THE BIGGEST RECORDS OF THE DECADE
The ten biggest-selling singles from every year of the 1980s, plus the overall decade Top 10.
1980
|
Position
|
Artist | Title |
|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Police | Don’t Stand So Close To Me |
|
2
|
Barbra Streisand | Woman In Love |
|
3
|
Kelly Marie | Feels Like I’m In Love |
|
4
|
Abba | Super Trouper |
|
5
|
Ottawan | D.I.S.C.O. |
|
6
|
Blondie | The Tide is High |
|
7
|
Dexy’s Midnight Runners | Geno |
|
8
|
Kenny Rogers | Coward Of The County |
|
9
|
Fern Kinney | Together We Are Beautiful |
|
10
|
John Lennon | (Just Like) Starting Over |
1981
|
Position
|
Artist | Title |
|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Soft Cell | Tainted Love |
|
2
|
Adam & The Ants | Stand And Deliver |
|
3
|
Adam & The Ants | Prince Charming |
|
4
|
Shakin’ Stevens | This Ole House |
|
5
|
Ultravox | Vienna |
|
6
|
Bucks Fizz | Making Your Mind Up |
|
7
|
Michael Jackson | One Day In Your Life |
|
8
|
Joe Dolce Music Theatre | Shaddup You Face |
|
9
|
The Tweets | Birdie Song |
|
10
|
Shakin’ Stevens | You Drive Me Crazy |
1982
|
Position
|
Artist | Title |
|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Dexy’s Midnight Runners | Come On Eileen |
|
2
|
Irene Cara | Fame |
|
3
|
Survivor | Eye Of The Tiger |
|
4
|
Culture Club | Do You Really Want To Hurt Me |
|
5
|
Tight Fit | The Lion Sleeps Tonight |
|
6
|
Musical Youth | Pass The Dutchie |
|
7
|
Eddy Grant | I Don’t Wanna Dance |
|
8
|
Goombay Dance Band | Seven Tears |
|
9
|
Paul McCartney with Stevie Wonder | Ebony And Ivory |
|
10
|
The Jam | Town Called Malice / Precious |
1983
|
Position
|
Artist | Title |
|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Culture Club | Karma Chameleon |
|
2
|
Billy Joel | Uptown Girl |
|
3
|
UB40 | Red Red Wine |
|
4
|
David Bowie | Let’s Dance |
|
5
|
Bonnie Tyler | Total Eclipse Of The Heart |
|
6
|
Men At Work | Down Under |
|
7
|
Michael Jackson | Billie Jean |
|
8
|
Spandau Ballet | True |
|
9
|
Lionel Richie | All Night Long (All Night) |
|
10
|
Phil Collins | You Can’t Hurry Love |
1984
|
Position
|
Artist | Title |
|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Band Aid | Do They Know It’s Christmas |
|
2
|
Stevie Wonder | I Just Called To Say I Love You |
|
3
|
Frankie Goes To Hollywood | Relax |
|
4
|
Frankie Goes To Hollywood | Two Tribes |
|
5
|
George Michael | Careless Whisper |
|
6
|
Wham | Last Christmas / Everything She Wants |
|
7
|
Lionel Richie | Hello |
|
8
|
Black Lace | Agadoo |
|
9
|
Wham! | Freedom |
|
10
|
Ray Parker Junior | Ghostbusters |
1985
|
Position
|
Artist | Title |
|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Jennifer Rush | The Power Of Love |
|
2
|
Elaine Paige & Barbara Dickson | I Know Him So Well |
|
3
|
Madonna | Into The Groove |
|
4
|
Paul Hardcastle | 19 |
|
5
|
Sister Sledge | Frankie |
|
6
|
David Bowie & Mick Jagger | Dancing In The Street |
|
7
|
Phyllis Nelson | Move Closer |
|
8
|
A-Ha | Take On Me |
|
9
|
Feargal Sharkey | A Good Heart |
|
10
|
Foreigner | I Want To Know What Love Is |
1986
|
Position
|
Artist | Title |
|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Communards | Don’t Leave Me This Way |
|
2
|
Nick Berry | Every Loser Wins |
|
3
|
Boris Gardiner | I Want To Wake Up With You |
|
4
|
Cliff Richard & The Young Ones | Living Doll |
|
5
|
Diana Ross | Chain Reaction |
|
6
|
Chris De Burgh | Lady In Red |
|
7
|
Billy Ocean | When The Going Gets Tough |
|
8
|
Berlin | Take My Breath Away |
|
9
|
Madonna | Papa Don’t Preach |
|
10
|
Sinitta | So Macho / Crusing |
1987
|
Position
|
Artist | Title |
|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Rick Astley | Never Gonna Give You Up |
|
2
|
Starship | Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now |
|
3
|
Whitney Houston | I Wanna Dance With Somebody |
|
4
|
Bee Gees | You Win Again |
|
5
|
T’Pau | China In Your Hand |
|
6
|
Mel & Kim | Respectable |
|
7
|
Ben E King | Stand By Me |
|
8
|
Pet Shop Boys | It’s A Sin |
|
9
|
MARRS | Pump Up The Volume |
|
10
|
The Firm | Star Trekkin’ |
1988
|
Position
|
Artist | Title |
|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Cliff Richard | Mistletoe And Wine |
|
2
|
Yazz & The Plastic Population | The Only Way Is Up |
|
3
|
Kylie Minogue | I Should Be So Lucky |
|
4
|
Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan | Especially For You |
|
5
|
Tiffany | I Think We’re Alone Now |
|
6
|
Glenn Medeiros | Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You |
|
7
|
Phil Collins | A Groovy Kind Of Love |
|
8
|
Wet Wet Wet | With A Little Help From My Friends |
|
9
|
Hollies | He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother |
|
10
|
Womack & Womack | Teardrops |
1989
|
Position
|
Artist | Title |
|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Black Box | Ride On Time |
|
2
|
Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers | Swing The Mood |
|
3
|
Bangles | Eternal Flame |
|
4
|
Jason Donovan | Too Many Broken Hearts |
|
5
|
Soul II Soul | Back To Life |
|
6
|
Marc Almond & Gene Pitney | Something’s Gotten Hold Of My Heart |
|
7
|
Jive Bunny & TheMastermixers | That’s What I Like |
|
8
|
Technotronic | Pump Up the Jam |
|
9
|
Band Aid II | Do They Know It’s Christmas? |
|
10
|
Madonna | Like A Prayer |
The Overall Top 10 Best Selling Singles of the 80s
|
Position
|
Artist | Title |
|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Band Aid | Do They Know It’s Christmas |
|
2
|
Frankie Goes To Hollywood | Relax |
|
3
|
Stevie Wonder | I Just Called To Say I Love You |
|
4
|
Fankie Goes To Hollywood | Two Tribes |
|
5
|
Human League | Don’t You Want Me |
|
6
|
Wham! | Last Christmas |
|
7
|
Culture Club | Karma Chameleon |
|
8
|
George Michael | Careless Whisper |
|
9
|
Jennifer Rush | The Power Of Love |
|
10
|
Dexy’s Midnight Runnera | Come On Eileen |