List of UK Independent Singles Chart number ones of the 1980s

Last updated

These are the UK Official Indie Chart number-one hits of the 1980s, as compiled by MRIB. [1]

Contents

1980

Date first reached number oneSongArtistLabelDuration [2]
19 January"Where's Captain Kirk?" Spizzenergi Rough Trade 7 weeks
8 March"Food for Thought" / King UB40 Graduate12 weeks
31 May"Bloody Revolutions" Crass Crass 5 weeks
5 July"Love Will Tear Us Apart" Joy Division Factory 10* weeks
30 August"Paranoid" Black Sabbath NEMS5* weeks
13 September Can't Cheat Karma (EP) Zounds Crass 2 weeks
18 October"Requiem" Killing Joke E.G. 1 week
25 October"Atmosphere" Joy Division Factory 2 weeks
8 November"Kill the Poor" Dead Kennedys Cherry Red 1 week
15 November"The Earth Dies Screaming" / "Dream a Lie" UB40 Graduate5* weeks
6 December Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers (EP) Motörhead Big Beat 1 week
27 December"Cartrouble" Adam and the Ants Do It 7* weeks

1981

Date first reached number oneSongArtistLabelDuration [2]
24 January"Zerox" Adam and the Ants Do It 3 weeks
7 March"Nagasaki Nightmare" Crass Crass 2 weeks
21 March"Ceremony" New Order Factory 3 weeks
11 April Four from Toyah (EP) Toyah Safari 3 weeks
2 May"Dreaming of Me" Depeche Mode Mute 1 week
9 May Why (EP) Discharge Clay 2 weeks
23 May"I Want To Be Free" Toyah Safari 1 week
30 May"Don't Let It Pass You By / Don't Slow Down" UB40 DEP International 1 week
6 June"Too Drunk to Fuck" Dead Kennedys Cherry Red 5 weeks
11 July"New Life" Depeche Mode Mute 7 weeks
29 August"One in Ten" UB40 DEP International 4 weeks
26 September"Just Can't Get Enough" Depeche Mode Mute 2 weeks
10 October"Procession" New Order Factory 3 weeks
31 October"Thunder in the Mountains" Toyah Safari 4 weeks
28 November"Six Guns" Anti-Pasti Rondelet1 week
5 December Four More From Toyah (EP) Toyah Safari 5* weeks
19 December"Don't Let 'Em Grind You Down" The Exploited & Anti-Pasti Exploited1 week

1982

Date first reached number oneSongArtistLabelDuration [2]
16 January"Streets of London" Anti-Nowhere League WXYZ2 weeks
30 January"Do You Believe in the Westworld?" Theatre of Hate Burning Rome2 weeks
13 February"See You" Depeche Mode Mute 7 weeks
3 April"I Hate People" Anti-Nowhere League WXYZ2 weeks
17 April"Papa's Got a Brand New Pigbag" Pigbag Y 4 weeks
15 May"Only You" Yazoo Mute 5 weeks
19 June"Temptation" New Order Factory 3 weeks
10 July"Woman" Anti-Nowhere League WXYZ2 weeks
24 July"Don't Go" Yazoo Mute 8 weeks
18 September"Leave in Silence" Depeche Mode Mute 6 weeks
30 October"Shipbuilding" Robert Wyatt Rough Trade 3* weeks
6 November"How Does It Feel to Be the Mother of 1000 Dead?" Crass Crass 3 weeks
27 November"The Other Side of Love" Yazoo Mute 4 weeks
25 December"Save Your Love" Renée and Renato Hollywood3 weeks

1983

Date first reached number oneSongArtistLabelDuration [2]
15 January"Fat Man" Southern Death Cult Situation Two 2 weeks
29 January"Heartache Avenue" The Maisonettes Ready Steady Go!3 weeks
19 February"Oblivious" Aztec Camera Rough Trade 2 weeks
12 March"Get the Balance Right!" Depeche Mode Mute Records 2 weeks
26 March"Blue Monday" New Order Factory 13* weeks
11 June"Nobody's Diary" Yazoo Mute 1 week
18 June"Pills and Soap" The Imposter (Elvis Costello) F-Beat 2 weeks
2 July"Sheep Farming in the Falklands" Crass Crass 2 weeks
16 July"War Baby" Tom Robinson Panic3 weeks
6 August"Everything Counts" Depeche Mode Mute 5 weeks
10 September"Confusion" New Order Factory 4 weeks
5 November"Temple of Love" The Sisters of Mercy Merciful Release 1 week
26 November"This Charming Man" The Smiths Rough Trade 7* weeks
3 December"Never Never" The Assembly Mute 2 weeks

