Here's a rundown of the action on the singles chart dated January 5, 1980:

What Was On Top?

The decade of the 80's began with a brand-new number one song - and it was a song that took a long and slow climb to the top. In its 20th week on the Hot 100 "Please Don't Go" by KC & The Sunshine Band reached the top and became the band's fifth and last number one song. The others were "Get Down Tonight," "That's The Way (I Like It)," "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty," and "I'm Your Boogie Man."

"Escape" by Rupert Holmes which had been number one the previous two weeks dipped to number two. Michael Jackson's "Rock With You" charged into the top ten taking an eight-notch jump from #11 to #3 and looked destined to hit the top.

"Send One Your Love" by Stevie Wonder stalled at #4 for a third week and "Do That To Me One More Time" by The Captain & Tennille continued a slow climb of its own inching from #6 to #5.

What Were The Big Movers?

Kenny Rogers made a big statement jumping from #22 all the way to #8 with his story song "Coward Of The County." Tumbling out of the top ten were "You're Only Lonely" by J.D. Souther, "No More Tears" by Donna Summer & Barbra Streisand, and "Take The Long Way Home by Supertramp."

Jumping twenty spots or more were Led Zeppelin's "Fool In The Rain" which went from #64 to #42 and "Why Me" by Styx which leaped from #65 to #45.

What Was New?

The highest debuting song of the week was "I'm Alive" by Gamma at #81. The song would only go on to peak at #60. Molly Hatchet's "Flirtin' With Disaster" came in at #83 and would peak at #42. None of the debut songs this week would reach the Top 40. The others were "Make Believe It's Your First Time" by Bobby Vinton, "Goodnight My Love" by Mike Pinera, and "Bad Times" by Tavares.

View the singles chart from January 5, 1980: