25 Little Jimmy Osmond - Long Haired Lover From Liverpool (1972)

Looks like I've found my hatred twin so far - as we have the same +25 in this round and the 90s/00s one, then not too far off for the other round either :kink:

Horrific

 

+25 JJ Barrie - No Charge (1976)

+24 Stargazers - I See the Moon (1954)

+23 Chuck Berry - My Ding-a-ling (1972)

+22 Ray Stevens - The Streak (1974)

+21 Little Jimmy Osmond - Long Haired Lover From Liverpool (1972)

 

Awful

 

+20 Billy Connolly - D.I.V.O.R.C.E (1975)

+19 Mike Serne & Wendy Richard - Come Outside (1962)

+18 Clive Dunn - Grandad (1971)

+17 Pat Boone - I’ll Be Home (1956)

+16 Lena Martel - One Day at a Time (1979)

 

Bad

 

+15 Telly Savalas - If (1975)

+14 Donny Osmond - Puppy Love (1972)

+13 Lonnie Donegan - My Old Man’s a Dustman (1960)

+12 Vera Lynn - My Son, My Son (1954)

+11 Esther and Abi Ofarim - Cinderella Rockefella (1968)

 

OK

 

+10 Ken Dodd - Tears (1965)

+9 Windsor Davies & Don Estelle - Whispering Grass (1975)

+8 Rod Stewart - Do Ya Think I’m Sexy? (1978)

+7 Engelbert Humperdinck- The Last Waltz (1967)

+6 Middle of the Road - Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (1971)

 

I've grown to like these

 

+5 Petula Clark - This Is My Song (1967)

+4 Dana - All Kinds of Everything (1970)

+3 Brian and Michael - Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs (1978)

+2 Lieutenant Pigeon - Mouldy Old Dough (1972)

+1 Lee Marvin - Wand’rin’ Star (1970)

 

 

 

 

+25 - Middle of the Road - Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (1971)

+24 - Chuck Berry - My Ding-a-ling (1972)

+23 - Lonnie Donegan - My Old Man’s a Dustman (1960)

+22 - Little Jimmy Osmond - Long Haired Lover From Liverpool (1972)

+21 - Brian and Michael - Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs (1978)

+20 - Clive Dunn - Grandad (1971)

+19 - Lieutenant Pigeon - Mouldy Old Dough (1972)

+18 - Lee Marvin - Wand’rin’ Star (1970)

+17 - Windsor Davies & Don Estelle - Whispering Grass (1975)

+16 - Telly Savalas - If (1975)

+15 - Ray Stevens - The Streak (1974)

+14 - Ken Dodd - Tears (1965)

+13 - JJ Barrie - No Charge (1976)

+12 - Engelbert Humperdinck- The Last Waltz (1967)

+11 - Stargazers - I See the Moon (1954)

+10 - Pat Boone - I’ll Be Home (1956)

+09 - Esther and Abi Ofarim - Cinderella Rockefella (1968)

+08 - Mike Serne & Wendy Richard - Come Outside (1962)

+07 - Lena Martel - One Day at a Time (1979)

+06 - Petula Clark - This Is My Song (1967)

+05 - Vera Lynn - My Son, My Son (1954)

+04 - Donny Osmond - Puppy Love (1972)

+03 - Rod Stewart - Do Ya Think I’m Sexy? (1978)

+02 - Billy Connolly - D.I.V.O.R.C.E (1975)

+01 - Dana - All Kinds of Everything (1970)

1 week left to vote in this one! I know it’s the toughest round for most of us, but quite a few of the songs on the playlist are good fun, not necessarily for the right reasons.

25 Lena Martel - One Day at a Time (1979)

24 JJ Barrie - No Charge (1976)

23 Little Jimmy Osmond - Long Haired Lover From Liverpool (1972)

22 Chuck Berry - My Ding-a-ling (1972)

21 Stargazers - I See the Moon (1954)

20 Dana - All Kinds of Everything (1970)

19 Ray Stevens - The Streak (1974)

18 Billy Connolly - D.I.V.O.R.C.E (1975)

17 Ken Dodd - Tears (1965)

16 Rod Stewart - Do Ya Think I’m Sexy? (1978)

15 Telly Savalas - If (1975)

14 Vera Lynn - My Son, My Son (1954)

13 Mike Serne & Wendy Richard - Come Outside (1962)

12 Pat Boone - I’ll Be Home (1956)

11 Petula Clark - This Is My Song (1967)

10 Windsor Davies & Don Estelle - Whispering Grass (1975)

9 Clive Dunn - Grandad (1971)

8 Middle of the Road - Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (1971)

7 Lonnie Donegan - My Old Man’s a Dustman (1960)

6 Esther and Abi Ofarim - Cinderella Rockefella (1968)

5 Lee Marvin - Wand’rin’ Star (1970)

4 Donny Osmond - Puppy Love (1972)

3 Lieutenant Pigeon - Mouldy Old Dough (1972)

2 Engelbert Humperdinck- The Last Waltz (1967)

1 Brian and Michael - Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs (1978)

Last weekend for this oldies round! 18 voters so far which isn’t bad at all but would be good to get a few more. It’s quite a fun playlist really.

