List of number-one singles from the 1980s (UK)

This is a list of the number one singles on the UK Singles Chart, during the 1980s. The source for this decade is the "Music Week" (formerly "Record Retailer") chart. Continues from List of number-one singles from the 1970s

1980

# The Pretenders - "Brass in Pocket"
#:January 19 for 2 weeks
# The Specials - "The Special AKA Live!"
#:February 2 for 2 weeks
# Kenny Rogers - "Coward of the County"
#:February 16 for 2 weeks
# Blondie - "Atomic"
#:March 1 for 2 weeks
# Fern Kinney - "Together We Are Beautiful"
#:March 15 for 1 week
# The Jam - "Going Underground / Dreams Of Children"
#:March 22 for 3 weeks
# The Detroit Spinners - "Working My Way Back to You"
#:April 12 for 2 weeks
# Blondie - "Call Me"
#:April 26 for 1 week
# Dexys Midnight Runners - "Geno"
#:May 3 for 2 weeks
# Johnny Logan - "What's Another Year"
#:May 17 for 2 weeks
# Mash - "Theme From M*A*S*H (Suicide is Painless)"
#:May 31 for 3 weeks
# Don McLean - "Crying"
#:June 21 for 3 weeks
# Olivia Newton-John & The Electric Light Orchestra - "Xanadu"
#:July 12 for 2 weeks
# Odyssey - "Use It Up and Wear It Out"
#:July 26 for 2 weeks
# ABBA - "The Winner Takes It All"
#:August 9 for 2 weeks
# David Bowie - "Ashes To Ashes"
#:August 23 for 2 weeks
# The Jam - "Start!"
#:September 6 for 1 week
# Kelly Marie - "Feels Like I'm in Love"
#:September 13 for 2 weeks
# The Police - "Don't Stand So Close to Me"
#:September 27 for 4 weeks
# Barbra Streisand - "Woman in Love"
#:October 25 for 3 weeks
# Blondie - "The Tide Is High"
#:November 15 for 2 weeks
# ABBA - "Super Trouper"
#:November 29 for 3 weeks
# John Lennon - "(Just Like) Starting Over"
#:December 20 for 1 week
# St Winifred's School Choir - "There's No-one Quite Like Grandma"
#:December 27 for 2 weeks

1981

# John Lennon - "Imagine"
#:January 10 for 4 weeks
# John Lennon - "Woman"
#:February 7 for 2 weeks
# Joe Dolce Music Theatre - "Shaddap You Face"
#:February 21 for 3 weeks
# Roxy Music - "Jealous Guy"
#:March 14 for 2 weeks
# Shakin' Stevens - "This Ole House"
#:March 28 for 3 weeks
# Bucks Fizz - "Making Your Mind Up"
#:April 18 for 3 weeks
# Adam and the Ants - "Stand and Deliver"
#:May 9 for 5 weeks
# Smokey Robinson - "Being With You"
#:June 13 for 2 weeks
# Michael Jackson - "One Day In Your Life"
#:June 27 for 2 weeks
# The Specials - "Ghost Town"
#:July 11 for 3 weeks
# Shakin' Stevens - "Green Door"
#:August 1 for 4 weeks
# Aneka - "Japanese Boy"
#:August 29 for 1 week
# Soft Cell - "Tainted Love"
#:September 5 for 2 weeks
# Adam and the Ants - "Prince Charming"
#:September 19 for 4 weeks
# Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin - "It's My Party"
#:October 17 for 4 weeks
# The Police - "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic"
#:November 14 for 1 week
# Queen & David Bowie - "Under Pressure"
#:November 21 for 2 weeks
# Julio Iglesias - "Begin The Beguine (Volver A Empezar)"
#:December 5 for 1 week
# The Human League - "Don't You Want Me"
#:December 12 for 5 weeks

