Proud Mary CCR is my original version and I've never gotten on with any covers of it, not even the raunchy Ike & Tina version, but I still prefer other CCR records too, that said. Good though. Living In The Past far and away Jethro Tull's finest moment, still rate it. Way Of Life was a huge fave. love me that melody and the harmonies, and I was big on doing my own charts at this time - but it still couldnt quite hit number 1, doh!

 

Gimme Gimme Good Lovin and a forgotten bubblegum gem, great fun. Oh Happy Day another fave, soaring and epic. As I wasnt too fussed by lyrics, the religious background was only incidental to my love of that choir and a rousing performance. And another number 2 that couldnt quite get to the top till later reissues.

 

Bob Dylan not one I knew. It's Dylan, it's OK. What Is A Man another that I missed but got hold of a copy in 1972 from friends of mum and dad, I like it. Tomorrow Tomorrow is OK but treading water till both split parties come out with great records, and then get back together. The Beatles' (it's John & Paul) is fab, it was different and lyrically it totally made sense (despite my tendency to not be too fussed about lyrics, this was the main appeal), better than Get Back, I still seem to be in a minority amongst Beatles fans in rating it though.

 

Wet Dream was banned, so I never got to hear it, nor did I know what it was about, or why it got skipped on the chart show! By the time I did get to hear about it years later and then got to hear it, I was disappointed a bit! Tammi & Marvin another one from after the event for me. Nice enough. Boogaloo Party was another 1976 discovery for me, S'OK. Let's hang On, love the original, didnt get to hear this. Big Ship was another number 2 for me, at the time, but yes really not aged well! Frozen Orange Juice I really liked and like, was just getting into it and we left the country for 2 years, doh! Didn't hear it again until 1974 on the 5 Years Ago chart rundowns.

Elvis coming out with this after years in the wilderness must have been a huge surprise, and we have an underperforming great in this batch too.

 

9 Elvis Presley In The Ghetto What a beautiful story marvellously arranged and delivered by him and the backers, and so different from all his other hits

9 Steppenwolf Born To Be Wild What a classic: only hit for them considered the first heavy metal song; chart injustice though will reach the Top 20 in 30 years

8 The Beach Boys Break Away They aren't hitting the dizzy chart heights anymore but this has a beautifully warm and hopeful feeling and luscious harmonies

8 Thunderclap Newman Something In The Air 273rd #1: only Top 40 for this Who spin off band; an advert has made this very recognisable but I still think it's a great record

7 The Rolling Stones Honky Tonk Women 274th #1 and the last of their 8: a fun record that builds into a raucous party and doesn't let up, with nice use of instruments

7 Herb Alpert And The Tijuana Brass Without Her A cover but very lovely: Herb wasn't primarily a singer but there's something very beautiful about his almost whispered tone

6 The Marmalade Baby Make It Soon 4 weeks at #9 for this: nothing extraordinary but an endearing and heartwarming number with a soaring band assisted chorus

6 Desmond Dekker And The Aces It Miek More very intriguing Jamaican Patois lyrics, and it bobs along nicely, but not in the same league of brilliance as their first couple

5 Scott Walker Lights Of Cincinatti Last of his 3 hits and this is much better than "Joanna" and less good than "Jackie" for me, but his voice is utterly captivating

5 The Isley Brothers It's Your Thing A funk anthem with lyrics about them breaking away from their label: I should like it more but the hook doesn't quite grab me

5 Joe Dolan Make Me An Island Debut hit for this Irish entertainer and it does have a showtune feel but it's an extremely catchy chorus and he carries it well

4 Amen Corner Hello Suzie Last hit for them and a very successful one: it is an infectious melody but not something about which I can get very excited

4 Billy Preston That's The Way God Planned It His only solo Top 40: it has warm production and strong guitar parts: I just find the main melody slightly plodding and repetitive

3 The Plastic Ono Band Give Peace A Chance I enjoy the rapped parts and the hook the 1st time it comes but then it drags for me; I tend to enjoy John's political songs less

2 Jim Reeves When Two Worlds Collide A very sluggish and sleepy one from Jim sadly; such a slow ballad needs more development than this to maintain the interest

 

 

 

1969 Group 9:

 

#3354 12/07/1969 Robin Gibb Saved By The Bell 2 25-18-5-3-3-{2}-2-3-9-10-12-23-22-25-29-34-49R(3)->17

#3355 12/07/1969 Clodagh Rodgers Goodnight Midnight 4 31-23-8-6-{4}-6-7-16-19-20-47-48R(2)->12

#3356 12/07/1969 Cilla Black Conversations 7 32-24-20-13-8-{7}-9-13-15-21-34-38->12

#3357 12/07/1969 Donovan And Jeff Beck Goo Goo Barabajagal (Love Is Hot)! 12 44-25-18-{12}-14-14-33-43-46->9