+25 Little Jimmy Osmond - Long Haired Lover From Liverpool (1972) [wrong on so many levels]

+24 Ray Stevens - The Streak (1974)

+23 Windsor Davies & Don Estelle - Whispering Grass (1975)

+22 Pat Boone - I’ll Be Home (1956)

+21 Ken Dodd - Tears (1965)

+20 Donny Osmond - Puppy Love (1972)

+19 Telly Savalas - If (1975)

+18 Billy Connolly - D.I.V.O.R.C.E (1975)

+17 JJ Barrie - No Charge (1976)

+16 Lena Martell - One Day at a Time (1979)

+15 Clive Dunn - Grandad (1971)

+14 Rod Stewart - Do Ya Think I’m Sexy? (1978)

+13 Stargazers - I See the Moon (1954)

+12 Engelbert Humperdinck - The Last Waltz (1967)

+11 Vera Lynn - My Son, My Son (1954)

+10 Mike Sarne & Wendy Richard - Come Outside (1962)

+9 Esther and Abi Ofarim - Cinderella Rockefella (1968)

+8 Lieutenant Pigeon - Mouldy Old Dough (1972)

+7 Chuck Berry - My Ding-a-ling (1972)

+6 Middle of the Road - Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (1971)

+5 Brian and Michael - Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs (1978)

+4 Lonnie Donegan - My Old Man’s a Dustman (1960)

+3 Petula Clark - This Is My Song (1967)

+2 Dana - All Kinds of Everything (1970)

+1 Lee Marvin - Wand’rin’ Star (1970)

+25 Clive Dunn - Grandad

+24 Stargazers - I See The Moon

+23 Chuck Berry - My Ding a Ling

+22 Esther & Abi Ofarim - Cinderella Rockefella

+21 Windsor Davies & Don Estelle - Whispering Grass

+20 Little Jimmy Osmond - Long Haired Lover from Liverpool

+19 Donny Osmond - Puppy Love

+18 Vera Lynn - My Son, My Son

+17 Pat Boone - I'll Be Home

+16 Ken Dodd - Tears

+15 Telly Savalas - If

+14 Dana - All Kinds of Everything

+13 Mike Serne & Wendy Richard - Come Outside

+12 JJ Barrie - No Charge

+11 Petula Clark - This Is My Song

+10 Billy Connolly - D.I.V.O.R.C.E.

+09 Lena Martel - One Day At A Time

+08 Middle Of The Road - Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep

+07 Engelbert Humperdinck - The Last Waltz

+06 Lieutenant Pigeon - Mouldy Old Dough

+05 Ray Stevens - The Streak

+04 Lonnie Donegan - My Old Man's a Dustman

+03 Brian & Michael - Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs

+02 Lee Marvin - Wand'rin' Star

+01 Rod Stewart - Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?

Working on this now though again might be a little after midnight - I will just edit it into this post again (better be clear about that this time after Julian nearly missed my votes last time oops!)

 

edit: This is definitely the worst of the heats.

 

Intolerable:

+25 J.J. Barrie - No Charge (being introduced to this song was definitely one of the most memorable moments of these #1 listenthroughs. absolute vom)

+24 Billy Connolly - D.I.V.O.R.C.E.

+23 Ray Stevens - The Streak

+22 Chuck Berry - My Ding-A-Ling

+21 Lena Martell - One Day At A Time

+20 Esther & Abi Ofarim - Cinderella Rockefella

+19 The Stargazers - I See The Moon

+18 Mike Sarne and Wendy Richards - Come Outside

 

Bad:

+17 Rod Stewart - Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? (I'm sure this will come last but I still think it's quite a cringefest, admittedly mostly for the chorus)

+16 Telly Savalas - If

+15 Brian And Michael - Matchstalk Men And Matchstalk Cats And Dogs

+14 Little Jimmy Osmond - Long Haired Lover From Liverpool

+13 Clive Dunn - Grandad

+12 Pat Boone - I'll Be Home

 

Ok:

+11 Donny Osmond - Puppy Love

+10 Dana - All Kinds Of Everything

+9 Ken Dodd - Tears

+8 Engelbert Humperdinck - The Last Waltz

 

Decent:

+7 Windsor Davies and Don Estelle - Whispering Grass

+6 Petula Clark - This Is My Song

+5 Middle Of The Road - Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep

 

Actually like these ones:

+4 Vera Lynn - My Son, My Son (this is the one whose inclusion I least understand!)

