Where to begin? I guess that the flavour for the early part of 1981 in terms of UK chart singles was set on 8 December 1980 with the death of John Lennon. Two of his singles, the searching Imagine and the paean to love, Woman were released posthumously and saw Lennon on top of the UK chart until 21 February 1981.

Lennon was replaced by Australian Joe Dolce with his dreadful Shaddap You Face. Dolce, who famously / infamously / boringly kept Ultravox’s Vienna off the top spot, staying there until 14 March, when another John Lennon song – Jealous Guy – this time sung by Roxy Music knocked him off the number one spot.

The rest of the UK number 1 records in ’81 were a cracking bunch.  We saw Adam & The Ants sit proudly atop the charts with both Stand & Deliver and Prince Charming.  The Specials’ Ghost Town took its place at the top and finally the number 1 Christmas single was Don’t You Want Me by The Human League.  1981 was a good year for UK hit singles.