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

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

1980

Date first reached number one Song Artist Label Duration[2]
19 January "Where's Captain Kirk?" Spizzenergi Rough Trade 7 weeks
8 March "Food for Thought" / King UB40 Graduate 12 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 NEMS 5* 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 Graduate 5* 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 one Song Artist Label Duration[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 Rondelet 1 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 Exploited 1 week

1982

Date first reached number one Song Artist Label Duration[2]
16 January "Streets of London" Anti-Nowhere League WXYZ 2 weeks
30 January "Do You Believe in the Westworld?" Theatre of Hate Burning Rome 2 weeks
13 February "See You" Depeche Mode Mute 7 weeks
3 April "I Hate People" Anti-Nowhere League WXYZ 2 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 WXYZ 2 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 Hollywood 3 weeks

1983

Date first reached number one Song Artist Label Duration[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 Panic 3 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 one Song Artist Label Duration[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 Damned 2 weeks
14 July "In the Ghetto" Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Mute 4 weeks
11 August "Walk into the Sun" The March Violets Rebirth 2 weeks
25 August "Agadoo" Black Lace Flair 2 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 Drive 2 weeks
17 November "The Price" New Model Army Abstract 1 week
24 November "Blasphemous Rumours" / "Somebody" Depeche Mode Mute 3 weeks
15 December "Nellie the Elephant" Toy Dolls Volume 7 weeks

1985

Date first reached number one Song Artist Label Duration[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 Way 2 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 Spartan 3 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 Mortarhate 2 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 one Song Artist Label Duration[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 Vindaloo 4 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 22 2 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 one Song Artist Label Duration[2]
3 January "Into the Groove(y)" Ciccone Youth Blast First 1 week
10 January "Kiss" Age of Chance FON 3 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 Tape 3 weeks
6 June "Victim of Love" Erasure Mute 2 weeks
20 June "Can't Take No More" The Soup Dragons Raw TV 4 weeks
18 July "Flowers in Our Hair" All About Eve Eden 2 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 one Song Artist Label Duration[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-Ron 4 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 Reception 3 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 one Song Artist Label Duration[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 Ghetto 2 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 Cow 1 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 Desire 2 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 Cow 1 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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Total number of weeks at number one. * indicates the total of several non-consecutive runs at number one.
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