1982

# Bucks Fizz - "The Land of Make Believe"
#:January 16 for 2 weeks
# Shakin' Stevens - "Oh Julie"
#:January 30 for 1 week
# Kraftwerk - "The Model/Computer Love"
#:February 6 for 1 week
# The Jam - "Town Called Malice/Precious"
#:February 13 for 3 weeks
# Tight Fit - "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"
#:March 6 for 3 weeks
# Goombay Dance Band - "Seven Tears"
#:March 27 for 3 weeks
# Bucks Fizz - "My Camera Never Lies"
#:April 17 for 1 week
# Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder - "Ebony and Ivory"
#:April 24 for 3 weeks
# Nicole - "A Little Peace"
#:May 15 for 2 weeks
# Madness - "House of Fun"
#:May 29 for 2 weeks
# Adam Ant - "Goody Two Shoes"
#:June 12 for 2 weeks
# Charlene - "I've Never Been to Me"
#:June 26 for 1 week
# Captain Sensible - "Happy Talk"
#:July 3 for 2 weeks
# Irene Cara - "Fame"
#:July 17 for 3 weeks
# Dexys Midnight Runners and the Emerald Express - "Come on Eileen"
#:August 7 for 4 weeks
# Survivor - "Eye of the Tiger"
#:September 4 for 4 weeks
# Musical Youth - "Pass the Dutchie"
#:October 2 for 3 weeks
# Culture Club - "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me"
#:October 23 for 3 weeks
# Eddy Grant - "I Don't Wanna Dance"
#:November 13 for 3 weeks
# The Jam - "Beat Surrender"
#:December 4 for 2 weeks
# Renée and Renato - "Save Your Love"
#:December 18 for 4 weeks

1983

# Phil Collins - "You Can't Hurry Love"
#:January 15 for 2 weeks
# Men at Work - "Down Under"
#:January 29 for 3 weeks
# Kajagoogoo - "Too Shy"
#:February 19 for 2 weeks
# Michael Jackson - "Billie Jean"
#:March 5 for 1 week
# Bonnie Tyler - "Total Eclipse of the Heart"
#:March 12 for 2 weeks
# Duran Duran - "Is There Something I Should Know?"
#:March 26 for 2 weeks
# David Bowie - "Let's Dance"
#:April 9 for 3 weeks
# Spandau Ballet - "True"
#:April 30 for 4 weeks
# New Edition - "Candy Girl"
#:May 28 for 1 week
# The Police - "Every Breath You Take"
#:June 4 for 4 weeks
# Rod Stewart - "Baby Jane"
#:July 2 for 3 weeks
# Paul Young - "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)"
#:July 23 for 3 weeks
# KC and the Sunshine Band - "Give It Up"
#:August 13 for 3 weeks
# UB40 - "Red Red Wine"
#:September 3 for 3 weeks
# Culture Club - "Karma Chameleon"
#:September 24 for 6 weeks
# Billy Joel - "Uptown Girl"
#:November 5 for 5 weeks
# Flying Pickets - "Only You"
#:December 10 for 5 weeks

1984

# Paul McCartney - "Pipes Of Peace"
#:January 14 for 2 weeks
# Frankie Goes to Hollywood - "Relax"
#:January 28 for 5 weeks
# Nena - "99 Red Balloons"
#:March 3 for 3 weeks
# Lionel Richie - "Hello"
#:March 24 for 6 weeks
# Duran Duran - "The Reflex"
#:May 5 for 4 weeks
# Wham! - "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go"
#:June 2 for 2 weeks
# Frankie Goes to Hollywood - "Two Tribes"
#:June 16 for 9 weeks
# Wham! - "Careless Whisper"
#:August 18 for 3 weeks
# Stevie Wonder - "I Just Called to Say I Love You"
#:September 8 for 6 weeks
# Wham! - "Freedom"
#:October 20 for 3 weeks
# Chaka Khan - "I Feel For You"
#:November 10 for 3 weeks
# Jim Diamond - "I Should Have Known Better"
#:December 1 for 1 week
# Frankie Goes to Hollywood - "The Power Of Love"
#:December 8 for 1 week
# Band Aid - "Do They Know It's Christmas?"
#:December 15 for 5 weeks