#3358 12/07/1969 Georgie Fame Peaceful 16 46-40-29-29-{16}-25-24-31-43->9

#3359 19/07/1969 Stevie Wonder My Cherie Amour 4 29-22-16-6-5-{4}-4-4-8-11-16-21-27-37-45->15

#3360 19/07/1969 The Dells I Can Sing A Rainbow - Love Is Blue 15 41-30-25-{15}-15-15-25-23-45->9

#3361 19/07/1969 Love Affair Bringing On Back The Good Times 9 43-25-19-13-{9}-11-12-18-32-41->10

#3362 19/07/1969 Diana Ross And The Supremes No Matter What Sign You Are 37 48-{37}-38-40-40-43-38->7

#3363 26/07/1969 Vanity Fare Early In The Morning 8 34-21-17-{8}-10-10-12-14-21-30-38-40->12

#3364 26/07/1969 The Move Curly 12 38-34-19-19-{12}-14-13-13-20-32-46-48->12

#3365 26/07/1969 Marvin Gaye Too Busy Thinking 'Bout My Baby 5 40-28-32-12-8-7-6-{5}-6-8-15-21-24-27-33-45->16

#3366 26/07/1969 Tommy Roe Heather Honey 24 44-31-33-30-35-27-{24}-29-37->9

26/07/1969 Fleetwood Mac Need Your Love So Bad {1969} 32 45-35-37-35-{32}-46-42R(2)-49-45->9

#3367 26/07/1969 Fairport Convention Si Tu Dois Partir 21 47-42-31-29-{21}-21-25-37-49R(2)->9

#3368 02/08/1969 The Equals Viva Bobby Joe 6 37-25-20-14-{6}-7-7-7-9-13-23-25-24-44->14

Edited February 8, 20241 yr by JulianT

'Born To Be Wild' :dance: classic indeed. What was the cause of re-entering in 99?

'Born To Be Wild' :dance: classic indeed. What was the cause of re-entering in 99?

Looks like it was connected with Steppenwolf releasing a greatest hits album.

I had no idea that Steppenwolf song was that old...!

 

(or, once again, that it peaked so low, even after the 1999 re-release)

No obvious winner here but taking one last chance to appreciate Steve Ellis and the fact that Love Affair had great songs beyond the overplayed “Everlasting Love”.

 

8 Love Affair Bringing On Back The Good Times The last hit for them and another masterful vocals performance from Steve Ellis on a beautiful, infectious and uplifting track

8 Vanity Fare Early In The Morning Their only Top 10 hit here and it's a wonderful clavioline led mid tempo track that dances along and never pauses for breath

7 Stevie Wonder My Cherie Amour This had been a B Side but was released while Stevie toured the UK: a very tender track that really demonstrates his star quality

7 Marvin Gaye Too Busy Thinking 'Bout My Baby A cover of a Motown song from The Temptations but one of Marvin's biggest and best remembered hits, very soulfully done

6 Clodagh Rodgers Goodnight Midnight Anothe clever and catchy song that she delivers very well, with a charming folky flute led accompaniment, and a 2nd Top 5 hit

6 Donovan And Jeff Beck Goo Goo Barabajagal (Love Is Hot)! Last of Donovan's 10 hits: I like the "I Am The Walrus" inspired nonsense lyrics and the singalong, if slightly repetitive, chorus

5 Georgie Fame Peaceful A cover here and not the most dynamic but it suits his smooth voice and laid back style, and there's nice use of instruments

5 The Move Curly After their first five hits all went Top 5 #12 for this is an underperformance: it's decent but quite poppy and not so memorable

4 The Equals Viva Bobby Joe Written by Eddy Grant, this has a nice bit of organ on it and fun production but I don't love the slightly grating main hook

4 Robin Gibb Saved By The Bell 1st of only 2 solo Top 40s for him: not bad but has that Bee Gees slow dramatic chorus; odd that he left to do the same thing

3 Tommy Roe Heather Honey Last of his 6 hits; it's not a bad tune but quite saccharine and certainly lacks the impact of "Dizzy"; can take or leave it all in all

3 Diana Ross And The Supremes No Matter What Sign You Are A minor hit which I find dull; weirdly their backing vocals around this time were session singers instead of the actual members

3 The Dells I Can Sing A Rainbow - Love Is Blue Only hit for this US soul band and a mash up of "Love Is Blue" with a children's song: well sung but I don't like the combination

2 Cilla Black Conversations The 10th of her 11 Top 10s and a ballad with a more upbeat chorus - I find the verses turgid and dull and the chorus harsh

1 Fairport Convention Si Tu Dois Partir Only hit for this UK folk band and it's a Dylan song translated into French: the accents are awful and I don't enjoy this version

 

 

1969 Group 10:

 

#3369 02/08/1969 Philharmonia Orchestra, Conductor Lorin Maazel Thus Spake Zarathustra 33 40-36-{33}-41-42-42-43->7

