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 ab

16 March 1980

Mar 16th, 2021 49m 24s

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

9 March 1984

Mar 9th, 2021 46m 32s

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.

2 March 1989

Mar 2nd, 2021 49m 37s

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.

23 February 1983

Feb 23rd, 2021 50m 52s

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.

16 February 1987

Feb 16th, 2021 46m 33s

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.

9 February 1981

Feb 9th, 2021 45m 20s

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".

2 February 1986

Feb 2nd, 2021 48m 46s

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.

26 January 1982

Jan 26th, 2021 46m 48s

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

19 January 1988

Jan 19th, 2021 41m 51s

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 factorie

12 January 1985

Jan 12th, 2021 45m 35s

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 eBa

5 January 1980

Jan 5th, 2021 45m 55s

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 alb

29 December 1984

Dec 29th, 2020 46m 47s

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,

22 December 1989

Dec 22nd, 2020 51m 13s

'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

15 December 1983

Dec 15th, 2020 51m

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.

8 December 1987

Dec 8th, 2020 51m 49s

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.

1 December 1981

Dec 1st, 2020 50m

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 Julia

24 November 1986

Nov 24th, 2020 47m 8s

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.

17 November 1982

Nov 17th, 2020 53m 24s

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.

10 November 1988

Nov 10th, 2020 48m 54s

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 Ch

3 November 1985

Nov 3rd, 2020 48m 11s

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 "unre

27 October 1980

Oct 27th, 2020 47m 32s

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 traffi

20 October 1984

Oct 20th, 2020 51m 9s

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.

13 October 1989

Oct 13th, 2020 1h 6m

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

6 October 1983

Oct 6th, 2020 48m 2s

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 i