Talk Talk

[Pierre]

Is there any chart-compiling fanatic here? I need some light to be shed on a puzzling fact I just got aware of.

The discography page for Talk Talk on Wikipedia states that Such A Shame and It's My Life did not even make the top 40 in the UK. Is that true? Was the band that unpopular in the UK? I find it hard to believe since their videos were on all the time on UK TV channels at the time.

[ArroganceOfTheForest]

It's My Life peaked at #46 in 1984, Such A Shame at #49. Both of them got reissued in 1990 to coincide with the Natural History Best Of album, It's My Life became their highest charting single at #13, whereas Such A Shame missed the Top 75.

[Auntie Beryl]

They were seen as being a bit down the dumper in 1984 as they moved away from the suits, tiepins and synthpop of their debut album.

Thank goodness they just kept on moving,eh?

If it hadn't been for the European sales EMI would probably have dropped them.

[Eric Generic]

Yes, this is all true. And a third single, Dum Dum Girl, only scraped into the top 75 at #74. Popinjustices every one of them.

Looking back, it's hard to understand why It's My Life didn't at least make the top 40; January is a traditionally "easy" time to sneak a minor hit, but something obviously didn't click with the public. It can't have been the melancholic air of the record, as Fiction Factory, China Crisis, Echo & The Bunnymen and Icicle Works were all in the top 20 with moody records!

At least the 1990 reissue campaign brought some belated success to the track, although I don't think Mark Hollis was very pleased about it to say the least.

[Pye]

Looking back, it's hard to understand why It's My Life didn't at least make the top 40; .

It always baffled me too. It was always played at student/alternative night type clubs around the time of it's release. I remember the re-release in 1990 was heavily supported my Simon Mayo on his Radio 1 breakfast show. It may even have been his record of the week.... he often chose great tracks as his records of the week.

[anfunny2003]

I saw their sound & vision CD+DVD in Wilkinsons for £4 today... just saying!

[Pierre]

Yes, this is all true. And a third single, Dum Dum Girl, only scraped into the top 75 at #74. Popinjustices every one of them.

I feel like the UK lets itself down on that occasion. Such A Shame is for me one of the top 5 pop singles of the 80s, and it not even being a top 40 hit truly baffles me.

No wonder Mark Hollis became a recluse.

[anchorchain]

he often chose great tracks as his records of the week