A better group overall here with a huge classic at the top but plenty of other really solid rock tracks to enjoy.

 

9 T.Rex Get It On 302nd #1 with their most famous and perhaps best song; I love the slightly menacing feel and relentless galloping rhythm

8 Atomic Rooster Devil's Answer Sadly their 2nd and final hit but they've both been marvellous: this is a rollicking, punchy and well performed rock song

8 Dave And Ansil Collins Monkey Spanner I think the organ is particularly great on this: otherwise it's the similar individual and refreshing style to "Double Barrel"

7 The Rolling Stones Street Fighting Man An intriguing track with Indian instrumentation and controversial lyrics about revolution, but a strong compelling listen

7 The Move Tonight Written for The New Seekers but I think it suits The Move's more rugged style: it's a strong, catchy and compelling track

7 Bob Dylan Watching The River Flow A great more bluesy style track from him that's half spoken and has a conversational feel, and a twangy guitar break

6 The Delfonics La-La Means I Love You Their last hit: this is perhaps missing a hook to make it a big hit but it has a warm sound world and tender falsetto vocals

6 The Who Won't Get Fooled Again I really like the shimmering opening guitar section on this: it's a well delivered rock track but lacks a distinctive melody

5 The Tremeloes Hello Buddy Their last hit and their sound certainly is more 60s, but this is a nice swan song with some good folky instrumentation

4 The Fascinations Girls Are Out To Get You Only hit for this US soul group recorded a few years before but now popular on the Northern Soul scene: it's pleasant

4 The Supremes And The Four Tops River Deep, Mountain High This cover just feels like an attempt to keep both groups relevant, and I don't think the big forces add much to the song

3 Medicine Head (And The) Pictures In The Sky 1st hit for this John Peel championed UK rock group: they'll peak later but this has an awful lot of oohs and is a little dull

2 New World Tom-Tom Turnaround Their highest peaking hit but I don't much enjoy it: I find it lyrically naff and musically rather basic and uninteresting

2 Jim Reeves Moonlight And Roses His last hit and a Triple A but I've already reviewed 2 of them: I do love "He'll Have To Go" but this one is very languid

 

 

1971 Group 9:

 

#3776 10/07/1971 The New Seekers Never Ending Song Of Love 2 49-26-15-5-{2}-2-2-2-2-4-7-14-14-20-25-31-45-46-47->19

#3777 10/07/1971 Ken Dodd When Love Comes Round Again 19 50-44-36-42-28-38-28-29-24-28-{19}-22-27-34-37-44->16

#3778 17/07/1971 Family In My Own Time 4 36-30-23-11-5-5-5-{4}-11-14-20-35-45->13

#3779 17/07/1971 The Jackson Five Never Can Say Goodbye 33 43-41-34-{33}-33-33-49->7

#3780 17/07/1971 Buffy Sainte-Marie Soldier Blue 7 47-47-39-21-18-11-8-{7}-7-9-12-16-22-24-30-39-41-44->18

#3781 17/07/1971 Cliff Richard Flying Machine 37 48-43-41-{37}-41-43-43->7

17/07/1971 Elvis Presley Heartbreak Hotel/Hound Dog 10 50-29-29-13-14-{10}-17-18-29-26-36-41->12

#3782 24/07/1971 Gilbert O'Sullivan We Will 16 44-35-34-29-23-20-{16}-18-20-35-49->11

#3783 24/07/1971 Creedence Clearwater Revival Sweet Hitch-Hiker 36 50-38-48-40-{36}-36-44-43->8

#3784 31/07/1971 Diana Ross I'm Still Waiting 1 16-8-3-{1}-1-1-1-2-10-13-16-30-34-46->14

#3785 31/07/1971 Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando What Are You Doing Sunday 3 32-27-13-6-{3}-5-3-10-16-22-30-40->12

#3786 31/07/1971 Curtis Mayfield Move On Up 12 44-32-22-22-{12}-14-16-30-31-44->10

#3787 31/07/1971 The Pioneers Let Your Yeah Be Yeah 5 47-44-25-17-6-6-{5}-13-18-23-32-47->12

#3788 31/07/1971 The Tams Hey Girl Don't Bother Me 1 48-39-26-19-9-3-2-{1}-1-1-2-3-9-15-25-32-40->17

#3789 31/07/1971 The Velvelettes These Things Will Keep Me Loving You 34 49-40-46-{34}-34-34-40->7

'Get It On' a fantastic top pick :wub:

 

'Street Fighting Man' is the last truly essential Stones hit for me. Incidentally I first heard it and 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' on different episodes of the "Cheesily Cheerful Chart Challenge" segments of Mark Radcliffe's afternoon Radio 1 show in the late 90s.

 

The Delfonics may have had no more Top 40 hits, but their next single, the #41 'Ready Or Not Here I Come', did lend itself to a certain big hit coming up in the TOTP 1996 thread quite soon!

Does a more iconic soul riff exist than this?

 

9 Curtis Mayfield Move On Up Another era defining masterpiece that peaked far too low and the only Top 40 other than a later feature for this US singer

8 The Jackson Five Never Can Say Goodbye Originally intended for The Supremes, and it is a grown up theme for young Michael, but one of their very best songs

8 Buffy Sainte-Marie Soldier Blue From the film "Soldier Boy" and the 1st hit for this US folk singer: there's a compelling rawness and sensitivity to this

7 Family In My Own Time Their only Top 10 hit: I like how rough and ready and musically quirky this is with the plonky chords and growled vocals

7 Diana Ross I'm Still Waiting 303rd #1: the song has the potential to be overly sentimental but Diana tells the story well and it's a captivating melody

6 Cliff Richard Flying Machine His 1st Top 30 miss which is rather a shame as it's a charming and quite uplifting folky track enhanced by the flute riff

6 The Tams Hey Girl Don't Bother Me 304th #1: this feels like a very low key chart topper and it's their only really big hit, but it's an enjoyable soulful track

