The Hits that weren't Hits
One man's mission to bring you the best singles from 1980 onwards, that just missed out on the UK Top 40
WEEK 9: MARCH 9th 1980
M - That's The Way The Money Goes
Quite a interesting song, worth a listen. Peaked at 45.
My Rating: 6/10
April Wine - I Like to Rock
Some classic rock peaking at 41. Love the intro and outro, the lyrics are a bit cringeworthy. It rocks, OK.
My Rating: 7/10
Dan Fogelberg - Longer
Wow, this is one nauseating song. Peaked at 59.
My Rating: 2/10
DAN FOGELBERG - Longer
Wow, this is one nauseating song. Peaked at 59.
My Rating: 2/10
DAN FOGELBERG - Longer
Wow, this is one nauseating song. Peaked at 59.
My Rating: 2/10
WEEK 8: March 2nd 1980
Billy Preston & Syreeta - It Will Come In Time
Happy go, lucky pop song, peaking 47
My Rating4/10
Purple Hearts - Jimmy
Romford's mod revival Purple Hearts song Jimmy peaked at 60. Decent Rock'n'Roll.
My Rating: 7/10
Rose Royce - Ooh Boy
RnB, Soul. Heard it all before. Made it to 46.
My Rating: 3/10
Slave - Just a touch of Love
Wow, this is funky. Great track that only got to 64.
My Rating: 8/10
Bette Bright - Hello I Am Your Heart
Not much to say here. Somehow made it to 50.
My Rating: 2/10
Earth, Wind & Fire - In the Stone
Apparently, EW&F never got any of their funky tunes in to the top 40. This one peaked at 53
My Rating: 5/10
Trussel - Love Injection
This week has been packed with Funk. Trussel's single is no exception, peaking at 43.
My Rating: 4/10
WEEK 7: FEBRUARY 24TH 1980
Patrice Rushen - Haven't You Heard
1980 single by Patrice Rushen from her album "Pizzazz". Middle of road disco music, peaked at 62
My Rating: 4/10
Skids - Animation
Decent punk/new wave from Scottish band, Skids. Peaked at 56.
My Rating: 6/10
WEEK 6: FEBRUARY 17TH 1980
Joan Armatrading - Rosie
Kittitian-English singer-songwriter and guitarist. A three-time Grammy Award nominee, Armatrading has also been nominated twice for BRIT Awards as Best Female Artist. She received an Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contemporary Song Collection in 1996. Rosie peaked at 49.
My Rating: 6/10
Def Leppard - Hello America
First ever video for Sheffield's Def Leppard. Peaking at 45 in the UK Charts. They eventually go on to sell millions!
My Rating: 6/10
JOCKO - RHYTHM TALK 1979
Douglas 'Jocko' Henderson was a fast-paced deejay and often called the original rapper. One of his biggest tracks reaching number 56
My Rating: 6/10
Week 5: FEBRUARY 10th 1980
Godiego - Gandhara
The theme tune to Monkey in at 75
My Rating: 3/10
The Dickies - Fan Mail
This is Excellent! Give it a listen.
Taken from their 2nd album, Fan Mail Only reached 57!
My Rating: 9/10
None Hit Wonder!
Phyllis Hyman - You Know How to Love Me
Peaking at 47, this ain't a bad upbeat love song at all.
My Rating: 6/10
Cockney Rejects - Bad Man
Another great punk track peaking at 65. Any band that gets banned from Top of the Pops is worth a listen.
My Rating: 8/10
Zaine Griff - Tonight
The Auckland singer-songwriter who was part of the English new wave and new romantics scene of the early 1980s made it to 54 with his debut single.
My Rating: 6/10
WEEK 4: February 3rd 1980
The Players Association - We Got The Groove!
The Studio group The Players Association only made it to 61
My Rating: 3/10
The Flying Lizards - TV
The experimental New-Wave band only made it to 43.
My Rating: 3/10
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Red Frame/White Light
The English electronic band made it to 67 with this single. In a week that has see a lot of experimental music released.
My Rating: 7/10
Shalamar - Right In The Socket
Funky Disoc from Shalamar at 44
My Rating: 5/10
Angelic Upstarts - Out of Control
The first bit of punk in the Nonehitwonders. Reaching 58, this is a great find!
My Rating: 8/10
Rocky Sharpe & The Replays - Martian Hop
This song is nuts. It tells of Martians throwing a dance party for "all the human race," and "theorized Martians were probably great dancers.
Defently worth a listen!
My Rating: 6/10
Symarip - Skinhead Moonstomp
54: Although not a chart hit at the time of its release, the track finally made its way onto the UK chart listings in 1980, following the Specials’ celebrated live rendering of the song, which featured on their best-selling 'Too Much Too Young (The Special A.K.A. Live)' EP, which became a Number One hit on 2 February of that year.
My Rating: 7/10
WEEK 3: JANUARY 27TH 1980
The Jags - Woman's World
Their first record, "Back Of My Hand," did well on the charts, but this single, their follow-up, unfortunately failed to garner the same interest. Peaking at 75.
My Rating: 4/10
Roy Ayers - Don't Stop The Feeling
The American vibraphonist, record producer and composer only managed position 71 with this Jazz Funk tune.
My Rating: 5/10
Cheap Trick - Way of the World
Peaking at 73 and taken from their fourth studio album Dream Police (1979).
My Rating: 6/10
Carolyne Mas - Quote Goodbye Quote
Singer-Songwriter, who had more success outside of her native America
My Rating: 5/10
WEek 2: JANUARY 20th 1980
Stevie Wonder - Black Orchid
Taken from Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants" is an album by Stevie Wonder, It is the soundtrack to the documentary The Secret Life of Plants. Only made it to 63 in the UK
My Rating: 5/10
The Revillos - Motorbike Beat
Describing themselves as "a new wave beat group", The Revillos only made it to 45 with this track. The bands are still going today!
My Rating: 5/10
Barclay James Harvest - Love On The Line
The Prog rockers could only manage number 63. This is definitely a tune that should have been higher.
My Rating: 7/10
WEEK 1: JANUARY 13TH 1980
Barbara Dickson - Caravan Song
Taken from Barbara's classic 1989 album, 'Coming Alive Again', Caravan Songs taken from the film of the same name only made it to 41.
My Rating: 5/10
Billy Ocean - Are You Ready
The popular British R&B singer-songwriter only managed 42 with Are You Ready
My Rating: 4/10
Herb Alpert - Rotation
From Herb Alpert's multi platinum, "Rise" album. Peaked at 46 in the UK.
My Rating: 6/10
Prince - I Want To Be Your Lover
Prince later revealed that the song concerned a crush he had at the time on pianist and singer Patrice Rushen. Peaked at 41
My Rating: 5/10
Copyright © 2025 None Hit Wonders - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy