Julian rates every 20th century Top 40 hit

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Julian rates every 20th century Top 40 hit, Now in 1970

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dandy* View member profile	11th March 2024, 08:54 PM Post #801
Mansonette Joined: 7 March 2006 Posts: 35,319 User: 54	Joni Mitchell It's nowhere near her best but it is still more than good enough to warrant that top spot of yours that week


Roba. View member profile	11th March 2024, 11:25 PM Post #802
Rob aah Joined: 3 July 2007 Posts: 38,321 User: 3,804	'Tears Of A Clown' is indeed a top notch motown classic!


Popchartfreak View member profile	12th March 2024, 10:08 AM Post #803
BuzzJack Legend Joined: 18 July 2012 Posts: 22,856 User: 17,376	Tears Of A Clown is a classic, one I was aware of but didn't pay too much attention to until a few years later - it was out again in 1976 - and time passing has just magnified it's sad touching greatness. The fairground riffs don;t hurt either. Chairmen Of The Board became faves in 1972, but I was unaware of their early hits - Give Me Just A Little More Time is a great record, another that improved with familiarity. Kylie's cover was OK. Make It With You was one that made it onto Two-Way Family Favourites and lush and beautiful. Bread were marvellous, and like fellow soft-rock targets of MOR haters Carpenters, have long-term class while some flavour of the month rock acts have been long forgotten. Talking of Rock, Black Night will be back again in 1980, and Deep Purple remain live staples after 56 years of an ever-changing line-up. That said, I like Hush, I came round to this in '80, and always rated Fireball. But that's it really. I have friends who rate them as absolute top notch all-timers, but me not one of 'em! Shh don't say anything but I preferred Whitesnake... The Love You Save is def better than ABC and one I heard once or twice at the time and liked. Three Dog Night, one of my pet hates. Heard this in '75 and didn't like it. Nothing I've heard from them has ever changed my mind, including their rubbish version of Leo Sayer's Show Must Go On. Love Is LIfe I missed out on in 1970, it's utterly brilliant, and Hot Chocolate remain one of my top bands of the 70's. Fell in love with them right away when I got back to the UK in Sept '71 and became obsessed with the similar I Believe In Love. Errol Brown and Tony Wilson will be giving away hits till they learn to keep their songs for themselves - and even then they got covered in the US till they built up a name. Like Blue Mink, a multicultural band, which was noteworthy for the time. Which Way You Going Billy was a sweet 1975 discovery for me - by which time Terry Jacks had already had a UK number one hit! Mr President a 2020 track, s'OK. Wild World is a great Cat Stevens cover, Jimmy Cliff himself would be shortly covered in return and his film The Harder They Come would do a lot for the reggae movement. Loved the song, and pretty much love every cover too - though Jonathan King's attempt to cover it It's A Sin stylee in 1987 was not appreciated by Pet Shop Boys and no legal action was needed! Family, nah, The Who nah, pointless cover, Tom Jones cover was OK, gave his vocal chords an exercise, It's So Easy I rather liked - but then, Andy Williams Show, The Cookie Bear, comedy sketches on TV, I would really. My Way is not my way, pass. Frank or nobody thanks (and even then I've heard it too many times, karaoke regular that it is).


JulianT View member profile	14th March 2024, 11:20 AM Post #804
BuzzJack Platinum Member Joined: 20 April 2009 Posts: 8,563 User: 8,705	It’s harder to hear Ozzy Osbourne’s voice these days without thinking of the TV series or the collaboration with his daughter, but “Paranoid” remains brilliant, and “Band Of Gold” not far behind. I do love The Carpenters’ cover too but they’ll have even better to come. 9 Black Sabbath Paranoid A hard rock masterpiece that comes at you like a steam train with long yet punchy vocal lines and a marvellous guitar break 9 Freda Payne Band Of Gold 291st #1: the only big hit for this US singer and a huge pop classic with a soaring melody and a twangy sitar accompaniment 8 Carpenters (They Long To Be) Close To You Their debut hit with a Bacharach song from the 60s: Karen's voice is utterly beautiful here and creates the definitive version 8 Diana Ross Ain't No Mountain High Enough This cover very boldly turns the song into an epic and powerful gospel anthem, and I admire that even if I prefer the original 7 Desmond Dekker You Can Get It If You Really Want A reggae song by Jimmy Cliff that's become engrained in popular culture: it's great but I prefer some of Desmond's others 7 The Tremeloes Me And My Life Their 20th and last big hit and a really good one, and good one: quite mature lyrically but still with a rousing pop chorus 6 Aretha Franklin Don't Play That Song Her 1st hit since her most famous one a couple of years ago: this is a Ben E King cover and she makes a powerful ballad of it 6 Cliff Richard I Ain't Got Time Any More Cliff's hits really do vary a lot, in style, level of success and standard of song; this was a small hit but has a really nice flow 5 Creedence Clearwater Revival Long As I Can See The Light A slower blues style ballad from them: it's not that distinctive a track overall but I do really enjoy the raspy heartfelt vocal 4 Horace Faith Black Pearl Only hit for this Jamaican with a jolly and well produced but unremarkable cover of a song by the US group Checkmates Ltd. 3 Bobby Bloom Montego Bay Only big hit for this US singer about the Jamaican city: not keen on the "Morning Has Broken" part at the end but it's alright 2 Al Martino Spanish Eyes His last Top 40 but 1st since 1955 incredibly, based on an instrumental called "Moon Over Naples", and dull easy listening 2 Engelbert Humperdinck Sweetheart His 2nd hit of the year but both have been very low peaking as his star wanes; this is a terribly saccharine and droopy ballad 1 Jim Reeves Angels Don't Lie I really don't like this, but we're reaching the end of the Jim barrel scraping with only a Treble A of mostly re-releases to go 0qanF-91aJo Fco8oPGu5EY 1970 Group 11: #3605 19/09/1970 Blue Mink Our World 17 35-29-24-19-24-{17}-33-26-49->9 #3606 19/09/1970 The Temptations Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today) 7 40-30-26-16-10-9-{7}-7-14-14-36-45-48R(2)-48-49->15 #3607 19/09/1970 Gerry Monroe Cry 38 41-{38}-43-48-49->5 #3608 19/09/1970 Dusty Springfield How Can I Be Sure 36 46-37-45-{36}->4 #3609 26/09/1970 Glen Campbell Everything A Man Could Ever Need 32 41-36-{32}-34-42->5 #3610 26/09/1970 Des O'Connor The Tip Of My Fingers 15 42-35-33-{15}-19-17-20-21-30-29-34-37-37-37-38->15 #3611 26/09/1970 Melanie Ruby Tuesday 9 44-37-29-21-18-13-{9}-9-9-14-20-35-40-40-43R(2)->15 #3612 26/09/1970 Matthews' Southern Comfort Woodstock 1 45-39-24-11-10-{1}-1-1-2-4-11-21-21-21-32-26-36-45->18 #3613 03/10/1970 The Hollies Gasoline Alley Bred 14 29-23-19-{14}-16-17-27->7 #3614 03/10/1970 Gene Pitney Shady Lady 29 48-38-39-33-34-{29}-36-42->8 #3615 03/10/1970 The Rattles The Witch 8 49-41-25-22-14-{8}-8-8-15-21-31-41-41-50-44->15 #3616 03/10/1970 The Four Tops Still Water 10 50-27-20-13-{10}-11-15-18-43-46-44R(2)-44->12 #3617 10/10/1970 Clarence Carter Patches 2 39-14-3-{2}-2-2-4-8-16-23-28-28-29->13 #3618 10/10/1970 James Brown Get Up I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine (Part I And Part II) 32 43-41-45-{32}-37-39-50->7 This post has been edited by JulianT: 17th March 2024, 10:19 PM


Popchartfreak View member profile	14th March 2024, 04:50 PM Post #805
BuzzJack Legend Joined: 18 July 2012 Posts: 22,856 User: 17,376	Paranoid obviously not airplayed in Singapore, heard it in '75 but took the 1980 hit reissue to convince me it was a Metal classic and Ozzy was never better, though I do have a very soft spot for Was (Not Was)'s Shake Your Head with Ozzy & Kim Basinger. Freda Payne total soul classic, what a song, another summer of '75 for me but I still wasn't that observant about the lyrics until I was a few years older than 17. Poor Freda! My top song of the time in this batch, no question Carpenters Close To You, they travelled across the world, their brand of soft lush ballads popular in the Far East including japan where they were big. Karen is one of the great vocalists, angelic and sad, yet understated at all times so it seemed effortless. She was always happier behind the drums. Still a classic. Ain't No Mountain High Enough I missed out on too, but I think I love it even more than Close To You these days. A slow build to gospel -tinged epic that still makes my spine tingle and goosebumps break out. Diana's greatest record. Didnt hear the Marvin & tammi version until the 80's and it seemed too fast, too upbeat in comparison but it's grown on me too with the years. You Can Get It If You Really Want is another Singapore-era crossover that I loved, Desmond was fab and this was so catchy, still great but prob 5th of 5 great records here 50-odd years later. Me And My LIfe a massive fave too for 12-year-old me, loved the riff and hook, bought the single in Mansfield in 1975. Don't Play That Song I didn't catch until the 80's, I think it was a video clip of her at the piano. Always classy, Aretha. I Ain't Got Time Anymore is a 2020 track for me, I rather like it actually. CCR: Long As I Can See The Light isn;t one I rate at all, the other side was bigger in the States in terms of airplay and it's a bit better, Lookin' Out My Back Door. Run Through The Jungle and Who'll Stop The Rain were the best 1970 tracks, neither of them UK A sides. Black Pearl I didn't hear until the 80's and it's another great little reggae hit, Montego Bay a summer of '75 singalong Caribbean-styled fun track, still like it. Spanish Eyes would be huge in 1973, dad bought it, but he already knew it so I guess it was played in Singapore but I don't recall it. Maybe I was out on swimming lessons or shopping for comics and books! I'm still fond of it. Engelbert's and Jim's I played in 2020, Eng's is OK (i rated it a peak of 77, so nothing special) and Jim's as usual I didn't like - it'll take the afore-mentioned triple A to chart in my retro charts.


