(while I'm doing a whole month about 25 years ago, I thought I'd better do this...)
the Top 25 of 25 years ago(Tuesday 15th May 1979)
11 [↓4] Banana Splits (Dickies): Yes, really. A brash punk cover of the surreal kids TV theme, featuring Chuck Wagon on bass. "Four banana three banana two banana one, all bananas playing in the bright warm sun. Flipping like a pancake popping like a cork, Fleagle Bingo Drooper and Snork." 12 [↑6] Roxanne (Police): Ex-teacher Gordon's very first hit explored prostitution, and is ten times better than any of the tantric new age crap he comes out with these days. "You don't have to put on the red light. Those days are over." 13 [↓3] The Logical Song (Supertramp): Is it just me, or were lyrics deeper in those days? And tunes catchier? "I know it sounds absurd, but please tell me who I am." 14 [↓6] Goodnight Tonight (Wings): Wings' last big hit before Sir Paul went solo. OK, I take it all back about lyrics being better in those days. "Don't say it. Don't say it. Say anything but don't say goodnight tonight." 15 [↓10] Some Girls (Racey): Some songs do, but some songs don't. Lyrical argument now completely destroyed, sorry. "I find your company to be, something completely new to me. Now that I know you socially, obviously I'll fall heavily." 16 [↓3] Love You Inside Out (Bee Gees): Reached number one in America, but we were less enamoured with this Brothers Gibb plodder. "You're the reason for my laughter and my sorrow. Blow out the candle I will burn again tomorrow." 17 [↑7] Jimmy Jimmy (Undertones): Fab Feargal's first top twenty hit, on lime green vinyl. The B side was 'Mars Bar', a tribute to the band's favourite chocolate. "Now little Jimmy's gone, he disappeared one day. But no one saw the ambulance, that took little Jim away." 18 [↓6] Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground) (Jacksons): An all-time classic floor filler, in just the same way that nothing in this week's chart is. "Let's dance, let's shout. Shake your body down to the ground." 19 [↓4] Boys Keep Swinging (David Bowie): Mr Bowie lists all the benefits of having a Y chromosome, and even girls couldn't resist singing along. Perfect. "When you're a boy you can wear a uniform. When you're a boy other boys check you out. You get a girl. These are your favourite things when you're a boy." 20 [↓3] I Don't Wanna Lose You (Kandidate): Slow male harmony ballad, of the kind I detest with all my breath. "Cos your love has done so much for me. My love for you keeps going on and on." 21 [↓2] Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet (Gonzalez): Another all-time classic floor filler, although it only reached number 15. Pat and Mick's criminal cover version assaulted the top ten ten years later. "I haven't stopped dancing yet since we met on our first date. I haven't stopped loving less." 22 [↓8] Hallelujah (Milk and Honey): Israel's second Eurovision winner (one year after their first), and bland has rarely been catchier. That's Israel, the well known European country. "With a simple word, a single word, we bless the sky, the tree, the bird. And we fill our heart with joy." 23 [↑2] Nice Legs Shame About The Face (Monks): A sexist novelty hit from Hudson Ford, formerly of the Strawbs. Drunken blokes still use this insult as their own, and probably still think it's funny. "So I had a drink with my friends up at the bar. I asked them what they thought of her, they fell about the place." 24 [↑6] Boogie Wonderland (Earth Wind and Fire): We're at the height of disco here, and it shows. "Midnight creeps so slowly into hearts of men who need more than they get. I find romance when I start to dance." 25 [↑9] The Number One Song In Heaven (Sparks): The legendary Mael Brothers were trying to emulate Donna Summer's I Feel Love, but they only made the number fourteen song in Britain. "If you should die before you wake. If you should die while crossing the street. The song that you'll hear, I guarantee." (and, peaking this week way down at number 42, an obscure track called "Are You Ready For Love?" by Elton John)
