1980’s Number Two Hits And Their Nemeses

1980 was a great year for music. This was reflected weekly by the UK singles chart. Here is a list of singles that were bona fide hits. However, they didn’t quite have the legs to reach the summit. They had to settle for the number 2 spot. They are noted alongside those tracks that did make it to number 1.

So, in January, Abba’s I Have A Dream couldn’t quite nudge Pink Floyd’s Another Brick In The Wall aside to claim the number one position. Then Billy Preston & Syreeta’s dreams of the number 1 spot for their track, With You I’m Born Again, were dashed by those dastardly Pretenders with their stone-cold classic Brass In Pocket.

Song at Number 2	Week Ending	Song at Number 1
Abba – I Have A Dream	5 Jan 1980	Pink Floyd – Another Brick in the Wall
	12 Jan 1980
Billy Preston & Syreeta – With You I’m Born Again	19 Jan 1980	The Pretenders – Brass in Pocket
	26 Jan 1980
The Whispers – And The Beat Goes On	23 Feb 1980	Kenny Rogers – Coward of the County
Liquid Gold – Dance Yourself Dizzy	5 Apr 1980	The Jam – Going Underground / Dreams Of Children
	12 Apr 1980	The Detroit Spinners – Working My Way Back To You
Paul McCartney – Coming Up	3 May 1980	Dexys – Geno
Hot Chocolate – No Doubt About It	24 May 1980	Johnny Logan – What’s Another Year
	31 May 1980	Mash – Theme From M*A*S*H (Suicide Is Painless)
	7 Jun 1980
Lipps Inc – Funkytown	28 Jun 1980	Don McLean – Crying
	5 Jul 1980
Leo Sayer – More Than I Can Say	2 Aug 1980	Odyssey – Use It Up and Wear It Out
Diana Ross – Upside Down	9 Aug 1980	ABBA – The Winner Takes It All
	16 Aug1980
Randy Crawford – One Day I’ll Fly Away	20 Sep 1980	Kelly Marie – Feels Like I’m in Love
	27 Sep 1980	The Police – Don’t Stand So Close to Me
Stevie Wonder – Masterblaster (Jammin’)	4 Oct 1980
Ottawan – D.I.S.C.O.	11 Oct 1980
	18 Oct 1980
	25 Oct 1980	Barbra Streisand – Woman in Love
Status Quo – What You’re Proposing	1 Nov 1980
	8 Nov 980