French duo Ottawan only had two top 40 hits in the UK, but both of them reached the top 3; "Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)" made no.3, the other was "D.I.S.C.O." which made no.2 in 1980. #OffTheChart #NoiseboxRadio

No.22 on the indie chart, "Mattress of Wire" was the second single by Aztec Camera, formed in 1980 in East Kilbride by singer-songwriter Roddy Frame; he was still only 17 when this single was released on the legendary Postcard label. #OffTheChart #NoiseboxRadio

No.23 in Canada this week in 1981, "Thirsty Ears" was the biggest hit for the Powder Blues, formed in Vancouver in 1978. It was the title track of their second album, which went Platinum in Canada and reached no.11 on the Canadian album chart. #ICEOTWF #OffTheChart #NoiseboxRadio

Up to 21, "A Rainy Night in Georgia" became Randy Crawford's third solo top twenty hit in the UK, following "You Might Need Somebody" and "One Day I'll Fly Away", although her first hit was as vocalist on the Crusaders' "Street Life" which made no.5 in 1979. #OffTheChart #NoiseboxRadio

Down to 23, "She's Got Claws" was the sixth of seven top ten hits for Gary Numan, featuring saxophone and fretless bass both played by Mick Karn of Japan. It peaked at no.6. #OffTheChart #NoiseboxRadio

No.37 then, Rex Smith & Rachel Sweet with their version of "Everlasting Love". Rachel Sweet had a solo hit in 1978 with "B-A-B-Y" but this was the only UK hit for US actor and singer Rex Smith. #OffTheChart #NoiseboxRadio

New at 49 on the Disco chart, it''s not entirely clear who Big Dipper and the Heavenly Bodies were, but their single "Victim of the Planets" was co-written by Sue Wilkinson of "You've Gotta Be a Hustler If You Want to Get On" fame. #OffTheChart #NoiseboxRadio

Michael Schenker Group is my choice of gig #OffTheChart

From the fifth of 24 sessions the Fall recorded for John Peel between 1978 and 2004, this is "Who Makes The Nazis?", a song which later appeared on the band's classic 1982 album "Hex Enduction Hour". #OffTheChart #NoiseboxRadio

The Portsmouth Sinfonia was formed at Portsmouth School of Art in 1970 as an orchestra which anyone could join, regardless of their ability to play an instrument. Inspired by "Hooked on Classics", their "Classical Muddley" was a top 40 hit, reaching no.38. #OffTheChart #NoiseboxRadio

"Quiet Life" was the title track of Japan's third album, released in January 1980 in the UK. Reissued by their old label Hansa after they'd started to have some success on Virgin, it became their first of nine top 40 hits - five on Hansa, four on Virgin. #OffTheChart #NoiseboxRadio

Now then. Gidea Park had already had a hit with "Beach Boy Gold" but these are the actual Beach Boys at 68 with "Beach Boys Medley". Surprisingly it wasn't mixed by the council, but by John Palladino, who was also responsible for "The Beatles' Movie Medley" in 1982. #OffTheChart #NoiseboxRadio

"Accent on Youth" from "Rage in Eden", the fifth album by Ultravox and their second with Midge Ure. New at its peak of no.4, it spent 23 weeks on the chart plus another week in 2022 for the Deluxe Edition. #OffTheChart #NoiseboxRadio

birthday shout out for Lisa Lockwood #OffTheChart

Bruce Springsteen still hadn't properly cracked the UK at this point, although "The River" had given him his first top 40 hit back in June. The follow-up "Cadillac Ranch" made no.70 on the RB chart but - yet again - missed the Official Top 75. #OffTheChart #NoiseboxRadio

More acts having an unexpected flop single in the middle of a run of hits, "Time Waits For No-One" peaked at 78 on the RB chart for the Jacksons and, again, didn't reach the Official Top 75, despite their two previous singles going top ten. #OffTheChart #NoiseboxRadio

The Teardrop Explodes had three top 30 hits in 1981, indeed they were at no.29 this week with "Passionate Friend", but for some reason "Ha Ha I'm Drowning" didn't trouble the Official Top 75 at all. It made no.68 on the Record Business chart but was down to 82 this week. #OffTheChart #NoiseboxRadio

Kicking us off properly with the Mystery Cover Version, the Polecats at no.98 this week with their version of T-Rex's "Jeepster". It had been a top 60 hit in late August. #OffTheChart #NoiseboxRadio

There we go, we've played "The Original Bird Dance" by the Electronicas for completeness' sake, now you know it's no different from the Tweets' version we can move on and never speak of it again. G'mu! #OffTheChart #NoiseboxRadio

So there you have it, the UK singles chart from 40 years ago today. Even worse next week when we go back to 1981! But stick around for another hour of 1986 hits on @noiseboxradio.com in Off The Chart Too. Thanks for listening! G'bu! #OffTheChart #NoiseboxRadio