Roba. View member profile	14th March 2024, 06:04 PM Post #806
Rob aah Joined: 3 July 2007 Posts: 38,321 User: 3,804	'Paranoid' an undeniable rock anthem. Funnily enough my mum was playing Carpenters yesterday. They have more songs I know and like than I recall. '(They Long To Be) Close To You' is a sweet track especially!


JulianT View member profile	15th March 2024, 10:51 PM Post #807
BuzzJack Platinum Member Joined: 20 April 2009 Posts: 8,563 User: 8,705	We have another in the peaked much lower than you think category here, and despite several later re-releases “Get Up I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine” has only ever reached as high as #32. “Woodstock” is probably my preferred track of the top 2 to listen to, a cover that brings out the song’s beauty brilliantly, but I have to recognise the sheer genius and genre defining quality of the James Brown song. 9 James Brown Get Up I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine (Part I And Part II) His 1st solo hit and 5 minutes of brilliance: love the piano breaks but otherwise it's a bare track with a masterful restless feel 9 Matthews' Southern Comfort Woodstock 292nd #1: only hit for this UK band turning a Joni Mitchell acoustic ballad into a wonderfully atmospheric folk rock song 8 The Temptations Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today) A wonderfully psychedelic and apocalyptic track with a relentless, rumbling beat and chaotic instrumental and vocal bursts 8 Clarence Carter Patches Part spoken tracks often don't work but here the spoken and sung sections together tell the story in a very heartwarming way 7 The Rattles The Witch Only hit for this German band with a great dynamic and catchy rocky track, and some effective witchlike instrumental parts 7 Gene Pitney Shady Lady The usual drama, big production and emotion laden performance from Gene, but a good song and I really like the storytelling 6 Melanie Ruby Tuesday Debut hit for this US singer: a really strong Stones cover with a very convincing performance and plenty of individual character 6 The Four Tops Still Water A subtle but smooth and classy song that indeed conveys still water with the instruments gently rippling in the background 5 Dusty Springfield How Can I Be Sure My main complaint is that there isn't a strong melody here for the listener to latch onto, but it's a nice track excellently sung 5 Glen Campbell Everything A Man Could Ever Need This is firmly in the easy listening rather than the great country pop category, but it's a lovely melody and sincere performance 4 Blue Mink Our World Quite a charming number in their usual bright and breezy style, but I find the lyrics about saving the planet slightly gimmicky 3 The Hollies Gasoline Alley Bred Standard Hollies fare with its close harmonies, its build and its slow and deliberate melody: feels like it's all been done before 2 Des O'Connor The Tip Of My Fingers His last solo hit with another slow ballad: could be worse and he gives the louder sections some welly, but remains fairly limp 1 Gerry Monroe Cry A 50s cover that sounds dated anyway but is quite unpleasant in his style, particularly with the way he bashes the top notes mhZgHkRmI3w qIHfuihoz70 1970 Group 12: #3619 10/10/1970 Roger Whittaker New World In The Morning 17 44-28-24-20-21-{17}-21-20-22-25-24-24-22-33->14 #3620 10/10/1970 Christie San Bernadino 7 49-44R(2)-24-18-{7}-7-11-14-15-23-23-33-32-44->14 #3621 10/10/1970 Don Fardon Indian Reservation 3 50-44-32-19-12-4-{3}-3-4-9-13-13-14-16-26-40-39->17 #3622 17/10/1970 Jimmy Ruffin It's Wonderful 6 38-27-18-16-12-{6}-12-10-19-19-19-34-40-49->14 #3623 17/10/1970 Julie Felix Heaven Is Here 22 40-34-25-{22}-22-28-38-50->8 #3624 24/10/1970 Edwin Starr War 3 16-15-5-{3}-5-6-13-20-27-27-26-36->12 #3625 24/10/1970 White Plains Julie Do Ya Love Me? 8 39-26-24-16-13-10-{8}-14-16-16-16-19-32-44->14 #3626 24/10/1970 T.Rex Ride A White Swan 2 47-37-31-30-15-7-7-6-12-12-10-4-4-{2}-4-7-14-12-26-38->20 #3627 24/10/1970 Anne Murray Snowbird 23 48-27-27-31-31-31-39-28-29-29-{23}-28-23-28-32-38-39->17 #3628 24/10/1970 Richard Barnes Go North 38 49-41R(2)-{38}-49->4 #3629 31/10/1970 C.C.S. Whole Lotta Love 13 35-32-18-20-{13}-19-18-22-22-24-22-28-41->13 #3630 31/10/1970 Mary Hopkin Think About Your Children 19 41-25-{19}-22-19-36-38-46R(3)-48->9 #3631 31/10/1970 Bobby Sherman Julie Do Ya Love Me? 28 46-42-{28}-34->4 #3632 07/11/1970 Jimi Hendrix Experience Voodoo Chile 1 15-5-{1}-2-2-5-11-11-19-20-22-38-47->13 This post has been edited by JulianT: 17th March 2024, 10:14 PM


