Duran Duran4
12 May
19 May
26 May
2 June"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go"Wham!2
9 June
16 June"Two Tribes"Frankie Goes to Hollywood9
23 June
30 June
7 July
14 July
21 July
28 July
4 August
11 August
18 August"Careless Whisper"George Michael3
25 August
1 September
8 September"I Just Called to Say I Love You"Stevie Wonder6
15 September
23 September
30 September
6 October
13 October
20 October"Freedom"Wham!3
27 October
3 November
10 November"I Feel for You"Chaka Khan3
17 November
24 November
1 December"I Should Have Known Better"Jim Diamond1
8 December"The Power of Love"Frankie Goes to Hollywood1
15 December"Do They Know It's Christmas?"Band Aid3
22 December
29 December

Number one albums

[2]

Chart date
(week ending)		AlbumArtist(s)Weeks
7 JanuaryNow 1Various Artists1
14 JanuaryNo ParlezPaul Young1
21 JanuaryNow 1Various Artists1
28 JanuaryThrillerMichael Jackson1
4 FebruaryTouchEurythmics2
11 February
18 FebruarySparkle in the RainSimple Minds1
25 FebruaryInto the GapThompson Twins3
3 March
10 March
17 MarchHuman's LibHoward Jones2
24 March
31 MarchCan't Slow DownLionel Richie2
7 April
14 AprilNow 2Various Artists5
21 April
28 April
5 May
12 May
19 MayLegendBob Marley and the Wailers12
26 May
2 June
9 June
16 June
23 June
30 June
7 July
14 July
21 July
28 July
4 August
11 AugustNow 3Various Artists8
18 August
25 August
1 September
8 September
15 September
22 September
29 September
6 OctoberTonightDavid Bowie1
13 OctoberThe Unforgettable FireU22
20 October
27 OctoberSteeltownBig Country1
3 NovemberGive My Regards to Broad StreetPaul McCartney1
10 NovemberWelcome to the PleasuredomeFrankie Goes to Hollywood1
17 NovemberMake It BigWham!2
24 November
1 DecemberHits 1Various Artists5
8 December
15 December
22 December
29 December

Year-end charts

Best-selling singles

[3][4]

No. Title Artist Peak
position
1 "Do They Know It's Christmas? Band Aid 1
2 "I Just Called to Say I Love You" Stevie Wonder 1
3 "Relax" Frankie Goes to Hollywood 1
4 "Two Tribes" Frankie Goes to Hollywood 1
5 "Careless Whisper" George Michael 1
6 "Last Christmas"/"Everything She Wants" (Remix) Wham! 2
7 "Hello" Lionel Richie 1
8 "Agadoo" Black Lace 2
9 "Ghostbusters" Ray Parker, Jr. 2
10 "Freedom" Wham! 1
11 "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" Wham! 1
12 "I Feel for You" Chaka Khan 1
13 "White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)" Grandmaster Melle Mel 7
14 "We All Stand Together" Paul McCartney and the Frog Chorus 3
15 "99 Red Balloons" Nena 1
16 "The Power of Love" Frankie Goes to Hollywood 1
17 "The Reflex" Duran Duran 1
18 "Like a Virgin" Madonna 3
19 "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" Phil Collins 2
20 "What's Love Got to Do with It" Tina Turner 3
21 "I Should Have Known Better" Jim Diamond 1
22 "No More Lonely Nights" Paul McCartney 2
23 "I Want to Break Free" Queen 3
24 "Hole in My Shoe" Neil 2
25 "Time After Time" Cyndi Lauper 3
26 "Radio Ga Ga" Queen 2
27 "Together in Electric Dreams" Giorgio Moroder with Philip Oakey 3
28 "When Doves Cry" Prince 4
29 "Doctor! Doctor!" Thompson Twins 3
30 "Self Control" Laura Branigan 5
31 "The War Song" Culture Club 2
32 "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" Cyndi Lauper 2
33 "The Wild Boys" Duran Duran 2
34 "I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" Nik Kershaw 2
35 "Like to Get to Know You Well" Howard Jones 4
36 "Nellie the Elephant" Toy Dolls 4
37 "Pride (In the Name of Love)" U2 3
38 "Automatic" The Pointer Sisters 2
39 "Joanna" Kool & the Gang 2
40 "That's Livin' Alright" Joe Fagin 3
41 "Wouldn't It Be Good" Nik Kershaw 4
42 "Street Dance" Break Machine 3
43 "Smalltown Boy" Bronski Beat 3
44 "Break My Stride" Matthew Wilder 4
45 "The Riddle" Nik Kershaw 3
46 "Dr. Beat" Miami Sound Machine 6
47 "Let's Hear It for the Boy" Deniece Williams 2
48 "The NeverEnding Story" Limahl 4
49 "Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)" Billy Ocean 6
50 "Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)" Hazell Dean 4