1984

Date first reached number oneSongArtistLabelDuration [2]
28 January"What Difference Does It Make?" The Smiths Rough Trade 9 weeks
31 March"You're Already Dead" Crass Crass 1 week
7 April"People Are People" Depeche Mode Mute 3 weeks
28 April"Hand in Glove" Sandie Shaw Rough Trade 1 week
5 May"Thieves Like Us" New Order Factory 2 weeks
19 May"Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops" Cocteau Twins 4AD 2 weeks
2 June"Spiritwalker" The Cult Situation Two 1 week
9 June"Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" The Smiths Rough Trade 3* weeks
23 June"Thanks for the Night" The Damned Damned2 weeks
14 July"In the Ghetto" Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Mute 4 weeks
11 August"Walk into the Sun" The March Violets Rebirth2 weeks
25 August"Agadoo" Black Lace Flair2 weeks
8 September"William, It Was Really Nothing" The Smiths Rough Trade 2 weeks
22 September"Master and Servant" Depeche Mode Mute 6 weeks
3 November"Marimba Jive" Red Guitars Self Drive2 weeks
17 November"The Price" New Model Army Abstract1 week
24 November "Blasphemous Rumours" / "Somebody" Depeche Mode Mute 3 weeks
15 December"Nellie the Elephant" Toy Dolls Volume7 weeks

1985

Date first reached number oneSongArtistLabelDuration [2]
2 February"Upside Down" The Jesus and Mary Chain Creation 4* weeks
16 February"How Soon Is Now?" The Smiths Rough Trade 4 weeks
30 March"Aikea-Guinea" Cocteau Twins 4AD 2* weeks
6 April"Shakespeare's Sister" The Smiths Rough Trade 3 weeks
4 May"Be with Me" Red Guitars One Way2 weeks
18 May"Shake the Disease" Depeche Mode Mute 2 weeks
1 June"The Perfect Kiss" New Order Factory 3 weeks
22 June"You'll Never Walk Alone" The Crowd Spartan3 weeks
13 July"Iron Masters" The Men They Couldn't Hang Demon 3* weeks
20 July"That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" The Smiths Rough Trade 2 weeks
17 August"Tupelo" Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Mute 2 weeks
31 August"Well Well Well" The Woodentops Rough Trade 3 weeks
21 September"Primitive Painters" Felt 4AD 2 weeks
5 October"It's Called a Heart" Depeche Mode Mute 1 week
12 October"The Boy with the Thorn in His Side" The Smiths Rough Trade 3 weeks
2 November"The Battle Continues" Conflict Mortarhate2 weeks
16 November"Can Your Pussy Do the Dog?" The Cramps Big Beat 1 week
23 November"Sub-culture" New Order Factory 1 week
30 November"Tiny Dynamine" Cocteau Twins 4AD 2 weeks
14 December"Echoes in a Shallow Bay" Cocteau Twins 4AD 8 weeks

1986

Date first reached number oneSongArtistLabelDuration [2]
8 February"Giving Ground" The Sisterhood Merciful Release 4* weeks
1 March"Stripped" Depeche Mode Mute 1 week
15 March The Trumpton Riots EP Half Man Half Biscuit Probe Plus 3 weeks
5 April"Shellshock" New Order Factory 3 weeks
26 April"Godstar" Psychic TV & The Angels of Light Temple 2 weeks
10 May"Rules and Regulations" We've Got a Fuzzbox and We're Gonna Use It Vindaloo4 weeks
7 June"Bigmouth Strikes Again" The Smiths Rough Trade 5 weeks
12 July"The Singer" Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Mute 2 weeks
26 July"Garden of Delight" The Mission Chapter 222 weeks
9 August"Panic" The Smiths Rough Trade 4 weeks
6 September"Tokyo Storm Warning" Elvis Costello & The Attractions Demon 2 weeks
20 September"Come Here My Love" This Mortal Coil 4AD 1 week
27 September"State of the Nation" New Order Factory 3 weeks
18 October"Dickie Davies Eyes" Half Man Half Biscuit Probe Plus 1 week
25 October"(Love Affair With) Everyday Living" The Woodentops Rough Trade 1 week
1 November"Love's Easy Tears" Cocteau Twins 4AD 1 week
8 November"Ask" The Smiths Rough Trade 2 weeks
22 November"Bizarre Love Triangle" New Order Factory 2 weeks
5 December"Sometimes" Erasure Mute 4 weeks