JulianT View member profile	16th March 2024, 10:52 PM Post #808
BuzzJack Platinum Member Joined: 20 April 2009 Posts: 8,563 User: 8,705	On paper it should probably be T Rex or Edwin winning today, but it’s “Indian Reservation” that I keep going back to because it’s so hypnotic. The song was written by John D Loudermilk who was known as a prankster and hence the lyrics are utterly baffling, but I love it anyway. 9 Don Fardon Indian Reservation The song had existed for a decade but only this version was big: I love the mesmerising beat and the deep and intense vocals 9 T.Rex Ride A White Swan Their 1st hit with the shortened name: poppy enough to have been their breakthrough song and also wonderfully captivating 8 Edwin Starr War His biggest hit and a classic with a timeless theme: it's a very punchy track which is and stark track which fits the message well 8 Anne Murray Snowbird Debut hit for this Canadian country singer with beautiful lyrics and melody and the backing violins give it a light, gliding feel 7 C.C.S. Whole Lotta Love A (mostly) instrumental cover of the Led Zeppelin song and their 1st hit: a great track that will be the Top Of The Pops theme 6 Roger Whittaker New World In The Morning For a MOR singer his hits are surprisingly good: this is another soulful and well written one, if not exciting or groundbreaking 6 Mary Hopkin Think About Your Children Her period of big hits has ended but this is good: her voice is effortlessly pretty as ever and the song is sweet and flows well 5 Jimi Hendrix Experience Voodoo Chile 293rd #1 improvised around his original 15 minute "Voodoo Child": brilliant playing but doesn't quite come together for me 5 Richard Barnes Go North His 2nd and final hit and quite a serious and laboured ballad: nowhere near as good as "Take To The Mountains" but decent 4 Julie Felix Heaven Is Here Also a 2nd and last hit, and a sweet and joyful folk ballad, but without that much to it and the "uh-huh" becomes repetitive 4 Christie San Bernadino Yet another 2nd and final hit: very ordinary compared to "Yellow River" but a pleasant listen with sweet lyrics and harmonies 3 Jimmy Ruffin It's Wonderful Multiple Top 10s including this so he must be doing something right, but his songs are quite similar, and this washes over me *2 Bobby Sherman Julie Do Ya Love Me?* Only hit for him and not much to choose between the two versions but this is at least the original: quite a dull and trite song 2 White Plains Julie Do Ya Love Me? The more polished version but lacks the authenticity of Bobby's while remaining just as dreary, but quite a bit hit for them s3W9DdSVCsg t0h5E0pxLBw 1970 Group 13: #3633 07/11/1970 The Dave Clark Five More Good Old Rock 'N' Roll 34 35-{34}-40-40-43-48->6 #3634 07/11/1970 Status Quo In My Chair 21 39-33-24-{21}-23-27-43-43-35-27-27-29-48-35->14 #3635 07/11/1970 Neil Diamond Cracklin' Rosie 3 40-29-10-5-{3}-3-3-3-6-6-7-14-10-18-20-23-40->17 #3636 07/11/1970 Pickettywitch Baby I Won't Let You Down 27 50-32-{27}-27-38-33-39-39-37-47->10 #3637 14/11/1970 Elvis Presley I've Lost You 9 26-23-{9}-9-10-14-14-15-17-20-46-50->12 #3638 14/11/1970 The Motown Spinners It's A Shame 20 37-25-32-26-26-{20}-20-27-24-25-42->11 #3639 14/11/1970 Chairmen Of The Board You've Got Me Dangling On A String 5 40-19-16-{5}-8-10-10-12-11-12-19-25-37->13 #3640 14/11/1970 Mick Jagger Memo From Turner 32 46-{32}-37-41-50->5 #3641 14/11/1970 Peter Noone And Herman's Hermits Lady Barbara 13 48-44-34-24-16-17-17-{13}-13-14-32-37->12 #3642 14/11/1970 Gerry Monroe My Prayer 9 50-33-23-12-12-{9}-9-9-14-18-34-36->12 #3643 21/11/1970 Dave Edmunds I Hear You Knocking 1 16-{1}-1-1-1-1-1-2-2-6-7-19-23-32->14 #3644 21/11/1970 The Jackson Five I'll Be There 4 36-26-15-13-5-5-5-5-5-{4}-6-10-11-21-30-34->16 #3645 21/11/1970 Glen Campbell It's Only Make Believe 4 38-18-18-{4}-4-4-4-9-6-12-18-22-25-20->14 #3646 21/11/1970 Stevie Wonder Heaven Help Us All 29 41-50-40-36-30-30-39-{29}-35-48-45->11 This post has been edited by JulianT: 17th March 2024, 10:10 PM


