Off The Chart

60 weeks in and we're still managing to screw up the recording of the podcast in new and inventive ways. This week's episode sounds very strange due to, ahem, "technical issues", but please stick with it because there's an absolute bombshell about Phil Collins at the end.

This week we're going all the way back to 1980 to look at the state of the UK music charts, while attempting not to get sidetracked by songs about Billy Connolly, underground violence and the ever present threat of nuclear annihilation. Fun and frolics ensue!

This week's podcast investigates the UK charts of 9 March 1984, and then gets distracted by the most unconvincing anti-drugs song ever, the most Irish cows in Wales, and Radio 1's static caravan in Bury St Edmunds.

We're back in 1989 this week, examining the UK charts from this day 31 years ago and getting sidertracked as usual by a punk concept album, Fine Young Cannibals' dodgy restaurant and Holly Johnson's Love Replacement Bus Service.

This week we're looking back at 1983, examining the UK charts and getting sidetracked into discussion of unlikely guest artistes, SAND, and John Lennon's collection of whiskey manufacturers' water jugs.

In this week's Off The Chart podcast, sponsored by Woman's Own magazine, we look at the UK charts from this day in 1987 and end up with a Coronation Street spin-off, a mystery bum and a visit to the Broadcasting Under Manager.

The #32 comedy podcast in Kenya, apparently. This week's podcast looks at the UK charts of 9 February 1981, incorporating Julian's Yoko Ono impression and a plan to "swamp Barnsley with sex emporia".

A look at the UK charts of 2 February 1986, a simpler time when all we had to worry about was Shakin' Stevens' recreational habits, the cloning of Whitney Houston and gargantuan quantities of mustard.

It's our 52nd weekly podcast, and we still haven't done a full year's worth. How does that work? Anyway, join us for a look at the UK charts of 26 January 1982, and stay for a lengthy discussion on Rubik Cube cheats, rubbish acronyms and a word we've never used before.

We're back for another go around the decade, starting at 1988 where a huge '80s band falls apart in court, a record banned in South Africa goes to number 1 in Zimbabwe, and a promising pop career is scuppered by the workers' control of factories.

It's our 50th podcast! But there's no time for frivolities as we discuss the UK charts from this day in 1985 and get inevitably sidetracked into breakdancing, the invention of opera and our grand plan to buy a Sinclair C5 piece by piece off eBay.

It's an inadvertent '70s special on Off The Chart this week as we find ourselves right back at the start of the '80s but still having to deal with the last chart of the '70s. Still, along the way we discuss the best titles for Greatest Hits albums, how to get in touch with Swap Shop and the continued chart presence of deceased '70s stars in the '80s.

Filling the void between Christmas and New Year, this week's Off The Chart looks at the UK charts of 29 December 1984 - which was, of course, the Christmas chart. Complicated this, innit? Along the way we get driving advice from Stevie Wonder, a complaint from an MP and an A-Z of the entire year.

'Twas the chart before Christmas 1989, and all through the podcast, not a creature was stirring, even though there were dogs, goldfish, goats, rabbits and an unexploded Scotsman. Join Steve and Julian for a pre-Christmas look at one of the very last charts of the 1980s!

It's getting close to the big day on the podcast this week, as we examine the UK charts of 15 December 1983, and somehow manage to end up taking about racist comedians, the naked balloon dance and Mike Batt's AC/DC tribute band.

Christmas begins to rear its head on this week's podcast as we revisit this day in 1987 to examine the state of the UK charts and other goings-on. Join us for disgraced performers, interchangeable pop stars and three songs with the same title.

Hiding behind the first door of your Off The Chart advent calendar this year: a trip back to 1981, where we discuss the UK charts and surrounding events, go back to school with the Barron Knights, pogo with Pink Floyd and listen to one of Julian's cassettes.

Steve and Julian revisit this day in 1986, examine the UK pop charts and try to keep their pets quiet. This week we discover Elton John's worst album, Giorgio Moroder's favourite record and the world's shortest pop star.

Another trip back in time to rake over the ashes of this day in 1982. This week Barry Manilow gets flirty, Neil Diamond sings Blur and Alison Moyet gets potty mouthed about one of her own songs.

The cycle begins again as we take a look at the UK charts and surrounding events of this day in 1988. Along the way we discuss Chris Rea's broken down caravan, The Christians' giant combine harvester, and the time the Beatles were outdone by Chaka Demus & Pliers.

A look at this day in 1985 brings another trip around the '80s to a close on this week's Off The Chart podcast. Join us as we examine the day's UK charts and surrounding events, including a forgotten soap opera, the official definition of "unrest" and the German Two Ronnies.

We're back to something approaching full power this week, looking back a full forty years to this day in 1980 for a romp through the UK charts and some accompanying guff. Join us to hear Alan Bennett's advice to OMD, uncover a tiger dung trafficking business, and find out how Doris Archer managed to die on schedule.

Another complicated Off The Chart podcast this week, but we still manage to cobble together a look at the UK charts of this day in 1984, while Paul Young has a tantrum, Elton John has a domestic and Midge Ure has to stop to get his breath back.