1985

# Foreigner - "I Want to Know What Love Is"
#:January 19 for 3 weeks
# Elaine Paige & Barbara Dickson - "I Know Him So Well"
#:February 9 for 4 weeks
# Dead or Alive - "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)"
#:March 9 for 2 weeks
# Philip Bailey and Phil Collins - "Easy Lover"
#:March 23 for 4 weeks
# USA for Africa - "We Are the World"
#:April 20 for 2 weeks
# Phyllis Nelson - "Move Closer"
#:May 4 for 1 week
# Paul Hardcastle - "19"
#:May 11 for 5 weeks
# The Crowd - "You'll Never Walk Alone"
#:June 15 for 2 weeks
# Sister Sledge - "Frankie"
#:June 29 for 4 weeks
# Eurythmics - "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)"
#:July 27 for 1 week
# Madonna - "Into the Groove"
#:August 3 for 4 weeks
# UB40, guest vocals by Chrissie Hynde - "I Got You Babe"
#:August 31 for 1 week
# David Bowie & Mick Jagger - "Dancing in the Street"
#:September 7 for 4 weeks
# Midge Ure - "If I Was"
#:October 5 for 1 week
# Jennifer Rush - "The Power Of Love"
#:October 12 for 5 weeks
# Feargal Sharkey - "A Good Heart"
#:November 16 for 2 weeks
# Wham! - "I'm Your Man"
#:November 30 for 2 weeks
# Whitney Houston - "Saving All My Love for You"
#:December 14 for 2 weeks
# Shakin' Stevens - "Merry Christmas Everyone"
#:December 28 for 2 weeks

1986

# Pet Shop Boys - "West End Girls"
#:January 11 for 2 weeks
# a-ha - "The Sun Always Shines On TV"
#:January 25 for 2 weeks
# Billy Ocean - "When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going"
#:February 8 for 4 weeks
# Diana Ross - "Chain Reaction"
#:March 8 for 3 weeks
# Cliff Richard & The Young Ones, featuring Hank Marvin - "Living Doll"
#:March 29 for 3 weeks
# George Michael - "A Different Corner"
#:April 19 for 3 weeks
# Falco - "Rock Me Amadeus"
#:May 10 for 1 week
# Spitting Image - "The Chicken Song"
#:May 17 for 3 weeks
# Doctor and the Medics - "Spirit in the Sky"
#:June 7 for 3 weeks
# Wham! - "The Edge of Heaven"
#:June 28 for 2 weeks
# Madonna - "Papa Don't Preach"
#:July 12 for 3 weeks
# Chris De Burgh - "The Lady in Red"
#:August 2 for 3 weeks
# Boris Gardiner - "I Want to Wake Up with You"
#:August 23 for 3 weeks
# The Communards - "Don't Leave Me This Way"
#:September 13 for 4 weeks
# Madonna - "True Blue"
#:October 11 for 1 week
# Nick Berry - "Every Loser Wins"
#:October 18 for 3 weeks
# Berlin - "Take My Breath Away"
#:November 8 for 4 weeks
# Europe - "The Final Countdown"
#:December 6 for 2 weeks
# The Housemartins - "Caravan of Love"
#:December 20 for 1 week
# Jackie Wilson - "Reet Petite"
#:December 27 for 4 weeks

1987

# Steve 'Silk' Hurley - "Jack Your Body"
#:January 24 for 2 weeks
# Aretha Franklin & George Michael - "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)"
#:February 7 for 2 weeks
# Ben E. King - "Stand By Me"
#:February 21 for 3 weeks
# Boy George - "Everything I Own"
#:March 14 for 2 weeks
# Mel and Kim - "Respectable"
#:March 28 for 1 week
# Ferry Aid - "Let It Be"
#:April 4 for 3 weeks
# Madonna - "La Isla Bonita"
#:April 25 for 2 weeks
# Starship - "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now"
#:May 9 for 4 weeks
# Whitney Houston - "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)"
#:June 6 for 2 weeks
# The Firm - "Star Trekkin'"
#:June 20 for 2 weeks
# Pet Shop Boys - "It's A Sin"
#:July 4 for 3 weeks
# Madonna - "Who's That Girl"
#:July 25 for 1 week
# Los Lobos - "La Bamba"
#:August 1 for 2 weeks
# Michael Jackson with Siedah Garrett - "I Just Can't Stop Loving You"
#:August 15 for 2 weeks
# Rick Astley - "Never Gonna Give You Up"
#:August 29 for 5 weeks
# MARRS - "Pump Up The Volume"
#:October 3 for 2 weeks

