#ArtistFaveXmas #MusicChallenge 10>1 One of Ireland's finest singer-songwriters 👌 Chris de Burgh who gave us this unusual slant on the Nativity story in 1975. A Spaceman Came Travelling

#ArtistFaveXmas #MusicChallenge 10>1 8. An old song from 1960 brought back in 1978 by The Eagles. A bit on the melancholy side, so understandable that Radio prefers happier songs in December. US NO 18/ UK NO 30

#ArtistFaveXmas #MusicChallenge 10>1 9. Originally from 1970, this lesser known Christmas track is a straight retell of the Nativity by US singer/songwriter Shawn Phillips. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIX8...

#ArtistFaveXmas #MusicChallenge 10>1 10. Seasons Greetings and here is imho the classiest arrangement of a Christmas Song. Released in 1974 by the Carpenters, this arrangement mixes a saxophone part, uplifting brass with wonderfully warm harmonies accompanying Karen's immaculate vocals.

This week's One That Got Away at Christmas takes us originally back to 1981, which hit UK No 45 on re-release in 1982.... Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses, with a clip video of scenes from other song videos of theirs. There wasn't a promo vid made for this song, sadly.

This week's Splendid UK No 2 that never made the top of the charts.... The Christmas week No 2 in 1987 was Fairytale of New York by The Pogues ftg Kirsty MacColl. Pet Shop Boys' Always on my Mind was No 1. Never a US hit, despite the New York lyric reference!

This week's One That Got Away, a record that was not a UK hit that should have been. December 1979 and that pinnacle of Englishness Squeeze did a festive release for Christmas Day, which sadly didn't even enter the lower part of the Top 75.

This week's splendid UK No 2 that didn't make the top of the chart is from 1975 - 50 years ago. A certain rock quartet sang operatically that year denying this the (Christmas) No 1 it deserved. Classical music fans will note with satisfaction that a certain S Prokofiev is creditted as co-writer.

Bueller?.......Bueller?

A song that was the UK No 1 40 years ago this week.... Whitney Houston with Saving All My Love for You, a classy sounding record becoming her first UK Top 40 hit. You Give Good Love, the previous single was not a UK hit. In the US, this was the first of seven consecutive No 1 singles (1985-1987)

This week's Splendid UK No 2 hit that never made it to the top - released December 1990 and peaked in early 1991, Crazy by Seal. He later went on to score a Top 10 US hit with this, in a career made up of outstanding vocals, great writing, and legs always supported by black leather jeans. 😍

This week's One That Got Away, a record that was not a UK hit and should have been. A US Top 10 summery breeze from 1970 - Alive and Kicking with Tighter Tighter, co-written and co-produced by Tommy James of and-the-Shondells fame.

This week's Splendid UK No 2 that never made the Number 1 it so well deserved. East 17 teamed with Gabrielle for this smooth as silk single. In reality, a duet between Brian Harvey and Gabrielle. This song is a cover of the Shai 1992 US No 2 If I Ever Fall in Love, with a slightly altered title.

This week's One That Got Away, a record that was not a UK hit and should have been. To 1978 we go and Kenny Loggins' follow up to his debut solo single. I Believe in Love, with this US No 5. Whenever I Call You Friend, with uncredited vocals by Stevie Nicks.

This week's One That Got Away, a record that was not a UK hit and should have been...... 1976's Fooled Around and Fell in Love by Elvin Bishop - Mickey Thomas from Jefferson Starship was the vocalist. A US No 3, that only made 34 in the UK - at a time when the published chart was a Top 30. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This week's Splendid UK No 2 that never reached the Number One it so richly deserved. A UK No 2 in 1997, which only reached No 42 in the US in 1998, Natalie Imbruglia's fine debut single, Torn, which still sounds fresh today. British actor Jeremy Sheffield plays the boyfriend in the music video.

This week's One That Got Away, a record that was not a UK hit and should have been. Dan Fogelberg who made great music in the 80s with no success in the UK, this US 1981 No 7 with quality songwriting and singing. Plus Eagles Glenn Frey's on backing vocals in the chorus !

This week's splendid UK No 2 that never went all the way to Number 1..... From 2003 (yes, 22 years ago) Busted and Year 3000, still sounding fresh and energetic today. In the US, the song was covered by the Jonas Brothers in 2007. Smart move!

This week's Splendid UK No 2 that never reached the top of the chart. In 1976 Billy Ocean went all the way to Number 2 with Love Really Hurts without You, stuck below Save Your Kisses For me by Brotherhood of Man. In 1977 Billy was back at No 2 with the equally splendid Red Light Spells Danger!

This week's One That Got Away - a record that was not a UK Hit and should have been. This 1973 song went all the way to No 5 in the US without charting in the UK. Dobie Gray (real name Lawrence Darrow Brown) and Drift Away www.youtube.com/watch?v=qniz...

This week's One That Got Away - a record that was not a UK hit and should have been...... The Beach Boys "Fun fun fun" was a US No 5 in 1964 without charting in Britain. This glorious summery harmony filled soaring pop missed over here.

This week's splendid UK number 2 that never made the No 1 spot it so richly deserved..... Eddy Grant's 1983 hit Electric Avenue, a song about a street NOT in the Caribbean, but in Brixton London. He was kept from the Number 1 by Men at Work Down Under

The Astronaut , which despite the poor reviews on IMDB worked very well for me. A great mix of sci-fi, horror, suspense and an ending that I dare you to see coming. PS I also recently binged the 3 Quiet Place films - thoroughly enjoyed them all.