1987

Date first reached number oneSongArtistLabelDuration [2]
3 January"Into the Groove(y)" Ciccone Youth Blast First 1 week
10 January"Kiss" Age of Chance FON3 weeks
31 January"Shoplifters of the World Unite" The Smiths Rough Trade 4 weeks
28 February"It Doesn't Have to Be" Erasure Mute 8 weeks
25 April"Sheila Take a Bow" The Smiths Rough Trade 3 weeks
16 May"Nosedive Karma" Gaye Bykers on Acid In Tape3 weeks
6 June"Victim of Love" Erasure Mute 2 weeks
20 June"Can't Take No More" The Soup Dragons Raw TV4 weeks
18 July"Flowers in Our Hair" All About Eve Eden2 weeks
1 August"True Faith" New Order Factory 3 weeks
22 August"Girlfriend in a Coma" The Smiths Rough Trade 2 weeks
5 September"Pump Up the Volume" M/A/R/R/S 4AD 7 weeks
24 October"Blue Water" Fields of the Nephilim Situation Two 2 weeks
7 November"My Baby Just Cares for Me" Nina Simone Charly 5 weeks
12 December"Touched by the Hand of God" New Order Factory 6 weeks

1988

Date first reached number oneSongArtistLabelDuration [2]
23 January"Behind the Wheel" Depeche Mode Mute 1 week
30 January"Rok da House" Beatmasters & Cookie Crew Rhythm King 1 week
6 February"Coldsweat" The Sugarcubes One Little Indian 2 weeks
20 February"I Should Be So Lucky" Kylie Minogue PWL 1 week
27 February"Beat Dis" Bomb the Bass Mister-Ron4 weeks
26 March"Ship of Fools" Erasure Mute 4 weeks
23 April"Theme from S'Express" S'Express Rhythm King 4 weeks
21 May"Blue Monday 1988" New Order Factory 2 weeks
4 June"Got to Be Certain" Kylie Minogue PWL 1 week
11 June"Moonchild" Fields of the Nephilim Situation Two 2 weeks
25 June"Doctorin' the Tardis" The Timelords KLF Communications 4 weeks
23 July"Superfly Guy" S'Express Rhythm King 3 weeks
13 August"The Only Way Is Up" Yazz & The Plastic Population Big Life 5 weeks
17 September"Birthday" The Sugarcubes One Little Indian 1 week
24 September"Stop This Crazy Thing" Coldcut feat. Junior Reid Big Life 1 week
1 October"Why Are You Being So Reasonable Now?" The Wedding Present Reception3 weeks
22 October"A Little Respect" Erasure Mute 2 weeks
5 November"Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi" Kylie Minogue PWL 1 week
12 November"Stand Up for Your Love Rights" Yazz Big Life 3 weeks
3 December"Say a Little Prayer" Bomb the Bass feat. Maureen Rhythm King 1 week
10 December"Fine Time" New Order Factory 2 weeks
24 December Crackers International (EP) Erasure Mute 8 weeks

1989

Date first reached number oneSongArtistLabelDuration [2]
18 February"Can't Be Sure" The Sundays Rough Trade 3 weeks
11 March"Hey Music Lover" S'Express Rhythm King 1 week
18 March"Too Many Broken Hearts" Jason Donovan PWL 3 weeks
8 April"Monkey Gone to Heaven" Pixies 4AD 4 weeks
6 May"Who's in the House?" Beatmasters feat. MC Merlin Rhythm King 1 week
13 May"Hand on Your Heart" Kylie Minogue PWL 1 week
20 May"Just Like Heaven" Dinosaur Jr. Blast First 1 week
27 May"Ferry Cross the Mersey" The Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden & Stock Aitken Waterman PWL 3 weeks
17 June"Sealed with a Kiss" Jason Donovan PWL 2 weeks
1 July"Here Comes Your Man" Pixies 4AD 3 weeks
22 July"Hypnotized" Spacemen 3 Fire 1 week
29 July"She Bangs the Drums" The Stone Roses Silvertone 3 weeks
19 August"Pure" The Lightning Seeds Ghetto2 weeks
2 September"Hey DJ / I Can't Dance (To That Music You're Playing)" Beatmasters feat. Betty Boo Rhythm King 1 week
9 September"Find Out Why" Inspiral Carpets Cow1 week
16 September"Run 2" New Order Factory 1 week
23 September"Regina" The Sugarcubes One Little Indian 1 week
30 September"Personal Jesus" Depeche Mode Mute 1 week
7 October"Drama!" Erasure Mute 2 weeks
21 October"Street Tuff" Rebel MC & Double Trouble Desire2 weeks
4 November"Eye Know" De La Soul Tommy Boy 1 week
11 November"Widowermaker" Butthole Surfers Blast First 2 weeks
25 November"Move" Inspiral Carpets Cow1 week
2 December"Fools Gold / What the World Is Waiting For" The Stone Roses Silvertone 3 weeks
23 December"Getting Away with It" Electronic Factory 3 weeks

See also

References

  1. "Indie Hits". Archived from the original on 16 October 2007 via Cherry Red Records.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total number of weeks at number one. * indicates the total of several non-consecutive runs at number one.