Hello, is it the hits of June 1984 you’re looking for?
As the first half of 1984 headed towards its conclusion, June saw John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova win the men’s and women’s titles, respectively, at Wimbledon; there were mammoth album releases from Prince & The Revolution (Purple Rain) and Bruce Springsteen (Born In The U.S.A.), as well as the debut album from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (From Her To Eternity); and Welsh singer-songwriter Duffy was born.
For most of the month, the top of the ARIA Singles Chart was held by one of the 1980s’ biggest ballads.
10. Queen - I Want To Break Free
The second single from Queen’s eleventh album, The Works (#16 Mar. ’84), ‘I Want To Break Free’ was also the group’s second Top Ten single of 1984, following ‘Radio Ga Ga’ (#2 Mar. ’84). Peaking at #8, ‘I Want To Break Free’ is well known for its video, which features all four members of Queen dressed as women. Queen wouldn’t hit the Top Ten again until ‘I Want It All’ (#10 Jun. ’89).
9. Madonna - Holiday
1984 was a big year on the ARIA Singles Chart for Madonna. She made her first ever appearance in the Top 50 in April when ‘Holiday’ debuted at #48 (it went on to peak at #4). She also hit the charts with ‘Burning Up’ (#13 Jul. ’84), ‘Borderline’ (#12 Aug. ’84) and ‘Lucky Star’ (#36 Nov. ’84) before scoring her first #1 at the end of the year with ‘Like A Virgin’ (#1 Dec. ’84).
8. Duran Duran - The Reflex
The classic line-up of Duran Duran scored eight Top Tens on the Australian Singles Chart between 1981 and 1985. ‘The Reflex’ was the second single from the group’s third album, Seven And The Ragged Tiger (#2 Dec. ’83) to peak at #4 after ‘Union Of The Snake’ (#4 Nov. ’83). Duran Duran’s last Top Ten (classic line-up or otherwise) was with the James Bond theme ‘A View To A Kill’ (#6 Jul. ’85).
7. Mel Brooks - To Be Or Not To Be (The Hitler Rap)
Veteran comedian Mel Brooks scored his only entry on the ARIA Singles Chart when the satirical ‘To Be Or Not To Be’ peaked at #3 in May 1984. The track appeared on the soundtrack to the war comedy of the same name but didn’t actually feature in the movie.
6. Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time
After topping the Singles Chart with ‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun’ (#1 Mar. ’84), Cyndi Lauper scored the second of her three Top Ten singles in 1984 when ‘Time After Time’ peaked at #6 in June. She also charted later in the year with ‘She Bop’ (#6 Nov. ’84). All three tracks came from Lauper’s debut album, She’s So Unusual (#3 Mar. ’85).
5. Julio Iglesias & Willie Nelson - To All The Girls I've Loved Before
Originally released by songwriter Albert Hammond on his 1975 album 99 Miles From L.A., the most famous version of ‘To All The Girls I've Loved Before’ came when Spanish crooner Julio Iglesias joined forces with American country star Willie Nelson in 1984. Peaking at #4, the track was the highest Singles Chart peak in Australia for both men.
4. The Twelfth Man - It's Just Not Cricket
With his debut single under the moniker The Twelfth Man, Australian comedian Birmingham took out the first of this two #1s on the ARIA Singles Chart when it spent three weeks in the top spot in July 1984. The Twelfth Man’s second #1 single came when ‘Marvellous’ topped the charts for two weeks in April 1992. Birmingham also scored seven #1s on the ARIA Albums Chart between 1987 and 2006.
3. Phil Collins - Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)
Phil Collins took out his third solo Top Ten single when ‘Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)’ peaked at #3 for four straight weeks during June 1984. The track was the theme to romantic thriller Against All Odds, which starred Rachel Ward and Jeff Bridges. It was Collins’ first #1 single in the US.
2. Kenny Loggins - Footloose
The title track to the film Footloose spent three weeks at #1 on the ARIA Singles Chart in May/June 1984. It gave American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins his only chart-topper in both Australia and the US. When Footloose was remade in 2011, country artist Blake Shelton recorded a version of the track.
1. Lionel Richie - Hello
‘Hello’ became American soul singer-songwriter Lionel Richie’s second #1 on the ARIA Singles Chart when it spent three straight weeks in the top spot during June 1984. Like his first #1, ‘All Night Long (All Night)’ (#1 Dec. 83), ‘Hello’ came from Richie’s second solo studio album, Can’t Slow Down (#1 Jun. ’84). It was one of six tracks by Richie to hit the Australian Top Ten; his last appearance was with ‘Dancing On The Ceiling’ (#2 Sept. ’86).
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