1980 in British music McLean's cover of Roy Orbison's "Crying". The Ska and Mod revivals reached their peak this year, with strong chart showings by The Jam, The Specials and Madness. 1970s favourites ABBA and Blondie both had their last years as chart heavyweights, clocking up 5 No.1 singles between them. David Bowie scored his second No.1 this year, while the death of John Lennon at the end of the year gave him his first chart topper (and would dominate the early months of 1981). Kate Bush became the first British female artist to have a No.1 album, and The Police finished the year
Born to Do It album was a success, eventually selling over 7.5 million copies worldwide, making it one of the biggest albums by a UK R&B artist. The album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, becoming the fastest-selling debut album ever by a British male solo act, and eventually being certified 6× Platinum in the region. The album spawned four singles, including the UK number ones "Fill Me In" and "7 Days", and the successful "Walking Away" and "Rendezvous". David's earliest exposure came when he worked on a B-side to British boy band Damage's cover of "Wonderful Tonight", he then began