5 The Pioneers Let Your Yeah Be Yeah Their only really big hit written by Jimmy Cliff: it's good but quite a safe soul track and nothing we haven't heard before

5 Creedence Clearwater Revival Sweet Hitch-Hiker Their last Top 40 and one of their weaker ones I think: a decent and energetic but fairly standard slice of rock 'n' roll

4 The Velvelettes These Things Will Keep Me Loving You Only hit for this US group and actually a 60s song that gained airplay later: a nice well performed but not distinctive track

4 Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando What Are You Doing Sunday The follow up to their chart topper and I actually slightly prefer this: a very nicely done little tune though nothing exciting

3 The New Seekers Never Ending Song Of Love 1st Top 40 for this group formed following The Seekers' temporary breakup: I find this rather formulaic and overly cheery

2 Gilbert O'Sullivan We Will I think the mundane conversational style is Gilbert's trademark but it doesn't work in this over-sentimental track for me

2 Ken Dodd When Love Comes Round Again Ken comes round again: this one is not unpleasant but very old fashioned and plodding with an oddly jolly backing chorus

 

 

1971 Group 10:

 

#3790 31/07/1971 The Formations At The Top Of The Stairs 28 50-43R(2)-37-31-29-30-31-{28}-38-50-45->11

#3791 07/08/1971 Curved Air Back Street Luv 4 38-45-30-21-12-9-{4}-11-11-15-32-47->12

#3792 07/08/1971 Shirley Bassey For All We Know 6 46-35R(2)-32-26-21-15-13-10-7-{6}-7-6-9-14-20-23-17-25-27-27-29-40-48-47->24

#3793 07/08/1971 Carole King It's Too Late/I Feel The Earth Move 6 49-32-24-15-8-10-{6}-15-15-27-31-43->12

#3794 14/08/1971 George Harrison Bangla-Desh 10 27-15-{10}-11-12-22-29-42-47->9

#3795 14/08/1971 Daniel Boone Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast 17 48-42-33-28-24-21-{17}-18-19-20-24-25-38-40-47->15

#3796 21/08/1971 Gerry Monroe Little Drops Of Silver 37 39-40-38-{37}-39-37->6

#3797 21/08/1971 Nancy Sinatra And Lee Hazlewood Did You Ever 2 40-25-17-6-3-{2}-3-3-5-8-13-22-24-27-29-35-37-43-43->19

#3798 21/08/1971 The Supremes Nathan Jones 5 50-26-19-8-{5}-5-7-12-16-26-40->11

#3799 28/08/1971 James Taylor You've Got A Friend 4 39-36-14-12-9-8-5-{4}-4-8-15-23-31-39-43->15

#3800 28/08/1971 Paul And Linda McCartney Back Seat Of My Car 39 42-45-{39}-45-45->5

#3801 28/08/1971 Hot Chocolate I Believe (In Love) 8 44-25-15-{8}-8-9-10-17-27-35-44->11

#3802 28/08/1971 The Chi-Lites (For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People 32 48-43-41-35-{32}-43->6

#3803 28/08/1971 Cat Stevens Moon Shadow 22 50-42-33-34-27-25-24-{22}-28-41-45->11

'Move On Up' is very good and has that Amen-break style drum beat.

 

That top 2 both got covered/sampled in later decades helping to make the originals iconic songs.

 

The Diana Ross song is a very nice song.

Edited October 14, 2024Oct 14 by TheSnake

Get It On is a classic, though I didnt get to hear it till xmas 1971 after Jeepster had topped my charts, so it was the lost T.Rex track for me for quite some time, but by the 80's I was full on board 10/10. Devil's Answer is another I missed out on but has grown on me with the years, 7/10. Monkey Spanner I heard before Double barrel thanks to friend Graham who had a copy of this and Tom Tom Turnaround. I got it for Xmas as a big fave, cool Trojan Records sleeve and all. Quirky catchy reggae 9/10.

 

Street Fighting Man another one from later decades for me, and much better than Brown Sugar, 8/10. Tonight was one I was aware existed but took years to get to hear, frustratingly, as I'd been a fan of The Move and adored Roy Wood/Wizzard. It's decent enough 7/10. Dylan's I heard in 2021 for the first time and wasnt inspired to try a second listen, 2/10. The Delfonics 1968 US hit a belated UK hit, and one I took a year or two to hear, but it just sounds more gorgeously classic as the years pass 9/10.

 

The Who's Won;t Get Fooled Again I took a mid-70's punt on a battered scratched second-hand copy as it was The Who. Oh dear what a major disappointment, not even as good as Let's See Action and Join Together and neither of those were anywhere near Pinball Wizard/Tommy quality. 4/10. Hello Buddy I didn;t hear until 2021, yet again - and I rather like it! 7/10. The fascinations track I heard in 2017 for the first time, and it's OK, 6/10.

 

River Deep, one I actually knew at the time hooray, it made it over to Far East radio. It has nostalgia going for it, but it's no Ike & Tina, 6/10. Pictures In The Sky, again a 2021 newie to me, not bad 5/10. Tom Tom Turnaround, an old fashioned folk-ish ballad from Chinn-Chapman and New World's best record I think, I still rate it quite high 9/10. Sentimental, but I see it as a story from long ago, a bygone era, and not about the 1970's at all. The Jim Reeves barrel-scraping seemed endless by 1971, and I spoke as a Jim Reeves mid-60's fan....

 

 

Curtis Mayfield severely under-served by UK chart hits, it took a few years for me to hear and get into Move On Up, but a genuine classic, 9/10. Never can Say Goodbye was a huge fave of mine at the time, so it became a shock to find there was still a very different version ahead that I loved even more. 9/10 and in my charts this very week as tribute to Tito. Still lovely and Michael's young vocal remains emotionally affecting, no other child ever sung with such sincerity and depth as MJ.