Popchartfreak View member profile	17th March 2024, 05:13 PM Post #809
BuzzJack Legend Joined: 18 July 2012 Posts: 22,856 User: 17,376	Sex Machine, like most of James Brown's ouptut, mostly passes me by - it sounds good and funky in a club, but never thought of it as a classic, possible from not really hearing much until the 80's. Woodstock on t'other hand was already hippy nostalgia when I heard it for the first time in '75. Lovely version, way better than the Crosby Stills & Nash cover that hit in the US. Temptations, another '75 track and one that grew on me with time. "Apocalyptic" and your other choices of words, top picks. Patches I found quite touching, poverty has always plucked my heartstrings. His voice is especially evocative. The Witch is manic and mad, often mused about it as BJSC candidate. Shady Lady was a 2020 track for me, and a good one. Ruby Tuesday, like most of this batch, was another 1975 goodie that - I'd missed Ruby Tuesday in all versions up to then, but Melanie did it great, and I'd already loved her Brand New Key prior to this. Still Water, lovely Four Tops, they still had it in the early 70's even without Holland Dozier Holland. How Can I Be Sure, David Cassidy was the first version I heard and I adore that record, but Dusty's is almost as good, and more classy. I love this song, top record of the batch I think. Glen's is another 2020 track for me, and another I like, and Blue Mink is 1975 and a top Blue Mink track, still a fave, much prefer it to Melting Pot. Gasoline Alley Bred is Hollies in good-ballad form, and the final two mean nowt to me, so that's not a single track that crossed over to Singapore for me in 1970


Popchartfreak View member profile	17th March 2024, 05:37 PM Post #810
BuzzJack Legend Joined: 18 July 2012 Posts: 22,856 User: 17,376	Batch 12: Indian Reservation is a great record, haunting and and topical, as Cowboys and Indians were becoming out of date and Native American Rights centred in new movies and TV. In our house we supported the Indians! Autumn of 1975 for me, but The Raiders (formerly Paul Revere & The Raiders) had the US monster hit, I had actually bought their follow-up to this one in very late 1971 back in the UK, so I knew of it - without actually having heard it. Ride A White Swan, though, was pure Singapore crossover, fun, upbeat and sounding like nothing before, possible exception of Donovan. Classic fave. War is indeed still powerful, yay for Edwin Starr, 1975 track for me again. Snowbird was one of my massive obsessions in Singapore, got it on tape, played it to death, still to this day reminds me of visiting friends of mum and dad and their kids in Suicide Village - shortly before a planted bomb went off and killed a local RAF little girl. Malaysian separatists. The song though, soars, and totally deserved that Family Guy's Stewie and Brian devoted an entire episode to the song and Anne Murray's records, and then stalk her and kidnap her Stan-style when they find out she didn't write her own songs. Played by Anne actual Murray. Legend. C.C.S. heard on Top Of The Pops Sept 1971 as the intro and what an intro! So exciting. C.C.S. were great, as was Alexis Korner and his gravelly voice. New World In The Morning is one of my fave Roger Whittaker songs, he was a TV staple in the early 70's, so this was one I knew and liked. We loved his whistling too. Think About Your Children I discovered in 1975 in a second-hand shop, I'd never heard it, but it was mary Hopkin so worth a punt. Turned out to be an Errol Brown/Tony Wilson song (from Hot Chocolate) so I was happy enough, loved both acts. Voodoo Chile only hit because he had died, it's no All Along The Watchtower or Hey Joe, and I've always been disappointed this didn't live up to expectations - I actively disliked it when I heard it in '75. Heaven Is Here cropped up on a budget Mickie Most/RAK album I bought circa '77, it's decent enough. Julie Do Ya Love Me, I have the same reaction as you to either version. At best cheerful and OK. Which leaves two Singapore faves, San Bernadino I heard a couple of times, and while no Yellow River I liked it's CCR vibes and bought the single in '75 (I bought a lot in 1975, I was earning money babysitting for RAF families). That leaves Jimmy Ruffin, and one I recorded off the radio, it's my first song of his I recall hearing and I love the melody and his vocals. In retrospect it's What Becomes Of The Broken-Hearted Part 4, but It's Wonderful has nostalgia on it's side for me. Top track overall? Still Snowbird and not sorry, love Anne Murray. T.Rex not far behind though.


