On this day in 1983: The Police started an EIGHT week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘Every Breath You Take’ also #1 in the U.K. Taken from the bands album ‘Synchronicity’, it won Grammys for Song of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance at the 1984 Grammy Awards. It would go on to be ranked the #1 song for the year of 1983 by Billboard.

Here’s a look at the Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1983:

1 3 EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE –•– The Police (A&M)-6 (1 week at #1) (1)
2 2 ELECTRIC AVENUE –•– Eddy Grant (Portrait)-13 (2)
3 1 FLASHDANCE…WHAT A FEELING –•– Irene Cara (Casablanca)-15 (1)
4 5 NEVER GONNA LET YOU GO –•– Sergio Mendes (with Joe Pizzulo & Leza Miller) (A&M)-13 (4)
5 7 TOO SHY –•– Kajagoogoo (EMI-America)-12 (5)
6 9 WANNA BE STARTIN’ SOMETHIN’ –•– Michael Jackson (Epic)-7 (6)
7 4 TIME (Clock Of the Heart) –•– Culture Club (Virgin)-13 (2)
8 11 COME DANCING –•– The Kinks (Arista)-10 (8)
9 6 DON’T LET IT END –•– Styx (A&M)-11 (6)
10 13 OUR HOUSE –•– Madness (Geffen)-10 (10)

11 8 FAMILY MAN –•– Daryl Hall & John Oates (RCA)-11 (6)
12 14 I’M STILL STANDING –•– Elton John (Geffen)-10 (12)
13 17 IS THERE SOMETHING I SHOULD KNOW –•– Duran Duran (Capitol)-6 (13)
14 19 STAND BACK –•– Stevie Nicks (Modern)-6 (14)
15 23 **1999** –•– Prince (Warner Brothers)-18 (15)
16 10 SHE’S A BEAUTY –•– The Tubes (Capitol)-14 (10)
17 18 ALL THIS LOVE –•– DeBarge (Gordy)-12 (17)
18 25 SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY –•– Donna Summer (Mercury)-7 (18)
19 21 BABY JANE –•– Rod Stewart (Warner Brothers)-7 (19)
20 26 SWEET DREAMS (Are Made Of This) –•– The Eurythmics (RCA)-9 (20)

On this day in 1988: Cheap Trick went to #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘The Flame’, the group’s only U.S. #1. It would spend two weeks in the top spot.

Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos recalled that “The Flame” was offered to the band by the vice president of Epic Records along with the Diane Warren song “Look Away.” “[He] told us he had these two songs and they’re both gonna be #1. He goes, ‘We got one for you and one for the group Chicago, but you can have first choice.’ He said, ‘I think the one ‘The Flame’ would be good for you guys.’ The other one was ‘Look Away,’ and it sounded like some girl singing on the demo. We really didn’t like that song anyway, so ‘Sure, we’ll do ‘The Flame.’ We’re game.’

Reportedly, the band disliked the song at first; Rick Nielsen disliked the song so much on first hearing that he yanked it from the tape player and ground the cassette beneath his boot heel. In 2021, Nielsen emphasized that he did not dislike “The Flame” and thought there was “Probably more good than bad on it.”

Here’s a look at the Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1988:

1 3 THE FLAME –•– Cheap Trick – 14 (1)
2 6 MERCEDES BOY –•– Pebbles – 10 (2)
3 7 POUR SOME SUGAR ON ME –•– Def Leppard – 12 (3)
4 9 NEW SENSATION –•– INXS – 9 (4)
5 1 DIRTY DIANA –•– Michael Jackson – 10 (1)
6 8 NOTHIN’ BUT A GOOD TIME –•– Poison – 12 (6)
7 2 FOOLISH BEAT –•– Debbie Gibson – 12 (1)
8 15 HOLD ON TO THE NIGHTS –•– Richard Marx – 8 (8)
9 5 THE VALLEY ROAD –•– Bruce Hornsby & The Range – 11 (5)
10 11 NITE AND DAY –•– Al B. Sure! – 14 (10)

11 4 MAKE IT REAL –•– The Jets – 13 (4)
12 21 ROLL WITH IT –•– Steve Winwood – 5 (12)
13 18 LOST IN YOU –•– Rod Stewart – 10 (13)
14 20 HANDS TO HEAVEN –•– Breathe – 13 (14)
15 19 RUSH HOUR –•– Jane Wiedlin – 10 (15)
16 22 MAKE ME LOSE CONTROL –•– Eric Carmen – 8 (16)
17 27 SIGN YOUR NAME –•– Terence Trent D’Arby – 7 (17)
18 13 I STILL BELIEVE –•– Brenda K. Starr – 15 (13)
19 10 TOGETHER FOREVER –•– Rick Astley – 13 (1)
20 14 KISS ME DEADLY –•– Lita Ford – 15 (12)