 

Soldier Blue, another Xmas single for me, loved this record at the time, and the film was quite memorable, becoming the first real pro-First Nation movie after centuries of propaganda from invading settlers and armies. Take note every other nation in the world, it's you too. TBH I'm not as fond if it these days, Buffy's 80's stuff was better, but still a good 7/10 and an important song culturally. I never liked Family much, Roger's vocals just grated, 2/10.

 

I'm Still Waiting was the first new current UK number one I heard when we got back to the UK in September, and another I got for Xmas. Sweet, touching and sad all at once. Diana was still in her solo Imperial Phase, effortlessy classy and a UK-single that eventually got it released in the US, to far less acclaim, it's pretty unknown there to this day. 9/10. The Pioneers were a consistently good reggae act, hit or miss it didn't matter, and reggae was cool in 1971. I still love this track, and Jimmy Cliff was fab too, 9/10.

 

Sweet Hitch-Hiker not one I heard till I bought their Hits CD in the 90's - and it still hasn't impressed me, 2/10. The Velvelettes were often on UK TV variety shows at the time, but this is one that passed me by, s'OK, 3/10. Cliff's Flying Machine I think I heard once, maybe twice, and it's one of his weaker tracks of the time 3/10. What Are You Doing Sunday? another record my 15-year old Aunty bought and one I loved, but not as much as the previous 3 US singles, they'd gone for Summer Sand, the UK went for this one, I still find it nostalgically sweet, 8/10.

 

Ditto Never Ending Song Of Love, my Aunty had it, I played it every day, loved the multiple harmony vocals and tune, it reminded me of the musical bits that the various Muppets did on Sesame Street, newly-arrived on Singapore TV but not in the UK. I bought it as soon as I could afford it, and still am very fond of it 9/10. We Will is OK Gilbert, always verging on the maudlin or inane nursery rhyme, this one stays on the right side for me 7/10. Ken Dodd 2/10.

I think my favourite track here is “It’s Too Late”, but taking the double A side as a whole, even though “I Can Feel The Earth Move” is fab too, Curved Air narrowly come out on top.

 

9 Curved Air Back Street Luv Only hit for this UK progressive rock group: this sounds ahead of its time and I love how it builds on the pulsating riff

9 Carole King It's Too Late/I Feel The Earth Move Amazingly her 2nd and last here and a US #1: "It's Too Late" is an utterly sublime wistful number and the other side is great

8 George Harrison Bangla-Desh This doesn't feel like a protest song as it's brilliantly artistic: less straightforward and more gritty than "My Sweet Lord"

8 James Taylor You've Got A Friend Another Carole King song but this is the best remembered version: it's a lovely piece of easy listening tenderly performed

7 Paul And Linda McCartney Back Seat Of My Car A rather minor hit for Paul and Linda here but a lovely track written a while earlier that could easily have been on "Let It Be"

7 Hot Chocolate I Believe (In Love) My favourite of their hits so far, in their usual style but with an atmospheric guitar riff and violin part and a real tenderness

7 Cat Stevens Moon Shadow A really sweet, whimsical and intimate ballad about seeing one's shadow in the moonlight, later used for an animated film

6 The Formations At The Top Of The Stairs Only hit for this US band and another 60s song becoming a UK hit via the Northern Soul scene: very nice and well delivered

6 The Chi-Lites (For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People 1st hit for this US soul band: it's a rousing political number calling for equality with some nice musical elements well sung

5 The Supremes Nathan Jones From their 23rd studio album incredibly, there's nothing wrong with this but it isn't memorable and it's the same old style

4 Nancy Sinatra And Lee Hazlewood Did You Ever Quite comic lyrics in this faltering duet about a couple admitting to having affairs, but I wouldn't be listening out of choice

3 Shirley Bassey Did You Ever A '30s song originally given the Shirley treatment: it's her usual musical theatre style and well done but not especially for me

2 Daniel Boone Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast 1st of a couple of hits for this UK singer who I'd assumed was a US country act: it's sweet lyrically but not for me musically

2 Gerry Monroe Little Drops Of Silver His last Top 40 and the first I haven't given a 1, as despite being very twee this has fewer vocally spine chilling moments

 

 

 

 

1971 Group 11:

 

#3804 04/09/1971 Rod Stewart Maggie May/Reason To Believe 1 31-19-11-3-2-{1}-1-1-1-1-2-4-9-14-19-29-29-35-38-45-44->21

#3805 04/09/1971 The Marmalade Cousin Norman 6 37-20-17-7-{6}-8-7-17-21-39-43->11

#3806 04/09/1971 C.C.S. Tap Turns On The Water 5 39-26-18-6-{5}-6-8-11-14-23-38-41-46->13

#3807 04/09/1971 Middle Of The Road Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum 2 50-23-16-4-4-4-{2}-3-3-10-15-22-26-38-36-47-47->17

#3808 11/09/1971 Engelbert Humperdinck Another Time, Another Place 13 35-33-23-19-21-15-{13}-16-29-34-35-45->12

#3809 11/09/1971 The Fortunes Freedom Come, Freedom Go 6 45-32-21-17-9-10-{6}-7-11-19-25-28-37-41-50-50-48->17

#3810 11/09/1971 Rock Candy Remember 32 48-38-39-{32}-42-46->6

#3811 18/09/1971 Jethro Tull Life Is A Long Song/Up The 'Pool 11 25-19-12-{11}-11-16-27-37->8

#3812 18/09/1971 Bay City Rollers Keep On Dancing 9 37-40-26-25-19-20-{9}-16-17-21-27-33-49->13

#3813 18/09/1971 Carpenters Superstar/For All We Know 18 47-44-31-28-26-21-22-20-{18}-19-24-36-42->13

#3814 18/09/1971 Mungo Jerry You Don't Have To Be In The Army To Fight In The War 13 48-25-21-{13}-18-15-30-42->8

#3815 18/09/1971 Danyel Gerard Butterfly 11 49-30-20-23-13-12-{11}-18-25-33-40-46->12

#3816 25/09/1971 Redbone The Witch Queen Of New Orleans 2 46-29-14-9-{2}-2-2-3-11-16-24-35->12

#3817 25/09/1971 Vince Hill Look Around 12 47-46-33-29-23-17-{12}-13-13-13-19-24-24-24-28-48->16

 

I know “Butterfly” is musically nothing Earth shattering but I just find it so lovely and I think the thick French accent makes it all the more so. “Maggie May” is a classic though and certainly one of Rod’s best.