Chart compilation changed from Tuesday to Sunday starting October 4 1987

# The Bee Gees - "You Win Again"
#:October 17 for 4 weeks
# T'Pau - "China In Your Hand"
#:November 14 for 5 weeks
# Pet Shop Boys - "Always on My Mind"
#:December 19 for 4 weeks

1988

# Belinda Carlisle - "Heaven Is A Place On Earth"
#:January 16 for 2 weeks
# Tiffany - "I Think We're Alone Now"
#:January 30 for 3 weeks
# Kylie Minogue - "I Should Be So Lucky"
#:February 20 for 5 weeks
# Aswad - "Don't Turn Around"
#:March 26 for 2 weeks
# Pet Shop Boys - "Heart"
#:April 9 for 3 weeks
# S'Express - "Theme from S'Express"
#:April 30 for 2 weeks
# Fairground Attraction - "Perfect"
#:May 14 for 1 week
# Wet Wet Wet - "With a Little Help from My Friends" / Billy Bragg with Cara Tivey - "She's Leaving Home"
#:May 21 for 4 weeks
# Timelords - "Doctorin' The Tardis"
#:June 18 for 1 week
# Bros - "I Owe You Nothing"
#:June 25 for 2 weeks
# Glenn Medeiros - "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You"
#:July 9 for 4 weeks
# Yazz and the Plastic Population - "The Only Way Is Up"
#:August 6 for 5 weeks
# Phil Collins - "A Groovy Kind of Love"
#:September 10 for 2 weeks
# Hollies - "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"
#:September 24 for 2 weeks
# U2 - "Desire"
#:October 8 for 1 week
# Whitney Houston - "One Moment in Time"
#:October 15 for 2 weeks
# Enya - "Orinoco Flow"
#:October 29 for 3 weeks
# Robin Beck - "The First Time"
#:November 19 for 3 weeks
# Cliff Richard - "Mistletoe and Wine"
#:December 10 for 4 weeks

1989

# Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan - "Especially for You"
#:January 7 for 3 weeks
# Marc Almond with Gene Pitney - "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart"
#:January 28 for 4 weeks
# Simple Minds - "Belfast Child"
#:February 25 for 2 weeks
# Jason Donovan - "Too Many Broken Hearts"
#:March 11 for 2 weeks
# Madonna - "Like a Prayer"
#:March 25 for 3 weeks
# The Bangles - "Eternal Flame"
#:April 15 for 4 weeks
# Kylie Minogue - "Hand on Your Heart"
#:May 13 for 1 week
# The Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden, Stock Aitken Waterman - "Ferry Cross the Mersey"
#:May 20 for 3 weeks
# Jason Donovan - "Sealed With A Kiss"
#:June 10 for 2 weeks
# Soul II Soul featuring Caron Wheeler - "Back To Life (How Ever Do You Want Me)"
#:June 24 for 4 weeks
# Sonia - "You'll Never Stop Me Loving You"
#:July 22 for 2 weeks
# Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers - "Swing The Mood"
#:August 5 for 5 weeks
# Black Box - "Ride On Time"
#:September 9 for 6 weeks
# Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers - "That's What I Like"
#:October 21 for 3 weeks
# Lisa Stansfield - "All Around the World"
#:November 11 for 2 weeks
# New Kids on the Block - "You Got It (The Right Stuff)"
#:November 25 for 3 weeks
# Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers - "Let's Party"
#:December 16 for 1 week
# Band Aid II - "Do They Know It's Christmas?"
#:December 23 for 3 weeks

Continues to List of number-one singles from the 1990s

ee also

* List of Number 1 singles (UK)
* UK Singles Chart