+3 Lee Marvin - Wand'rin' Star

+2 Lieutenant Pigeon - Mouldy Old Dough

+1 Lonnie Donegan - My Old Man's A Dustman (these older novelty songs are mostly a lot worse than the ones in heat 2 but I find this one quite charming)

+25 Little Jimmy Osmond - Long Haired Lover From Liverpool (1972)

+24 Ray Stevens - The Streak (1974)

+23 Clive Dunn - Grandad (1971)

+22 JJ Barrie - No Charge (1976)

+21 Lena Martell - One Day at a Time (1979)

+20 Windsor Davies & Don Estelle - Whispering Grass (1975)

+19 Telly Savalas - If (1975)

+18 Brian and Michael - Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs (1978)

+17 Stargazers - I See the Moon (1954)

+16 Donny Osmond - Puppy Love (1972)

+15 Ken Dodd - Tears (1965)

+14 Pat Boone - I’ll Be Home (1956)

+13 Mike Sarne & Wendy Richard - Come Outside (1962)

+12 Engelbert Humperdinck- The Last Waltz (1967)

+11 Petula Clark - This Is My Song (1967)

+10 Vera Lynn - My Son, My Son (1954)

+9 Dana - All Kinds of Everything (1970)

+8 Billy Connolly - D.I.V.O.R.C.E (1975)

+7 Lieutenant Pigeon - Mouldy Old Dough (1972)

+6 Esther and Abi Ofarim - Cinderella Rockefella (1968)

+5 Chuck Berry - My Ding-a-ling (1972)

+4 Lonnie Donegan - My Old Man’s a Dustman (1960)

+3 Lee Marvin - Wand’rin’ Star (1970)

+2 Rod Stewart - Do Ya Think I’m Sexy? (1978)

+1 Middle of the Road - Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (1971)

Thanks very much to the 21 intrepid voters who made it all the way back to the 50s with us! I really enjoyed this round; definitely had all kinds of everything in it.

 

But will Ray Stevens be on a winning streak?

Will the Ofarims be going to the ball?

Will the long haired lover qualify, or his longer haired brother?

Will the spelling master Billy Connolly be getting to the F.I.N.L. final?

Did ya think Rod was sexy?

Were you impressed by My Ding-A-Ling?

 

And for all these terrible jokes, there is no charge.

Edited September 27, 20222 yr by JulianT

25th: Lieutenant Pigeon - Mouldy Old Dough

 

 

Average score: 5.67

Highest score:

19 Alex!

Lowest score:

1 dandy*, King Rollo, chartjack2

 

Number 1 for 4 weeks in October / November 1972, blocking “Donna” by 10CC.

 

And so joining “Eternal Flame” and “Hello” to win the prestigious wooden spoon award are Nigel Fletcher and Robert Woodward, AKA Lieutenant Pigeon. This was recorded in Woodward’s front room with his mum playing the piano and Fletcher growling the only lyrics, “Mouldy old dough” and “Dirty old man”. Apparently the piano can still be seen in a Coventry museum.

 

It is the only UK #1 to feature a mother and son; of course we had a daddy-daughter combination in Heat 3. It was the 2nd biggest seller of the year behind that hideous bagpipe version of “Amazing Grace” that some of us wanted to include here instead! In truth once you get over the weird factor this is quite a charming and interesting record; was worth including just to introduce it to more people!

 

And here’s it being used in an advert for the New Zealand Lotto:

 

 

I’ve never seen a sight that didn’t look better looking back

 

24th: Lee Marvin - Wand’rin’ Star

 

 

Average score: 5.71

Highest score:

21 Adelita

Lowest score:

1 Jade, Mack., JulianT, jimwatts

 

Number 1 for 3 weeks in March 1970, blocking “I Want You Back” by The Jackson 5 and “Let It Be” by The Beatles (the latter being probably this record’s biggest crime).