 

8 Danyel Gerard Butterfly Only hit for this French singer and composer partly translated into English: an utterly charming heartwarming piece of music

8 Rod Stewart Maggie May/Reason To Believe 305th #1: "Maggie May" is a fabulous song with great storytelling that suits Rod's voice well; the other side is a good cover

7 Redbone The Witch Queen Of New Orleans Only hit for this US band that is now associated with Halloween: a great track about a 19th century voodoo practitioner

7 Carpenters Superstar/For All We Know Both sides here are lovingly produced covers: "Superstar" has a particularly captivating vocal performance from Karen

6 Jethro Tull Life Is A Long Song/Up The 'Pool Nothing extraordinary but both sides are enjoyable slices of folk rock with their usual interesting rhythms and instruments

6 The Marmalade Cousin Norman Their 5th Top 10 and a catchy folk ballad with lovely harmonies, but not quite recreating the wistful magic of "Rainbow"

5 Mungo Jerry You Don't Have To Be In The Army To Fight In The War This feels like it could easily be a Dylan song with it's disgruntled storytelling and heavy use of harmonica: it's very decent

5 Middle Of The Road Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum I have to admit this song about clan rivalry is very catchy and it doesn't have the grating repetitiveness of their chart topper

4 Vince Hill Look Around His last hit by French composer Francis Lai: this is rather sweet with a twinkling accompaniment and my favourite of his hits

4 Bay City Rollers Keep On Dancing A cover of a mid '60s track giving this Scottish band their 1st hit: this is perfectly nice but feels rather inconsequential

3 Rock Candy Remember Their only hit and I can't find much about them: a catchy but rather raucous and unsubstle song in an early Beatles style

3 C.C.S. Tap Turns On The Water Their 3rd and highest peaking hit, but less interesting than the first couple; an average song plus the vocals are slightly rough

2 The Fortunes Freedom Come, Freedom Go Another hit for this mostly '60s Birmingham band: I find the chorus slightly irritating and it's rather predictable and formulaic

2 Engelbert Humperdinck Another Time, Another Place The title track from his album: he isn't getting the hits like he was and this is an uninteresting forgettably performed number

 

 

1971 Group 12:

 

#3818 25/09/1971 The Four Tops Simple Game 3 49-24-18-12-5-4-{3}-5-12-20-34->11

#3819 25/09/1971 Titanic Sultana 5 50-28-17-14-10-{5}-7-10-15-22-31-40->12

#3820 02/10/1971 Aretha Franklin Spanish Harlem 14 33-26-21-{14}-19-14-21-26-35->9

#3821 02/10/1971 Elvis Presley I'm Leavin' 23 36-31-27-29-{23}-28-30-34-41->9

#3822 02/10/1971 Roger Whittaker Mammy Blue 31 48-36-36-40-32-{31}-36-43-37-44->10

#3823 09/10/1971 Joan Baez The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down 6 29-23-18-12-{6}-9-10-15-18-31-46-46->12

#3824 09/10/1971 Al Green Tired Of Being Alone 4 37-28-19-10-{4}-6-9-11-23-30-35-35-46->13

#3825 09/10/1971 The Elgins Put Yourself In My Place 28 38-34-33-{28}-34-31-45->7

#3826 09/10/1971 Scott English Brandy 12 44-33-25-18-13-{12}-16-17-32-46->10

#3827 09/10/1971 Los Pop-Tops Mamy Blue 35 48-{35}-35-43-48-49->6

#3828 09/10/1971 Clodagh Rodgers Lady Love Bug 28 49-38-32-33-35-{28}-32-33-40-45-45-45->12

#3829 16/10/1971 The Settlers The Lightning Tree 36 41-39-{36}-36-41->5

#3830 16/10/1971 The Sweet Alexander Graham Bell 33 43-42-34-{33}-39->5

#3831 16/10/1971 Autumn My Little Girl 37 48-38-{37}-47-42-49->6

 

hi from Florida. Lots of oldies pop up here there and everywhere out and about - more than current music! So quick catch up here:

 

Back Street Luv was a cool prog rock beloved of da kids at the time, and still a haunting 9/10. I returned to the UK 2nd Sept so catching up with new music was exciting and my views willbe biased! It's Too Late was one I got for Xmas, classic 9/10 and so is Tapestry, though all of her albums around 69/72 are good. Bangla-Desh was very worthy, but never clicked with me 4/10. James Taylor's cover (with as assist from Carole King) isnt as good as Carole's version but it's quite nice, though I found it dull at the time. 8/10.

 

Back Seat Of My Car is under-rated, but not nearly as the US smash number one uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey which is a 10/10 classic and never a single in the UK very annoyingly, This one is merely an 8/10. I got back from Singapore, heard I Believe (In Love) and went mad for it right away. I wrote to dad to buy it for me while he was still in Singapore, but the best he could do was Shirley Bassey. So I got it for Xmas instead. :) 10/10.

 

Moon Shadow is sweet, 8/10, The Formations heard finally in 2021, 5/10. Chi-Lites ballads were drop-dead brilliant, this one less so but still good 6/10. Nathan Jones sounded very modern for the new Ross-less Supremes, esp the synthy guitar vibes, one I wanted for xmas but wasnt available - 10/10. So good Bananarama covered it. Did You Ever is quirky, amusing, daring Country and it was great to have Nancy & Lee back - but it's not in the same league as total classic psychedelia flops Sand, Some Velvet Morning and Summer Wine. 9/10.