Roba. View member profile	18th March 2024, 01:02 AM Post #811
Rob aah Joined: 3 July 2007 Posts: 38,321 User: 3,804	'Indian Reservation' has some rather intriguing elements to it and the beat certainly helps it stand out. 'Ride A White Swan' isn't one of T Rex's I'm aware of that much but sounded pretty good and then 'War' is also great too!


JulianT View member profile	18th March 2024, 10:59 PM Post #812
BuzzJack Platinum Member Joined: 20 April 2009 Posts: 8,563 User: 8,705	It’s not that often great covers come along but we’ve had 2 chart topping ones with “Woodstock” and now “I Hear You Knocking”! 9 Dave Edmunds I Hear You Knocking 294th #1: debut hit from this Welsh singer and guitarist with a rockier cover of this 50s R&B hit; a fabulous addictive version 8 The Motown Spinners It's A Shame Debut hit here for this group who will become The Detroit Spinners; a Motown classic with so much soul running through it 8 The Jackson Five I'll Be There Another great song from them and their 4th straight US #1: slightly soppy perhaps but works beautifully with Michael's voice 7 Neil Diamond Cracklin' Rosie His debut and biggest UK hit with a month at #3: a jaunty and very lovely song with a freshness and sweet innocence about it 7 Elvis Presley I've Lost You I prefer this follow up to "The Wonder Of You" which feels less turgid and more emotionally authentic: he's a great storyteller 6 Mick Jagger Memo From Turner His debut solo hit with an unusual mostly spoken song that has some really interesting guitar playing: enjoyable not essential 5 Peter Noone And Herman's Hermits Lady Barbara Another 60s act bowing out here with the last of their 20 hits: this feels very old fashioned but it's also sweet and good fun 5 Chairmen Of The Board You've Got Me Dangling On A String This doesn't quite have the rhythmic magic of their debut but it's another strong and catchy soul song very skilfully delivered 4 Stevie Wonder Heaven Help Us All Steve has gone gospel on us with a very rousing happy clappy number: well done and pleasant but not exactly my cup of tea 4 Status Quo In My Chair A folky feel from them again with some very nice instrumentation, but I doubt this would make anyone get out of their chair 3 Pickettywitch Baby I Won't Let You Down Their 3rd and final hit: I really enjoyed the other 2 which were lovely tunes very well sung, but this one just washes over me 2 Glen Campbell It's Only Make Believe A 50s cover, the point of which I struggle to see: he attempts to make the big climax dramatic but it doesn't really suit him 1 The Dave Clark Five More Good Old Rock 'N' Roll Last of their 22 hits with another very boring medley; the perfunctory "Blueberry Hill" rendition is especially unfortunate 1 Gerry Monroe My Prayer A doo wop song being annihilated here: the top notes ought to soar and convey emotion and instead are being walloped hMjwb13TFCo 1970 Group 14: #3647 21/11/1970 Freda Payne Deeper And Deeper 33 43-44-37-39-{33}-33-36-37-46->9 #3648 21/11/1970 Andy Williams Home Lovin' Man 7 45-17-17-{7}-7-7-7-10-9-15-27-24->12 #3649 21/11/1970 McGuinness Flint When I'm Dead And Gone 2 46-24-6-{2}-2-2-3-3-3-3-17-16-26-25->14 #3650 28/11/1970 Johnny Johnson And The Bandwagon (Blame It On The) Pony Express 7 45-27-22-15-15-11-{7}-8-11-11-20-27->12 #3651 28/11/1970 Clive Dunn Grandad 1 47-32-17-6-6-2-{1}-1-1-2-4-9-9-12-18-16-22-25-25-24-28-36-39-46-45-46-50-50R(4)->28 #3652 28/11/1970 Gilbert O'Sullivan Nothing Rhymed 8 48-30-11-{8}-8-8-8-10-17-21-27->11 #3653 05/12/1970 Ken Dodd Broken Hearted 15 35-30-18-18-17-{15}-16-20-35-38R(2)->10 #3654 05/12/1970 Bee Gees Lonely Days 33 44-40-36-36-44-34-{33}-35-40->9 #3655 05/12/1970 Judy Collins Amazing Grace 5 49-42-34-34-30-21-19-8-8-6-{5}-5-6-7-9-13-6-19-18-23-24-23-29-37-30-42-38-46-38-47-49-45-48R(2)-47R(6)-47-41-41-47-40-49-50R(5)-48R(4)-48-31R(17)-46-24-23-20-21-21-22-26-32-29-31-31-38-40-37-42-37-42-46R(2)-50-49R(14)-49-49->67 #3656 12/12/1970 Frankie Valli You're Ready Now 11 29-50-50-21-25-13-18-12-{11}-12-15-35-40->13 #3657 12/12/1970 The Kinks Apeman 5 32-32-32-20-12-11-{5}-5-8-8-11-17-24-29->14 #3658 19/12/1970 The Equals Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys 9 45-45-31-18-15-10-{9}-15-17-24-34->11 #3659 19/12/1970 John Paul Joans The Man From Nazareth 25 46-46-41-30R(2)-{25}-28-25->7 #3660 02/01/1971 Jackie Lee Rupert 14 45-39-29-31-22-30-16-16-{14}-14-27-20-36-31-44-45-46->17


