Although all four of The Beatles had success in the years after the band broke up, Paul McCartney certainly maintained the highest profile from a commercial standpoint. During the '70s, and with his recorded output mostly with his band Wings, McCartney placed two dozen singles into the US Top 40, including 17 Top Ten hits and five #1s.

McCartney began the '80s with his second solo effort, titled (appropriately enough) McCartney II. With it, McCartney added to his cache of chart-toppers with the first single "Coming Up." Not surprisingly, the song was an immediate smash due not only to it being new music from Paul McCartney but the fact that the song was instantaneously catchy. With a hint of New Wave sass to it and possessing a dose of healthy lyrical optimism, "Coming Up" was easy for listeners to embrace.

It cracked the US Top 40 in May and four weeks later was the latest McCartney single to reach the Top Ten. The song remained there throughout the summer of 1980, spending three weeks at #1, and becoming one of the year's biggest hits. It was also accompanied by an innovative (for its time) video which featured McCartney playing numerous roles.

"Coming Up" would also be McCartney's final #1 solo hit. He would top the singles chart again, but it would be in duets such as "Ebony And Ivory" with Stevie Wonder two years later.

To hear this song, and many more hits from the '80s, log on to Pop Go The '80s

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