 

Wrong Shirley title methinks! Her cover of For All We Know The Carpenter's fabness ballad was due soon, that'll be the one dad bought me back from Singapore and is an 8/10. Daniel Boone could write a song when he wanted, and this did become a huge US hit for Wayne Newton I think, but it's a bit dreary 4/10. Gerry Monroe 2/10.

Butterfly is a great record, but there are lots of versions floating around as it was a global hit. The UK version is the Australian hit version, complete with charming French accent sung in English, not the lesser version bunged on an Arcade various artist compilation album later in the year which revolutionised the UK record-buying habits: it was basically the fore-runner of Now. 8/10. Maggie May remains timeless but I wasnt a major fan at the time. I'll give it 9/10 now though.

 

Witch Queen is very swamp-rock voodoo and Redbone were Native Americans who became timeless with later US hit Come And Get Your Love which has been everywhere since Guardians Of The Galaxy. 10/10. Superstar was the main A side, Carpenters at their haunting wistful best 10/10, Shirley got all the airplay for For All We Know, but this is the definitive version 9/10. Life's A Long Song is decent Tull, 7/10, never heard that other track. Cousin Norman was more country-styled and quirky fun for Marmalade 8/10.

 

Mungo Jerry's was OK, but not quite up to previous singles, 7/10. Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum I went mad on the moment I heard it, loved that tune, Sally's unusual voice and that Scottish theme, a huge chart-topper at the time for me, but a decent nostalgic 9/10 these days for old times sake. Look Around is quite tuneful, and from a film I think, 7/10, while keep On Dancing was a Jonathan King bubblegum production cover that sounded fun - got the single for Xmas. 8/10 and better than all of their later hit singles with a new lead singer, but not as great as the flop 1972 single Manana from the 2 producers/writers of Dave Dee, Dozy & Co hits, one of whom died last week. RIP Ken Howard.

 

Rock Candy passed me by at the time, 5/10, C.C.S. was another Xmas prezzie single for me, the brass section is amazing and DJ Alexis Korner's raspy vocal was bold and mildly naughty. 9/10. The Fortunes brilliant classic was You've Got Your Troubles, but their previous single, the fabulous Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again was a UK flop and US smash. That's a 10/10 pop jewel, this was more of a follow-up hit 7/10. They have one more diamond to come. Engelbert was still listenable but not lush and all-conquering anymore 5/10.

A really great return to form for the Four Tops here, and some other interesting discoveries.

 

8 The Four Tops Simple Game They're back to their best with their 1st Top 3 in a while: a really great soul song with their harrowing angst ridden delivery

8 Joan Baez The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down An excellently sung cover of a song by The Band about the American Civil War giving Joan her last but highest peaking hit

8 The Settlers The Lightning Tree Only hit for this UK folk band with a delightfully medieval influenced track given a lovely light and whimsical performance

7 Autumn My Little Girl Only hit here for this Australian band: this is lovely and could be an early Beatles track with its strong melody and harmonies

7 The Sweet Alexander Graham Bell A much smaller hit than the 2 they had earlier in the year, but a very strong and captivating piece of stompy early glam rock

6 Elvis Presley I'm Leavin' A small hit and it doesn't have much of a chorus but I like the wistful "la la la" and he gives it a lovely gentle performance

6 Titanic Sultana A mainly Norwegian band here with their only hit: an instrumental in the style of Santana: it's an enjoyable Latin style track

6 Al Green Tired Of Being Alone 1st hit for this US singer: it's a very smooth and beautifully delivered soul track without being anything really distinctive

5 Aretha Franklin Spanish Harlem A '60s song already done by several artists: this version has strong harmonies and she puts a lot into the performance

5 Los Pop-Tops Mamy Blue A French song translated and giving this Spanish group their only hit: there's a mysterious air to this version that I like

5 The Elgins Put Yourself In My Place Their 2nd and last hit: a pleasant version of this Motown song but I don't think there's anything to make it stand out

4 Scott English Brandy His only hit with the song that will become "Mandy" when covered: plodding in any form but this original is quite soulful

4 Clodagh Rodgers Lady Love Bug Her last hit: this has something of a slapstick comedy feel to it, and is a fun and catchy listen but in a rather naff way

3 Roger Whittaker Mammy Blue Of the 2 versions of this song present here this is certainly the more cumbersome: it needs a more subtle performance

 

 

1971 Group 13:

 

#3832 16/10/1971 The Doors Riders On The Storm 22 50-42R(2)-40-33-30-30-{22}-29-37-37-40->11

#3833 23/10/1971 Tom Jones Till 2 22-20-5-4-{2}-6-8-8-10-10-19-37-32-41-42->15

#3834 23/10/1971 The Move Chinatown 23 36-31-26-26-{23}-25-30-39->8

#3835 23/10/1971 Springwater I Will Return 5 37-24-17-8-{5}-7-9-13-21-21-26-36->12

#3836 23/10/1971 The Who Let's See Action 16 46-44-30-27-24-19-20-{16}-30-30-31-45->12

#3837 23/10/1971 The Newbeats Run, Baby Run (Back Into My Arms) 10 48-38-24-20-14-12-{10}-11-11-11-23-29-46->13

#3838 23/10/1971 Olivia Newton-John Banks Of The Ohio 6 49-29-21-11-{6}-8-7-6-9-9-11-22-23-29-34-38-49->17

#3839 30/10/1971 Slade Coz I Luv You 1 26-8-{1}-1-1-1-3-3-3-14-16-25-31-50-44->15

#3840 30/10/1971 Diana Ross Surrender 10 48-27-22-18-{10}-12-15-17-17-33-33->11

#3841 30/10/1971 Jimi Hendrix Experience Gypsy Eyes/Remember 35 50-43-{35}-36-47->5

#3842 06/11/1971 The Piglets Johnny Reggae 3 19-7-{3}-5-5-10-14-14-24-28-37-45->12

#3843 06/11/1971 Cher Gypsys, Tramps And Thieves 4 32-16-7-{4}-4-5-8-8-10-19-27-38-46->13

#3844 13/11/1971 Benny Hill Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West) 1 29-17-3-2-{1}-1-1-1-2-3-13-21-30-32-40-44-45->17

#3845 13/11/1971 T.Rex Jeepster 2 37-8-{2}-3-2-2-2-2-3-10-18-29-34-44-46->15

 

Amazing that “Riders On The Storm” was recorded just before Jim Morrison’s death. That has to win but “Run, Baby Run” might be my favourite discovery of the year. It’s a very strong top half in general.