Popchartfreak View member profile	19th March 2024, 10:43 AM Post #813
BuzzJack Legend Joined: 18 July 2012 Posts: 22,856 User: 17,376	I Hear You Knocking was the first track played on the Xmas Top 3's of 1971 show hosted by Alan Freeman - I know cos I taped every single song he played, most of 'em I hadn't heard up until that moment. Loved this track right away and Dave Edmunds can do no wrong for me, either in collab or solo (and solo means everything on the record, from his 1972-ish Rockfield Studios in Wales). It's A Shame, early 1976 track for me, long after their Detroit Spinners hits started coming - I liked it, but grew to love it more in later decades, esp the jangly guitar rhythm. I'll Be There was easily my number of the time in Singapore, big track for me, massive fave tune, Michael's vocal is amazing and always made me weep if I attempt to singalong. Flash forward to 1995 and I was back in modern Singapore, old Singapore much a thing of the past, and mum and me had taken a sweaty cable car from Mount Faber onto Sentosa island, and as I was videoing the entrance to the park and attractions there up popped this J5 track. Still popular then! Pure nostalgia. Mariah Carey is not forgiven for her attempt to ruin it for me. Cracklin' Rosie was almost as huge for me, my fave Neil track still, sorry Sweet Caroline, love the way it flows and builds and flows and builds, no gaps here at all. just upbeat class. I've Lost You was a late '75 track for me, never liked it, sorry! Memo From Turner 2020 didn't impress me meh. Lady Barbara more 2020 for me, and a real find, a great pop tune from Hot Choc's Errol & Tony. Did I mention Peter liked my Tweet/X last week? Thought so Dangling On A String another late '75 track, I liked it and like it even more these days. Heaven Help Us All popped up on a various artists chart hits album in 1972 which I bought. I was disappointed with this Stevie track, and it's at best decent. Status Quo more of an album track than single, heard it in 2020 and not impressed. Ditto Pickettywich, Dave Clark 5 and Gerry Monroe. Glen Campbell, splutter, though was a chart-topper for me in 1970, so it's my "original" version and to my ears this is what it should sound like, final big notes included. Compare this to later crappy versions and be more impressed with our Glen.


JulianT View member profile	20th March 2024, 09:47 AM Post #814
BuzzJack Platinum Member Joined: 20 April 2009 Posts: 8,563 User: 8,705	The Kinks really were great weren’t they, and it’s impressive looking over their discography how diverse in style it is. 8 The Kinks Apeman The last of their 13 Top 10s; a brilliantly fun and catchy calypso style song about escaping humanity and returning to nature 8 Gilbert O'Sullivan Nothing Rhymed His debut with a month locked at #8: the lyrics here are incredibly poetic and beautiful and the performance is very intimate 7 The Equals Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys Their last hit and perhaps their best with its infectious driving energy, gritty hard hitting anti-war subject and funky style 7 McGuinness Flint When I'm Dead And Gone Debut hit for this UK rock band; it's commercial but also has some really clever instrumental effects with mandolin and kazoo 6 John Paul Joans The Man From Nazareth A real oddity: a British comedian with a spoken hit about the life of Christ, but the track is very interesting with a great build 6 Bee Gees Lonely Days A very intriguing one from them with tempo changes and a slightly Beatles-esque style: can't decide if it's brilliant or a mess 5 Johnny Johnson And The Bandwagon (Blame It On The) Pony Express Last hit for these guys and as usual it's catchy, well delivered and slickly produced but somehow doesn't quite move me 5 Andy Williams Home Lovin' Man Andy showing a serious side and in 1970 this certainly isn't breaking the mould but it's a rather lovely and sincere ballad 4 Jackie Lee Rupert Same singer who did the wonderful "White Horses" TV theme: being for children this has less replay value but it's good 4 Freda Payne Deeper And Deeper Her only other Top 40 after the big one and this is one of those pleasant but bland songs that hardly leaves any impression 3 Frankie Valli You're Ready Now One of those coming of age songs that hasn't aged well and sounds rather menacing: the track itself is pretty good though 3 Judy Collins Amazing Grace Huge chart run for this rendition of a 19th century hymn tune: her voice is beautiful but as a hit single I can't really enjoy it 2 Ken Dodd Broken Hearted All his hits blend into one at this point: another very dreary olde-worlde song but not offensive on the ears like what's below 1 Clive Dunn Grandad 295th #1: a novelty hit for this "Dad's Army" actor; musically it's very drippy and the whole affair has a condescending feel BBVAS8qNZZI


