Off The Chart

Episode 20 of the Off The Chart podcast, and they said it wouldn't last! Steve and Julian examine the UK charts and surrounding events of this day in 1985, including the fourth best song called "The Power of Love", the hijacking of Demis Roussos and what happens when Bob Dylan and Shane MacGowan try to have a conversation.

This week's Off The Chart sees Steve and Julian travelling back a full four decades to examine the goings-on from this day in 1980, while avoiding Michael Jackson's Humpty Dumpty act, Spain's cleanest bandit ever to be immortalised in song by Boney M, and Dave Lee Travis helping school leavers make the most of what they've got.

A look back at the UK singles chart and surrounding events of 2 June 1984, including Billy Ocean's numerous queens, the shortest retirement in pop history and a socially distanced Genesis reunion.

Another trip back in time to discuss the state of the nation on this day in 1989, involving singles you could wear as jewellery, the perils of pop groups adopting house music, and Bryan Ferry causing an environmental disaster.

This week we revisit the charts, news and goings-on from 19 May 1983, along the way uncovering a band who reached the top three with 75% of all their single releases, the most successful football club in chart history, and a new theory about brontosauruses.

We're revisiting 1987 on this week's Off The Chart podcast with a look at the UK charts, the day's news, TV, radio and gigs highlights. Well, that's the plan, but along the way no doubt we'll get sidetracked by Madonna's blue rinse, a record without a hole in the middle and a man taking his clothes off in a laundrette. It'll all make sense if you listen.

This week's Off The Chart podcast is a welcome reminder that things were just as grim on this day in 1981 as they are today, if not worse. Still, that's only a small part of the show; don't let it distract you from the regular look at the UK charts, the murky world of "buy one, get one free" albums, more Kim Carnes facts than you've ever had in one place before, and the wild, wild world of Julian's school science lessons.

This week on Off The Chart it's April 1986 and we're unable to avoid A Very Serious And Historically Important News Item Indeed. Still, we'll dance around it with a look at the UK singles and albums charts. Find out why Steve sticks his head in the chip pan and why there's necromancy in the top ten - it is a kind of magic, after all.

Join Steve and Julian for a look at the UK singles chart from this day in 1982, as well as a broader look at the day's news, TV, radio, gigs, murder, cannibalism and Shakin' Stevens going at it like a randy cat. It'll all make sense if you listen.

Steve and Julian are back with another locked down edition of Off The Chart, discussing the UK singles chart and other things from 14 April 1988. Along the way the discussion swerves to include William Shatner's remote acting classes, the time the Department of Trade and Industry had a hit single, and the drummer from Frankie Goes To Hollywood reports on the war in Afghanistan. It'll make sense if you listen.