 

9 The Doors Riders On The Storm This will be a hit 3 times and it's a fabulous song with poetic lyrics, dramatic vocals and brilliant instrumental sections

9 The Newbeats Run, Baby Run (Back Into My Arms) 2nd and last hit for them, actually from the mid '60s but popular on the Northern Soul scene and a delightful catchy track

8 Cher Gypsys, Tramps And Thieves Cher's 1st hit for 4 years and her debut properly away from Sonny, this is a great song with a circus feel and strong lyrics

8 Diana Ross Surrender Her 4th solo Top 10 and she really does justice to this emotion laden and dramatic track: a great and classy piece of soul

8 The Move Chinatown Their only Top 20 miss but not sure why as it's an excellently delivered pop rock number with fun Far Eastern themed lyrics

7 T.Rex Jeepster Already their 4th Top 2: another great track but I don't think it has anything to set it apart from the chart toppers before it

7 Slade Coz I Luv You 306th #1: they've really perfected their style now and this is a really good catchy song with the trademark raspy vocals

6 The Who Let's See Action Apparently the lyrics are Pete Townshend addressing the youth: it's an enjoyable and energetic track and their 20th hit

5 Jimi Hendrix Experience Gypsy Eyes/Remember An enjoyable double A side of psychedelic blues here, especially "Gypsy Eyes", but neither track is especially memorable

4 Benny Hill Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West) 307th #1: this novelty song was written for a sketch show in the '50s and later aired on TV; it's quite good fun for what it is

3 Olivia Newton-John Banks Of The Ohio One of those murder themed songs; it's rather morbid and something of a dirge, but I do really enjoy the orchestration

2 Springwater I Will Return Only hit for Phil Cordell who played all the instruments on the track, but this very slow instrumental doesn't do much for me

1 Tom Jones Till I already disliked this song in the '50s and now we're getting a very overblown cover of it, but it's giving him his 6th Top 2

1 The Piglets Johnny Reggae Only hit for this novelty group: from the irritatingly catchy melody to the exaggerated Cockney accents this really is terrible

 

 

 

1971 Group 14:

 

#3846 13/11/1971 Cliff Richard Sing A Song Of Freedom 13 45-29-18-{13}-14-13-13-22-20-26-36-44->12

#3847 13/11/1971 Deep Purple Fireball 15 48-38-32-21-18-{15}-15-17-15-18-26-33-41->13

#3848 13/11/1971 Burundi Steiphenson Black Burundi Black 31 50-37-{31}-39-33-31-31-38-32-35-40-39-43-46->14

#3849 20/11/1971 John Kongos Tokoloshe Man 4 28-14-6-{4}-6-6-7-11-24-32-41->11

#3850 20/11/1971 Cilla Black Something Tells Me (Something Is Gonna Happen Tonight) 3 39-21-11-12-7-7-{3}-7-6-12-22-35-41-45->14

#3851 20/11/1971 Tony Christie (Is This The Way To) Amarillo? 18 44-38-25-21-20-20-20-{18}-21-25-37-36-45->13

#3852 20/11/1971 The Supremes And The Four Tops You Gotta Have Love In Your Heart 25 46-34-29-27-{25}-25-27-26-36-43->10

#3853 20/11/1971 Jonathan King Hooked On A Feeling 23 48-36-26-28-{23}-23-30-31-31-42->10

#3854 27/11/1971 Labi Siffre It Must Be Love 14 42-27-17-16-16-15-{14}-19-23-31-33-40->12

#3855 27/11/1971 Gilbert O'Sullivan No Matter How I Try 5 44-15-9-{5}-5-8-9-12-11-18-24-28-38-34-48->15

#3856 27/11/1971 The Marmalade Back On The Road 35 49-42-43-38-38-39-{35}-50R(2)->8

#3857 27/11/1971 Congregation Softly Whispering I Love You 4 50-28-20-12-12-6-{4}-4-5-14-21-29-37-37->14

#3858 04/12/1971 Isaac Hayes Theme From 'Shaft' 4 16-7-{4}-4-5-6-14-14-24-29-33-36->12

#3859 04/12/1971 Elvis Presley I Just Can't Help Believin' 6 41-22-22-22-16-10-7-{6}-6-10-13-23-24-34-42-45->16

 

My favourites since I last commented are 'Move On Up', 'Never Can Say Goodbye' and 'I'm Still Waiting', all from the very next batch - although I'm also quite partial to a certain EOY bestseller in the 2000s coming up next...

It's reached the point now where I can remember some of these songs from when they were actually in the chart. I certainly remember the video for Benny Hill's song being played at the end of Top Of The Pops each week it was at no.1 and also have a memory of the animated video for Johnny Reggae.

 

Jeff Lynne shares lead vocals with Roy Wood on Chinatown. At this time, they had already completed recording the first ELO album but were still releasing singles as The Move.

 

 

An Oscar winner and Billboard #1 at the top here: a stirring and unique track.