Popchartfreak View member profile	20th March 2024, 11:12 AM Post #815
BuzzJack Legend Joined: 18 July 2012 Posts: 22,856 User: 17,376	I bought Apeman at the RAF Swinderby Family Shop (2nd hand) for 2p in 1972, bargain! Never heard it before, but worth a shot. I liked it, quirky. Obv somebody bought it and then changed their mind! Nothing Rhymed is Gilbert at his best, sad and not at all pop star, his image changed drastically from Claire onwards, though I didnt get to hear it until his career was already over, pretty much. Black Skinned Blue Eyed Boys, great record, heard it a couple of times I think on the radio in the early 70's, but it was an Equals Hits EP I bought that made the difference. It's shame they couldnt keep up the career change of direction - but glass half-full we got Eddy Grant solo career, so it all worked out. When I'm Dead And Gone, Xmas 1971 track for me, not that impressed actually at the time, It's not bad, seen The Manfreds 3 times at least and they include it in their set, what with them being in the band and all. Man From Nazareth. Errr pass, 2020 listen. And the man from Nazareth is a much better singer (see Dan McCafferty of band Nazareth!). Lonely Days is brilliant, start of The Bee Gees mini comeback as they were about to grab a US number one with How Can You Mend A Broken Heart which is equally fab. I didnt hear either track in 1971, both much later conversions for me, '75 & '81 when I bought the singles. Pony Express is a goodie, popped up on loads of various artist compilation CD's when they were a new thing, Home Lovin' Man was a regular on 2-Way family favourites for servicepeople and families abroad, and was pure Singapore, loved it, what a melody and Andy as always flawless vocally. Prob still my fave of this batch. Grandad was another big tune on that show, families abroad get sentimental about this stuff for family you can't talk to (no phones) or see (no internet) so it was letters or nothing. Plus, Herbie Flowers wrote it, Blue Mink and T.Rex and Lou Reed walk On The Wild Side bassline, so all is forgiven for him to have some income from a songwriting credit. White Horses is brilliant. Rupert is awful. Hated it when I got to hear it after the event. Still hate it. Not target audience. Deeper And Deeper was a 2020 discovery, and I rather liked it, funky, Freda had a very decent back catalogue I've found out. You're Ready Now another late discovery and it sounded older than 1971, but it's a great Four Seasons production. I've never noticed the lyrics before (not very good now I look at them!) and I daresay nobody else did either at the time, we just didn't analyse manufactured pop song lyrics until the singer-songwriter started to wear their heart on their personal sleeve and the song morphed into a personal expression of the singer, not a fictional creation that could be passed around and sung by anyone. Amazing Grace was a hit in 1972 too, so after the bagpipes I'd overdosed on it and hated all versions of it, never wanted to hear it ever again. Time is a funny thing though, and a good movie slot works wonders (Spock's funeral in Wrath Of Khan) and I came back to both versions, and really rate this now. Judy's voice was always crystal clear pure angelic, so that never hurts. Ken, though, pass....


Roba. View member profile	20th March 2024, 02:00 PM Post #816
Rob aah Joined: 3 July 2007 Posts: 38,321 User: 3,804	'I Hear You Knocking' is a grand record! 'Cracklin Rosie' is good as well.


jimwatts View member profile	20th March 2024, 10:57 PM Post #817
my mind is ready for fun Joined: 28 August 2017 Posts: 10,726 User: 38,591	My favourites from 1970: The Jackson 5 - I Want You Back The Beatles - Let It Be Simon and Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water Smokey Robinson and The Miracles - The Tears Of A Clown Black Sabbath - Paranoid Freda Payne - Band Of Gold Diana Ross - Ain't No Mountain High Enough James Brown - Get Up I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine and the lesser rated: The Beach Boys - Cottonfields Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Chile Actually more highlights in the year than I expected.