Relax – Frankie Goes To Hollywood

Frankie Goes To Hollywood took this track to the top of the UK singles chart for five weeks in 1984.

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Relax by Frankie Goes To Hollywood replaced Pipes of peace by Paul McCartney at the top of the UK singles chart thirty years ago this week. It had entered the top 40 three weeks previously at number 35 and broke into the top 10 a week later.

The song spent five weeks at number 1 and then made way for 99 red balloons by Nena. After falling from the top spot, it stayed in the top 10 for another three weeks, two of them in the top 5. The record then dropped out of the top 10 but remained in the top 40 for the next thirteen weeks before returning to the top 10.

The song’s second spell in the top 10 lasted for another nine weeks and it hit a peak of number 2 just as Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s second single, Two tribes, reached number 1. After falling from the top 10 for the second time, the single spent the last four weeks of is chart life in the lower top 40.

Relax was released on the ZTT record label and was the first of three consecutive UK number 1 hits for Frankie Goes To Hollywood. It was included on the triple-platinum-selling album Welcome to the pleasuredome, which spent one week at the top of the UK album chart later in 1984.

The single was re-issued in 1993 when it peaked at number 5. The original release was certified platinum.

More music from Frankie Goes To Hollywood

 

More number ones from 1984

 

UK singles chart for the week ending 28 January 1984

1. Relax – Frankie Goes To Hollywood

2. Pipes of peace – Paul McCartney

3. That’s living alright – Joe Fagin

4. What is love? – Howard Jones

5. A rockin’ good way – Shaky and Bonnie

6. Nobody told me – John Lennon

7. Bird of paradise – Snowy White

8. Wonderland – Big Country

9. Wishful thinking – China Crisis

10. Girls just want to have fun – Cyndi Lauper

 

13. I am what I am – Gloria Gaynor