 

9 Isaac Hayes Theme From 'Shaft' 1st hit for this US singer and composer: it's progressive soul mixed with funk: sounds like nothing else and works beautifully

8 Labi Siffre It Must Be Love Debut hit for this UK singer that will be bigger when covered, but this original is lovely and has a very soulful simplicity

8 Congregation Softly Whispering I Love You Only hit for this UK band with a David and Jonathan cover: a beautiful ethereal song combining rock and classical elements

7 John Kongos Tokoloshe Man His 2nd and last hit (both #4s) also to be sampled by the Happy Mondays: a strong and gritty piece of early glam rock

7 Burundi Steiphenson Black Burundi Black Only hit for arranger Michael Bernholc: an intriguing instrumental sampling tribal drumming and bringing it into a rock track

7 Tony Christie (Is This The Way To) Amarillo? Will be the 1,006th #1 and a million seller but only #1 now: an excellent straightforward pop tune and surely Tony's best

6 Elvis Presley I Just Can't Help Believin' A BJ Thomas cover: I do think Elvis really sings the socks off this and I enjoy it more than most of his covers around this time

6 Deep Purple Fireball Another good song from them but again doesn't quite manage to be distinctive and their singles are quite similar in style

5 Jonathan King Hooked On A Feeling Also originally a hit for BJ Thomas in 1968 but not in the UK, this version isn't as good though I like the "ooka-chucka"

5 The Marmalade Back On The Road A rather small hit here and not essential but with all the usual enjoyable elements like close harmonies and folky storytelling

4 Cilla Black Something Tells Me (Something Is Gonna Happen Tonight) Her last big hit and a very well written song with a slightly cabaret feel, but not really my thing and not to my taste vocally

4 The Supremes And The Four Tops You Gotta Have Love In Your Heart 2nd and final hit for this supergroup combination: it's a sweet tune but slightly overblown and repetitive with too many cooks

3 Gilbert O'Sullivan No Matter How I Try His biggest hit so far with his usual conversational lyrics: not bad but musically I find it a little plodding and uninteresting

1 Cliff Richard Sing A Song Of Freedom After a couple of interesting less commercial singles from Cliff it's back to the cheese with this awful happy clappy anthem

 

 

1971 Group 15:

 

#3860 04/12/1971 Val Doonican Morning 12 45-26-19-19-{12}-13-15-19-28-31-35-42-46->13

#3861 04/12/1971 Ronnie Dyson When You Get Right Down To It 34 47-{34}-34-34-37-34->6

#3862 04/12/1971 New World Kara Kara 17 49-32-28-28-21-{17}-22-21-26-32-34-35-45->13

#3863 11/12/1971 Middle Of The Road Soley Soley 5 23-18-18-9-{5}-5-7-11-18-25-33-41->12

#3864 11/12/1971 John Barry Theme From 'The Persuaders' 13 48-33-33-32-27-20-20-{13}-20-21-24-26-25-32-37->15

#3865 18/12/1971 Johnny Pearson Orchestra Sleepy Shores 8 26-26-13-{8}-9-9-12-19-24-27-27-35-28-30-35->15

#3866 18/12/1971 The New Seekers I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony) 1 32-32-4-{1}-1-1-1-2-4-7-13-15-21-22-20-24-31-29-34-47-49->21

#3867 18/12/1971 Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Theme From 'The Onedin Line' 15 36-36-25-25-17-{15}-16-27-26-30-33-39-41-35->14

#3868 18/12/1971 San Remo Strings Festival Time 39 40-40-49-46-43-{39}-48-45->8

#3869 18/12/1971 Faces Stay With Me 6 44-44-43-23-16-8-7-{6}-11-21-21-38-50-49->14

#3870 18/12/1971 America A Horse With No Name 3 49-49-21R(2)-11-{3}-4-4-6-11-19-28-36-40->13

#3871 01/01/1972 Neil Reid Mother Of Mine 2 18-12-{2}-2-2-3-3-5-9-13-15-10-15-21-24-44-44-49-48-50->20

#3872 01/01/1972 Melanie Brand New Key 4 34-24-8-{4}-5-5-8-14-18-24-33-43->12

#3873 01/01/1972 Cat Stevens Morning Has Broken 9 36-30-13-10-{9}-13-23-25-32-41-43-42-44->13

Simple Game a big chart-topping fave for me, one of The Four Tops huge powerful ballads and it took me 20 years to find out it was a Moody Blues cover! 10/10 and in my current charts following the passing of the final original Top member Duke. Similarly I had no idea Dixie was a cover, but it's another I loved at the time, Joan Baez' best recording 10/10. The Lightning Tree was a theme from a kids TV show Follyfoot, beloved of kids of that era as a result and based on a an ancient folk tune that is better known now - as Wellerman, courtesy of Nathan Evans. 7/10

 

Autumn's minor hit was a Terry Wogan radio fave at the time (I know cos I recorded it off his Radio 2 show) a pleasant 6/10, and Alexander Graham Bell sounds better than it did at the time for The Sweet, 8/10, and I agree it was the La La's that won me over for Elvis' I'm Leavin', one I got for Xmas and the last new Elvis single I bought during his lifetime, it was mostly downhill after this. 8/10. Sultana sound way better to my ears now than it did at the time - I liked it a lot but I love it now 10/10.

 

Tired Of being Alone introduced the brilliant Al Green to the UK, and these days I wish I could sing like Al, but then I found it a bit dull. Texas' cover made me re-evaluate it 9/10 and Al has a cool back-catalogue that his relatively few hit records might not suggest. Spanish Harlem is a wonderful song, always sounds good, but Aretha took it to another level and funked it up big, 9/10. Roger Whittaker's cover of Mamy Blue got the radio play in the UK, and I liked it a lot, these days it's a pleasant 5/10 and the Pop Tops version a better 7/10.

 

The Elgins' cover of the Isley's Put Yourself In My Place is the first version I heard, and liked, and it sounds even better to me now, a good 9/10, I really like the lead singers' voice, and Scott English's Brandy is a great 9/10, bordering on a 10/10 for me, his unusual voice gives the song a credibility and passion that every insipid cover as Mandy totally lacks. I can't understate how annoyed I was by the Barry Manilow cover. Made Scott well-off though, so win/win. Clodagh still has one radio airplay hit to come in 1976, a serious effort to produce mature ballads (Save Me) and get away from the bubblegum like this cheerful bit of fun 7/10. Dropping the catchy tunes killed her chart career though, starting with 1972's It's Different Now. It certainly was, but she remained a TV variety show regular through the early 70's.

