Classic songs that only reached Number 3 in the UK Music Charts in the 1980s

You’ve no doubt seen plenty of lists of songs from the 1980s that reached Number 1 or 2 in the charts, but what about those in bronze position?

In this post we’ll be looking at some classic songs that only reached Number 3 in the UK music charts in the 1980s. Some of them you might have thought ranked higher, but in reality they maxed out in third position when they were released. Some of them might surprise you.

1980

Marti Web, Take That Look of Your Face

Time Chair Verdict (TCV): A Lloyd Webber and Don Black classic from the musical, Tell Me on a Sunday, but I always got strict school teacher vibes from Webb’s delivery. She seems very annoyed that I didn’t do my homework.

Vapors, Turning Japanese

TCV: Rumours abound that this song isn’t about what it’s officially purported to be about. Number 3 spot probably fair.

Michael Jackson, She’s Out of My Life

TCV: Yup. Only Number 3! Great song, but the choking up bit towards the end doesn’t do Jackson’s ‘Bad’ look any favours. Still finding his solo feet in the UK with his Of the Wall album, but Thriller would sort that out.

Sheena Easton, 9 to 5

TCV: The sentiment of the lyrics not a favourite amongst feminists at the time, but a very playful and catchy melody. Country vibes, and quite a ‘steamy’ video if you watch it closely.

Madness, Baggy Trousers

TCV: Nostalgia before nostalgia was a thing. A steady contribution from the Madness lads. Flying sax player, and the feeling of older siblings still at school being able to get served in a pub when you couldn’t.

Jona Lewie, Stop the Cavalry

TCV: Travesty at Number 3. Easily a Number 1 masterpiece from Lewie’s unique approach to musicmaking. Glad that it established its place in the annual Christmas charts, even though it wasn’t intentionally a Christmas tune, but rather, an anti-war song. Amazing what a Salvation Army brass band and a tubular bell can do.

Jona Lewie, Stop the Cavalry, 1980

1981

Stevie Wonder, Lately

TCV: Not Wonder’s best, but does he really have a worst? The song came out when many Gen Xers were in primary school experiencing their first relationships, with secret notes being passed around class asking: "Will you go out with me? Tick Yes or No?"

Spandau Ballet, Chant No. 1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On)

TCV: A fair chart position when compared to the quality of their hits that would follow.

Godley and Crème, Under Your Thumb

TCV: Still some echoes from the 70s in this one (Not a bad thing). Easily eclipsed by Cry and its ground-breaking video, but it’s one of those tunes where the strength of the music makes you miss the darkness of the story told by the lyrics.

Abba, One of Us

TCV: Without doubt a great song, but perhaps not deserving of a higher position. Breakup and divorce clearly influences song creation here.

ABBA, One of US, 1981

Kool and the Gang, Get Down on It

TCV: Great disco ditty, but battling the backlash against disco and funk at the time.

1982

Soft Cell, Say Hello Wave Goodbye

TCV: Powerful synth-driven banger. Way ahead of its time, but music in the UK exploded in ’82 with a lot of high-quality competition.

J Geils Band, Centerfold

TCV: Playful and memorable, but perhaps about right peaking at Number 3.

Yazoo, Don’t Go

TCV: Great combination of Moyet and Clarke. Whilst only a short-lived duo, their output has stood the test of time.

Tears for Fears, Mad World

TCV: Perhaps not Number 1 quality, but a great example of a song that makes its listeners think about the more serious sides of life.

Tears for Fears, Mad World, 1982

Wham, Young Guns (Go for It)

TCV: First hit for the group establishing themselves. Still a great pop dance track, helped by another group (allegedly Wah) pulling out of Top of the Tops at the last minute.

David Bowie and Bing Crosby, Peace on Earth – Little Drummer Boy

TCV: One of the stranger Christmas tunes crossing generational boundaries. Number 3 probably fair.

1983

Toto, Africa

TCV: Travesty. Easily Number 1 quality in terms of both music and lyrics.

Michael Jackson, Beat It

TCV: A much harder look and sound from Jackson, but up against some big hitters from ’83.

Michael Jackson, Beat It, 1983

Eurythmics, Who’s That Girl?

TCV: Unquestionably a great group. Not as strong as some of their later work, but still perhaps deserving of a higher position.

Howard Jones, New Song

TCV: Great artist and synth master. Probably deserved a higher position with this one.

Culture Club, Victims

TCV: Unique band at the time and hugely popular. Perhaps not Number 1, but definitely top 3.

1984

Thomson Twins, Doctor! Doctor!

TCV: Had some great songs, and in the case of this hit, a great chorus. Deserving of Number 3. Fitted in with that ‘weird hair’ synth-heavy classification (Howard Jones, A Flock of Seagulls etc.)