It's a bumper extended edition of the Off The Chart podcast this week! Well, not really, it's just that Steve has moved house over the weekend and didn't have time to edit it properly. But we still manage to look at the UK charts of 13 October 1989 and learn how to dance the Lambada without moving, dodge an inflatable Bruce Foxton and find out why Chris Rea has set off home for Christmas already.

We're back again with another locked down Off The Chart podcast! This week we go back to this day in 1983 where Big Country wait patiently for the green man, John Lydon moves to Tokyo and Steve Wright outsells Billy Joel. It'll all make sense if you listen.

Thanks to new government guidelines it's an emergency edition of the Off The Chart podcast this week, but we still manage to look at the UK chart from this day in 1987 and talk about the Edinburgh paraquat poisoner, a hit single that might not even exist and the possibility of a fifth television channel. (Please note this podcast is in black & white.)

It's another voyage back into time as we revisit this day in 1981, discussing the UK singles chart of the day as well as other important topics such as the Meat Loaf power stance, Alvin Stardust action figures and yet another attempt by John Peel to woo Clare Grogan.

We're shining a torch into the ear of 1986 this week as we revisit this day 34 years ago. As always we'll talk about the UK singles and albums charts, take in the day's other events, and still find time to talk about Steve's voodoo chili, Michael McDonald's cola bottles and the secret of Jimmy Somerville's singing voice. It'll all make sense if you listen.

Your regular, solid, dependable, good old fashioned British charts podcast gets Americanized this week as we go back to 1982 when everyone was obsessed with Fame - the TV show, not the state of existence. We still manage to dissect the UK charts though, as well as discussing the world's most rubbish superhero, Steve's "buy one, get one free" hack and the Official Charts Website Cock-up Of The Week.

This week, despite the semi-random nature of Off The Chart, we stumble on an important day for Radio 1. As usual Steve & Julian discuss the day's UK charts with a side order of other things that were going on, as well as discussion of Kajagoogoo's solicitors, Julian's Brother Beyond rant, and TV's latest dynamic duo McGillivray and Piles. It'll all make sense if you listen.

Another trip back to the '80s to revisit the UK charts and surrounding events from this day in 1985. This week Phil Collins gets blind drunk on cocktails, Bonnie Tyler and Tina Turner have a fight, and the great album strike of summer 1985 takes its toll on the chart. It'll all make sense if you listen.

Come back a full forty years with Steve and Julian as they discuss the UK charts and the day's wider events. This week they invent a new catchphrase, witness a domestic dispute at Peel Acres, and marvel at George Benson's love of Anglia Television. It'll all make sense if you listen.

Back to this day in 1984 for a romp through the UK singles and album charts, as well as a look at the day's news, TV & radio highlights, gigs and an international top ten. All this plus a nightclub for cats, a breeding ground for Level 42 members and what Princess Anne said about Daley Thompson. It'll make sense if you listen.

Steve's been away on a two day microholiday so this week's podcast is even more technically inept than usual, but somewhere in there you'll still find a look at the day's UK charts and wider goings-on, plus the time Bod and his friends formed a band, the one thing Kylie Minogue would change, and the adventures of criminal mastermind husband and wife team Rufus & Chaka Khan. It'll all make sense if you listen.

This week we journey back to this day in 1983 for a look at the UK charts, plus a smattering of news headlines, TV & radio highlights, a small number of gigs and the Italian top ten. A simple premise, but somehow it manages to involve naked Germans, Steve's all-time favourite joke and a band whose name is just an umlaut floating in lots of white space. It'll make sense if you listen.

Steve and Julian take us back to this day in 1987 to revisit the UK singles and albums charts, as well as a wider look at the day's events. Along the way Wet Wet Wet question the need to write their own lyrics, Julian fulminates against a beloved light entertainer, and Shakin' Stevens gives Jools Holland a piggy-back ride. It'll make sense if you listen.

We're on a road trip back to this day in 1981 on Off The Chart! Along the way Steve and Julian pick up all sorts of info about the UK singles and albums charts, the day's news, TV & radio highlights and gigs, and a quick detour to the Spanish chart. We're also talking about Julian's Nigel Mansell anecdote, some of the worst Mr Men books ever written, and an update on our plans for Off The Chart underwear. It'll all make sense if you listen.

Another journey back in time as Off The Chart retreats to 7 July 1986 for a look at the UK single and album charts plus a more general look at what was going on around them. This week Steve unmasks a number of fake doctors, Julian invents an LP that plays forever, and Mary Whitehouse writes a strong letter to the Director General of the BBC.

A trip back to this day in 1982 as Steve and Julian discuss the UK charts and the other things that were happening around them. This week: Angus Young finds a cannon, the world's most famous band reforms as "The Ladders", and a pair of talking trousers goes to number one in South Africa. It'll all make sense if you listen.

Another trip back in time to this day in 1988 as Steve and Julian discuss the UK singles and album charts, as well as a broader look at the day's events. Along the way they set fire to a Toblerone, dodge an attack from Phil Collins' catapult, and discuss the difference between Tall Paul, Topol and T'Pau.

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.

It's Easter 1985 on this week's Off The Chart podcast, so as well as the usual look at the UK singles chart, the news headlines and the TV, radio and gig highlights, this week your hollow, chocolate-flavoured podcast also contains Julian's Brian Cox anecdote, Steve's non-racist Chinese accent and Julian's Ed Sheeran song.