Best-selling albums

[5][6]

No. Title Artist Peak
position
1 Can't Slow Down Lionel Richie 1
2 Hits 1 Various Artists 1
3 Legend Bob Marley and The Wailers 1
4 Make It Big Wham! 1
5 Now 3 Various Artists 1
6 Thriller Michael Jackson 1
7 Diamond Life Sade 2
8 Welcome to the Pleasuredome Frankie Goes to Hollywood 1
9 An Innocent Man Billy Joel 2
10 Now 4 Various Artists 2
11 The Collection Ultravox 2
12 Into the Gap Thompson Twins 1
13 Now 2 Various Artists 1
14 The Works Queen 2
15 Alf Alison Moyet 3[lower-alpha 1]
16 Human's Lib Howard Jones 1
17 Eliminator ZZ Top 3
18 Private Dancer Tina Turner 2
19 Party Party: 16 Great Party Icebreakers Black Lace 4
20 Parade Spandau Ballet 2
21 The Unforgettable Fire U2 1
22 Human Racing Nik Kershaw 5
23 Greatest Hits Shakin' Stevens 8
24 No Parlez Paul Young 1
25 Alchemy: Dire Straits Live Dire Straits 3
26 Touch Eurythmics 1
27 Give My Regards to Broad Street Paul McCartney 1
28 Under a Blood Red Sky U2 6[lower-alpha 2]
29 Now That's What I Call Music Various Artists 1
30 The Woman in Red Stevie Wonder 2
31 Arena Duran Duran 6
32 Yesterday Once More Carpenters 10
33 Breaking Hearts Elton John 2
34 Break Out The Pointer Sisters 9
35 Colour by Numbers Culture Club 4[lower-alpha 3]
36 Café Bleu The Style Council 2
37 Born in the U.S.A. Bruce Springsteen 2[lower-alpha 4]
38 The Smiths The Smiths 2
39 Cinema Elaine Paige 12
40 The Crossing Big Country 7[lower-alpha 5]
41 The Art Garfunkel Album Art Garfunkel 12
42 The Riddle Nik Kershaw 8
43 Purple Rain Prince & the Revolution 9[lower-alpha 6]
44 Tonight David Bowie 1
45 Labour of Love UB40 11[lower-alpha 7]
46 Sparkle in the Rain Simple Minds 1
47 Greatest Hits Queen 21[lower-alpha 8]
48 Footloose Original Soundtrack 7
49 12 Gold Bars Volume II (And I) Status Quo 12
50 The Age of Consent Bronski Beat 4

Notes:

  1. Reached number 1 in 1985
  2. Reached number 2 in 1983
  3. Reached number 1 in 1983
  4. Reached number 1 in 1985
  5. Reached number 3 in 1983
  6. Reached number 7 in 1985
  7. Reached number 1 in 1983
  8. Reached number 1 in 1981

Classical music: new works

Musical theatre

Musical films

Births

Deaths

Music awards

BRIT Awards

The 1984 BRIT Awards winners were:

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See also

References
  1. "1984 The Number One Singles". The Official Charts Company.
  2. "1984 The Number One Albums". The Official Charts Company.
  3. "Top 100 Singles". Music Week. London, England: Morgan-Grampian plc: 37. 26 January 1985.
  4. Scaping, Peter, ed. (1985). "Top 100 singles: 1984". BPI Year Book 1985 (7th ed.). British Phonographic Industry. pp. 46–47. ISBN 0-906154-06-5.
  5. "Top 100 Albums". Music Week. London, England: Morgan-Grampian plc: 42. 26 January 1985.
  6. Scaping (1985). "Top 100 albums: 1984". pp. 48–49.
  7. Howard Goodall: Works. Accessed 16 April 2013
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