A Bonus Splendid UK Number 2 that didn't make the No 1 it so richly deserved We lost Dave Ball this week, one half of Soft Cell with charismatic singer Marc Almond. In 1982 Torch went all the way to number 2, stuck below Goody Two Shoes by Adam Ant. This was their highest charted self composition

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Tailor, Crosby, Stills and Nash

If you see this, smile!

A bonus One That Got Away this week. Paul "Ace" Frehley passed away this week at the age of 74. He was lead guitarist in US rockers Kiss from 1973-1982. This track from 1977 was a US No 25. www.youtube.com/watch?v=dygG... RIP Spaceman

This week's One That Got Away, a record that was not a UK hit and should have been. Blood Sweat and Tears cover the Brenda Holloway song "You've Made me so Very Happy", a US No 2/UK No 35 in 1969. No other single by B, S and T charted in the UK, although their first 3 albums enjoyed some success.

This week's splendid UK No 2 that never reached the Number 1 it so richly deserved. Save a Prayer by Duran Duran, an exquisite production with harmonies to die for - best heard on a hot summer day, not a dull wet afternoon in Manchester. John was chosen for the elephant shower scene in the video 😍

This week's One That Got Away, a record that was not a UK Hit that should have been..... Do You Believe in Magic by The Lovin Spoonful, Top 10 in the US in 1965. Never a hit in the UK. When boyband mania was with us in the 90s and 00s, oldies were harvested and covered aplenty - not this one!!!

This week's splendid UK No 2 that did NOT make the Number 1 it so richly deserved.... Bittersweet Symphony by The Verve, Number 2 in 1997, stuck below I'll Be Missing You - Puff Daddy and Faith Evans That lanky scruff Richard Ashcroft on vocals - his solo singles are recommended too.

This week's Terrific Number Two that never made the UK No 1 it so richly deserved. Three glorious weeks at No 2 in 1968 for Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp by O.C. Smith aka Ocie Lee Smith. The song only reached No 40 in the US, kept off Number 1 here by The Equals Baby Come Back.

This week's One That Got Away - a record that was not a UK hit and should have been. Pat Benatar took Hit Me With Your Best Shot to No 9 in the US in 1980 Another track that "got away" in 1981 was the smouldering powerhouse "Fire and Ice". US No 17 UK nonhit. www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsKC...

Star Trek The Next Generation came to our tv screens in 1987, and did the unthinkable...it wasn't Kirk and Spock. Almost 40 years later, and I am awaiting Captain Picard aka Patrick Stewart meeting the new Kirk from Strange New Worlds......

30th September is the anniversary of the start of Radio 1 in 1967, also 2 3 and 4. Everyone knows Flowers in the Rain by the Move was the first record played. But who remembers the second?? youtu.be/0drMcvlxdYE

This week's splendid UK No 2 that never made the Number 1 it richly deserved. Why Don't You Get A Job by The Offspring from May 1999 stuck below Westlife Swear it Again at No 1 www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH-i...

This week's One That Got Away - a record that was not a hit and should have been. To 1971 we go, and Neil Sedaka's "Superbird" not a hit in either the US or UK www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmYP...

Spare a thought for cyclists at this time. They will never be able to see the red traffic lights on this capatcha 😀

This week's Splendid UK No 2 that never reached the Number One it so richly deserved. Pompeii by Bastille, a UK No 2 in 2013 kept from the Number 1 by Justin Timberlake's Mirrors www.youtube.com/watch?v=F90C...

This week's One That Got Away, a record that was not a hit and should have been. From 1982, a humble UK No 59, Breaking Us in Two by Joe Jackson. Oakworth Station featured in the video for this song, Mr Perks' station in the film The Railway Children. www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7IG...

The 21st of September.....so... www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs06...

Bonus One That Got Away pick, following the news of the death of Stephen Luscombe, fomerly in Blancmange. From 1986 a Number 71 single, "I can see it" a re-recorded version of "Why Don't They Leave Things Alone?", which appeared on the duo's album "Believe You Me" www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvfC...

This week's Splendid UK No 2 that never reached the Number One it so richly deserved. IMHO Madonna's best vocal performance on a ballad, "Live to Tell" from 1986 - a US No 1 that only made number 2 in the UK www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzAO... (single) www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMTd... (album version)

This week's One That Got Away, a record that was not a hit and should have been. Back to 1975 we go for The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, and their US Top 3 hit Jackie Blue, not a UK hit but played often on Radio 1 then by Johnnie Walker. www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzCM...

This week, a One That Got Away - a record that was not a hit, and should have been. "If you Leave" by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, featured in the 1986 film Pretty in Pink. A meagre UK No 48 was the chart peak for this.

Here's this week's Splendid UK No 2 that never reached the Number One it so richly deserved. 1975's "Fox on the Run" by The Sweet - held at Number 2 for 2 weeks under the Bay City Rollers' "Bye Bye Baby". This was a band composition, the first non Chinn/Chapman penned song after 4 years of hits.

The 3rd September today, so THIS is today's song. www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLMO...

The Greatest UK No 2 of the 1980s that never achieved the Number 1 it so richly deserved was in 1981, It is.... www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVkH... And who was the jerk who stopped this reaching the top of the chart? All I will say is "wossa madda you...."