 

 

Riders Of The Storm was my first awareness of Jim Morrison and he was already dead when it charted, it was a bit dark but quite nice and a track that grew in stature as time passed for me, along with older Doors tracks 9/10. Hauntingly pretty. Run Baby Run I loved, and I love it even more these days, it needs to be better known - it's rarely played anywhere, the last time I recall hearing it out and about was in the 90's at Kissimmee Old Town in Florida, it was being piped out into street speakers along with other vintage 60's stuff. 10/10. Cher's is a classic, I first heard it on Top Of The Pops and I thought it was a male group lead singer (! so naive!) but mum said she thought it was Cher and indeed it was Cher back and big again, another huge fave 10/10.

 

Surrender topped my chart, it's a schizophrenic song, the verses seem fairly ordinary, and then it blows up into a monster chorus. 10/10. Diana was at her first solo peak still. Chinatown was a fun track I liked, 7/10. T.Rex's Jeepster sounded modern, ominous and daring and was an instant number 1 for me, ahead of me hearing Get It On as I caught up on T.Rextasy, the biggest band in the land. It's not quite up to the previous 2 singles, and an album track Bolan didnt want released as he fled from Fly to EMI, but it's still a 10/10 for me.

 

Slade also landed with a bang and an innovative new sound, stomping, laddy, and that violin sound was amazing. Slade's best record by some distance 10/10. The Who were always trying to address Da Yoof in their lyrics, but we were more into Glam by this time and US soul had more to say in a more positive and melodic emotional backdrop. Let's See Action I rate less than I did at the time, 4/10. Hendrix-barrel-scraping very much a thing from 1971 onwards, an industry in itself that added nothing to the great singles of the 60's. 2/10.

 

Ernie was Benny Hill's wittiest song - he'd been having the odd novelty hit for over a decade or so, but the words were just right on this well-produced amusing story, and a hit again when he died. My little brother bought it for Xmas, his second-ever single of 4 pop music faves he bought as a youngster. 7/10. Banks Of The Ohio wasnt a big fave of mine, and it's still only a 5/10 at best, much as I love Livvie. Springwater I also only mildly liked at the time, the plodding rhythm didn't click with me so much, but I bought it as an oldie second-hand around 1975 and have pretty much rated it ever since. 9/10

 

Tom giving the old song his all, my dad loved singing along to this, and he could match Tom note for note, not even difficult for him. One of life's big laughs on me that my singing voice comes from my mum's side of the family...! 7/10. Johnny Reggae is another Xmas prezzie record I requested, by this time I was a Jonathan King admirer, I loved reggae, and this was fun and unusual, mocking the skin-head movement of the time who were out causing headline trouble around the UK at concerts and seaside resorts. I'll be generous and say it was social commentary rather than a pre-teen novelty song... 7/10.

Shaft was another "wow this sounds like the future of music!" moment when it came out sounding like nothing before it, and it's still a 10/10 exciting record, pushing Shaft the movie and actor Richard Roundtree into global fame even if I was too young to be able to see it. Labi Siffre's It Must Be Love was a fave from the first time I heard it quite a few weeks before it charted, just beautiful, angelic, touching, and much as I also love the Madness version, this is the 10/10 definitive. The Congregation was also a huge fave, a powerful blend of rock vocals with choir, a great song from David & Jonathan aka Rogers Cook & Greenaway aka hit songwriters of the 60's and 70's aka Blue Mink lead singer who I saw early this year with Madeline Bell doing a long medley of some of his many hits. 10/10. Lead singer here from Plastic Penny, 60's hitsters.

 

Tokoloshe Man is a also a powerful tribal beat with an ominous vibe to it, and even more exciting than Kongos' first 10/10. I did buy the follow-up ballad flop though, very different from this! Talking of tribal drumming, Burundi is one that got no airplay, I give it a 3/10 from my first plays of it in 2021. Amarillo was always catchy, and I was happy to see it become a monster 21st century hit, but in no way would I have ever predicted that in 1971 when it was just a decent song that gave Neil Sedaka his first success in years. 5/10 due to over-saturation in the last 20 years. More of a 7/10 at the time.

 

I really rated the Elvis cover at the time, but like most Elvis 70's ballads, I find I can't listen to them anymore since mum died. Too traumatic for me. 4/10. Fireball is my fave Deep Purple track, it's almost got a Motorhead vibe to it, Lemmy was definitely taking notice! 8/10. Hooked On A Feeling was chart-topping fave for me, loved the oogah-choogahs and was a bit miffed when Blue Swede grabbed the US number one spot with a soundalike cover (albeit with a much better singer, and bit more oomph) in 1974. Now famous in Guardians Of The Galaxy, but JK remains just a footnote. 8/10.

 

Back On The Road, as with most Marmalade tracks, I liked - but not as much as usual. 5/10. Cilla's TV show theme was as big as the show as she morphed into the nation's fave Scouse-next-door, but it never quite did the biz as 60's Cilla did for me, too MOR. 6/10. Supremes & Four Tops combo not as good as either of their solo stuff, 7/10 though. Gilbert still quirky & enjoyable, but most of his stuff hasnt dated well for me, loved this much more at the time. 7/10. Cliff's was never a fave of mine, indeed this was prob the first of his singles that I wasn't much keen on while it was charting. I like it a bit more these days, scraping a 6/10 as I like the simplistic, but sincere, message.

 

 

 

 

If the next batch is the last of the year, these are my favourites from 1971, in the order they came up:

 

George Harrison - My Sweet Lord

The Supremes - Stoned Love

Lynn Anderson - Rose Garden

The Delfonics - Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)

The Rolling Stones - Brown Sugar

The Rolling Stones - Street Fighting Man

Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up

The Jackson Five - Never Can Say Goodbye

Diana Ross - I'm Still Waiting

Tony Christie - (Is This The Way To) Amarillo?

America - A Horse With No Name

 

If I had to strike one out to leave a top 10, it would probably be The Jackson Five