 

This and “Mouldy Old Dough” had almost identical scores at the bottom and on reflection I do think they are quite possibly the best 2 songs of all the 100 in the competition. The song was written for the 1951 musical “Paint Your Wagon” which was made into a film starring Marvin in 1969. Apparently he insisted on singing the vocals himself despite not being a singer by any traditional measure.

 

Hence we ended up with one of the most unusual vocal performances in a #1, but I think once you get used to them the way the vocals interact with the band and the backing choir are in fact what make the record.

 

Gosh I wasn’t meant to be writing nice reviews here! Don’t worry it won’t last.

It’s all over now, nothing left to say,

Just my tears and the orchestra playing

 

23rd: Englebert Humperdinck - The Last Waltz

 

 

Average score: 7.43

Highest score:

15 Mack.

Lowest score:

1 DJ Cheeky Magpie

 

Number 1 for 5 weeks in September / October 1967, blocking “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again” by Tom Jones, “Excerpt From ‘A Teenage Opera’” by Keith West and Flowers In The Rain” by The Move. This was a million seller and the 11th biggest of the whole 1960s. Englebert also had the 8th biggest seller of the decade with “Release Me” and the 22nd biggest with “There Goes My Everything”, and quickly gained a following of devoted Humperdinckers.

 

The last waltz is both the last song of the night played by the DJ and the singer’s last ever dance with his love before she ditches him. Aww. This amusing 1/10 review by FreakyTrigger may partly explain why this is here: https://freakytrigger.co.uk/popular/2006/07...the-last-waltz/. If you listen to it again after reading that you can see what he means - there’s really no light or shade at all. But there’s no denying that it’s a catchy number and of course insensitive singing is quite a minor crime considering what else is on this list.

Edited September 27, 20222 yr by JulianT

Ooh Rod Stewart not coming last or even bottom 3, we love to see it!

 

Great to see Lieutenant Pigeon and Lee Marvin as the bottom 2, I think those are probably the 2 'best' songs here (even though I ranked Lonnie Donegan just behind them in terms of songs I'd most want to listen to), both genuinely good even if I can see why they wouldn't be for everyone. The Engelbert song is fine as well.

Glad Lee Marvin swiftly dropped out - I've always found 'Wand’rin’ Star' really compelling. I hope the proper version of it is eventually put on Spotify.

 

'Mouldy Old Dough' :cheeseblock: my mum told me that she once had to perform a gymnastics routine to that?! :lol: sure, why not

Good start to these results!

Yes all good for me too. For another Paint Your Wagon classic I suggest They Call The Wind Maria(h) by actor Harve Presnell, as in Mariah Carey named after it. Now there's a good looking man who can totally sing...

 

 

 

Now hold on a minute before we go much further

Give me a dime so I can phone my mother

 

22nd: Rod Stewart - Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?

 

 

Average score: 7.86

Highest score:

19 coi

Lowest score:

1 Popchartfreak, AH Gold, Uls2000

 

Number 1 for 1 week in November / December 1978 and the lead single from the album “Blondes Have More Fun”. The proceeds went to UNICEF and it was performed at the “Music For UNICEF” concert at the United Nations General Assembly (seems a rather odd choice for that now!)

 

N Trance and the Girls Of FHM reached the Top 10 with covers of this in 1997 and 2004 respectively. The Revolting Cocks also did a Number 61 cover in 1993 in which they replaced the line about him calling his mother with “Give me a buck so I can buy a rubber”. Much more to the point.

 

Does the line about phoning Mum make this slightly less creepy? Can we imagine Harry Styles getting away with a song like this now? Is this really just the 1978 “WAP”? Musically it’s a perfectly decent record and as others have pointed out Rod has had much more dirge-like Number 1s, but it’s hard not to feel uncomfortable with the theme in 2022.

Woke up this morning and my mama was gone

 

21st: Middle of the Road - Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep

 

 

Average score: 8.00

Highest score:

25 Alex!, coi

Lowest score:

1 Daan, Chez Wombat, Adelita, Leonardo, Dot Mirrorball

 

Number 1 for 5 weeks in June / July 1971, blocking “I Did What I Did For Maria” by Tony Christie, “Don’t Let It Die” by Hurricane Smith and “Co-Co” by The Sweet. This was the 3rd biggest seller of the year in the UK and sold more than 10 million worldwide.

 

Described as the sound of Europop before ABBA, the Scottish group had 2 further Top 5 hits. These had similarly weighty lyrics to “Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep” and were called “Soley Soley” and “Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum”.

 

Quite a few of you saved your 1 point for this, but there were also a few scores right at the other end. I guess it precariously straddles the line between catchy and annoying.

Edited September 29, 20222 yr by JulianT