Queen, I Want to Break Free

TCV: Travesty. Easily a Number 1 hit, but Live Aid hadn’t happened yet.

Ultravox, Dancing with Tears in my Eyes

TCV: Not as bad as the Vienna travesty, but still deserving of higher. Easily one of their best five songs.

Spandau Ballet, Only When You Leave

TCV: Great bass and chord changes, but perhaps about right at Number 3.

Cyndi Lauper, Time After Time

TCV: Evocative ditty with quite a select target audience. Number 3 about right.

Tina Turner, What’s Love Got to do With It

TCV: Great production quality. Probably deserves a higher position.

Giorgio Moroder and Phil Oakey, Together in Electric Dreams

TCV: Travesty. What were the record buyers thinking? Easily Number 1 quality.

Giorgio Moroder and Phil Oakey, Together in Electric Dreams, 1984

 Madonna, Like a Virgin

TCV: Not as strong as what would follow, but still a very powerful mid-80s tune.

1985

Kate Bush, Running Up That Hill

TCV: Brilliantly weird, but not as brilliantly weird as some of her other hits.

Elton John, Nikita

TCV: Deserving of a higher position, but perhaps not Number 1.

Elton John, Nikita, 1985

Tina Turner, We Don’t Need Another Hero

TCV: Thought this would have charted higher due to the Mad Max connection.

Stevie Wonder, Part-Time Lover

TCV: Again, not his best, so Number 3 probably about right.

1986

Queen, A Kind of Magic

TCV: Thumping bassline, but up against stronger opposition this year.

Level 42, Lessons in Love

TCV: Loved this song, but as with A Kind of Magic, too many heavy-hitters in ’86.

Housemartins, Happy Hour

TCV: Almost a novelty song, but definitely aimed at a niche target audience. Excellently animated music video.

Peter Cetera, Glory of Love

TCV: Travesty. Karate Kid and Peter Cetera. How can this not be a Number 1? At one point I thought the song was about a fight breaking out during a court case. How would you fight for Your Honour?

Peter Cetera, Glory of Love, 1986

Curiosity Killed the Cat, Down to Earth

TCV: The Kool Kids wearing hats have arrived. Number 3 probably about right.

1987

Heart, Alone

TCV: Teenage angst and all that. Perhaps deserving of a higher position?

Atlantic Starr, Always

TCV: Travesty. Full-on cheese, but no apologies given. No gimmicks, no hidden agenda. Music you can definitely get into whilst clipping your toenails. Should have been Number 1. End of.

Atlantic Starr, Always, 1987

Michael Jackson, Bad

TCV: Jackson really putting his foot down. Number 1 potential, but still eclipsed by Thriller.

Rick Astley, Whenever You Need Somebody

TCV: Perhaps not his strongest, but still deserving of a higher position.

Michael Jackson, The Way You Make Me Feel

TCV: Probably about right compared to his other hits.

1988

Taylor Dane, Tell it to My Heart

TCV: One for the Kool Kids in the youth club again. Number 3 at best.

Aztec Camera, Somewhere in my Heart

TCV: Cheese with a leather jacket. Deserving of Number 3. Good tune.

Aztec Camera, Somewhere in my Heart, 1988

New Order, Blue Monday (Re-mix)

TCV: Overhyped, which is a shame because this is a great song and ahead of its time.

Chris De Burgh, Missing You

TCV: Deserving of higher, but not as good as some of his other hits. Cheese with healthy eyebrows.

Angry Anderson, Suddenly

TCV: Number 3 with the help of the soap opera, Neighbours. You had to be there to fully appreciate how this fits in to the scheme of things in ’88.

1989

Donna Summer, This Time I Know It’s for Real

TCV: Probably about right at Number 3, but Stock, Aitken and Waterman were producing hits for fun at the time. They were pitting themselves against themselves. Awesome production unit.

Donna Summer, This Time I Know it's for Real, 1989

Lynne Hamilton, On the Inside (Theme from Prisoner: Cell Block H)

TCV: Similar to Angry Anderson, this tune was helped by a very popular soap opera. Having said that, the song stands on its own and should have charted higher.

Queen, I Want It All

TCV: Probably about right compared to their other hits.

Madonna, Cherish

TCV: One of Madonna’s more likeable tunes pre-Vogue. Number 3 about right.

Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds, Eve of the War (Re-mix)

TCV: Peculiar release a decade after Wayne’s original War of the Worlds. Testament to the quality of the initial production.

It's always strange when we listen back to songs from decades ago. Because we've heard them hundreds of times since, they don't have the same impact as they originally did. Back then, our minds weren't packed with decades of information that would allow us to interpret them differently, and we weren't fatigued by repetition.

Perhaps there are a few on this list that you haven't heard since they were originally released. If there are, what you think about them now?