Off The Chart

It's our 50th podcast! But there's no time for frivolities as we discuss the UK charts from this day in 1985 and get inevitably sidetracked into breakdancing, the invention of opera and our grand plan to buy a Sinclair C5 piece by piece off eBay.

It's an inadvertent '70s special on Off The Chart this week as we find ourselves right back at the start of the '80s but still having to deal with the last chart of the '70s. Still, along the way we discuss the best titles for Greatest Hits albums, how to get in touch with Swap Shop and the continued chart presence of deceased '70s stars in the '80s.

Filling the void between Christmas and New Year, this week's Off The Chart looks at the UK charts of 29 December 1984 - which was, of course, the Christmas chart. Complicated this, innit? Along the way we get driving advice from Stevie Wonder, a complaint from an MP and an A-Z of the entire year.

'Twas the chart before Christmas 1989, and all through the podcast, not a creature was stirring, even though there were dogs, goldfish, goats, rabbits and an unexploded Scotsman. Join Steve and Julian for a pre-Christmas look at one of the very last charts of the 1980s!

It's getting close to the big day on the podcast this week, as we examine the UK charts of 15 December 1983, and somehow manage to end up taking about racist comedians, the naked balloon dance and Mike Batt's AC/DC tribute band.

Christmas begins to rear its head on this week's podcast as we revisit this day in 1987 to examine the state of the UK charts and other goings-on. Join us for disgraced performers, interchangeable pop stars and three songs with the same title.

Hiding behind the first door of your Off The Chart advent calendar this year: a trip back to 1981, where we discuss the UK charts and surrounding events, go back to school with the Barron Knights, pogo with Pink Floyd and listen to one of Julian's cassettes.

Steve and Julian revisit this day in 1986, examine the UK pop charts and try to keep their pets quiet. This week we discover Elton John's worst album, Giorgio Moroder's favourite record and the world's shortest pop star.

Another trip back in time to rake over the ashes of this day in 1982. This week Barry Manilow gets flirty, Neil Diamond sings Blur and Alison Moyet gets potty mouthed about one of her own songs.

The cycle begins again as we take a look at the UK charts and surrounding events of this day in 1988. Along the way we discuss Chris Rea's broken down caravan, The Christians' giant combine harvester, and the time the Beatles were outdone by Chaka Demus & Pliers.