#3370 02/08/1969 Ken Dodd Tears Won't Wash Away These Heartaches 22 41-28-26-27-26-{22}-25-32-34-41-46->11

#3371 02/08/1969 Jane Birkin And Serge Gainsbourg Je T'Aime... Moi Non Plus 2 50-45-32-17-17-8-6-4-{2}-16-33->11

#3372 09/08/1969 Zager And Evans In The Year 2525 (Exordium And Terminus) 1 21-13-3-{1}-1-1-3-5-10-18-23-25-35->13

#3373 09/08/1969 Engelbert Humperdinck I'm A Better Man 15 39-28-19-22-17-{15}-18-29-28-29-44-43-46->13

#3374 09/08/1969 Oliver Good Morning Starshine 6 48-31-26-19-14-11-8-7-{6}-6-10-12-17-23-30-45-39R(5)-39->18

09/08/1969 Jimmy Ruffin I've Passed This Way Before {1969} 29 38-{29}-29-33-30-35-41->7

#3375 16/08/1969 Bee Gees Don't Forget To Remember 2 43-18-9-5-3-{2}-3-5-7-16-16-19-28-33-43->15

#3376 16/08/1969 Mama Cass It's Getting Better 8 46-47-34-26-26-16-11-{8}-9-13-14-15-27-25-47->15

#3377 16/08/1969 Crosby, Stills And Nash Marrakesh Express 17 48-45-30-30-{17}-25-17-37-41->9

#3378 16/08/1969 Creedence Clearwater Revival Bad Moon Rising 1 49-20-8-2-2-{1}-1-1-3-12-18-16-22-26-42->15

#3379 23/08/1969 Humble Pie Natural Born Bugie 4 23-11-10-{4}-5-6-11-17-27-40->10

#3380 23/08/1969 The Box Tops Soul Deep 22 40-29-31-24-23-{22}-26-31-36->9

#3381 23/08/1969 The Temptations Cloud Nine 15 42-24-28-16-27-{15}-31-20-33-33->10

#3382 23/08/1969 The Peddlers Birth 17 48-44-27-27-{17}-33-23-35-42->9

#3383 30/08/1969 Booker T And The MG's Soul Clap '69 35 {35}-38-40-45->4

Edited February 19, 20241 yr by JulianT

Oh 'Something In The Air' is a marvellous #1 hit :wub: the guitar work and passionate vocal style really hits me hard.

 

'My Cherie Amour' is probably my favourite from today's section although I must confess I knew 'Wish You Were Mine' by Philip George first *_*

In The Ghetto was the second record I ever bought (equal first really) because mum loved it I bought it for her in Singapore (but for me really, oops) and the B side is fabulous too, Any Day Now, and Elvis was back on gospel and relevant form after years in the wilderness. The lyrics to Ghetto made a big impression on young socially-minded John and the injustice of poverty. How much did I love this record? I bought a US edition to get a non-worn-out crackly copy (my original is an Australia release) on my student adventure in California in 1979.

 

Born To Be Wild I just missed at the time, but it had a life beyond the chart as theme to Easy Rider, the ultimate road trip movie, so it was more of a 70's classic rock oldie by the time it hit again in 99 - by which time I'd sen Steppenwolf do it live in that hotbed of 60's dirty metal live venues, Disney Epcot, in the blazing sunshine on a small stage. Videod Born To Be Wild of course! Classic!

 

Break Away was one I was huge on, and another single gift to me in 1972 from mum and dad's friends, that melody is amazing, and co-written by the Wilson brothers dad, Brian being AWOL by then. Still love it. Something In The Air, the third single I ever bought, and yet more socially-minded lyrics and an amazing production from Pete Townsend. B side Wilhemina nothing like the A side for this ill-fated band.

 

Honky Tonk Women arrived with strutting attitude, and lyrics I didnt realise were not entirely wholesome. Seems to have dropped a bit out of favour these days, sadly, one of their best I still think. Without Her, love that song, more familiar with the original I think, on Singapore radio. Baby Make It Soon, and the move to ballads was to pay dividends, a fave song of the time. It Mek (as I knew it at the time, from chart listings before it was retro-altered in some quarters in later years) another big fave that got cut short abruptly moving to Singapore - reggae not so big there!

 

Lights Of Cincinatti I liked, but it's no Jackie. It's Your Thing is Isley brothers part 2: the funk years, and it's good, but not one I heard till the 70's. Make Me An island was a number one top fave, and my Auntie Eileen bought it just around the time of her wedding to my Uncle Tony - a younger RAF mate of my dad's who got introduced to dad's younger sister, so they were at our house quite a lot until they got issued a married quarters house on camp after we had left. So it is forever my late Aunty Eileen's record in my affections.

 

Hello Suzie was a big fave, cos our cat (my cat really) was called Suzie, and had just given birth to kittens in a box in my bedroom. They all went to live with grandma, and I never saw any of them again. Road traffic victims in Liverpool I think. Life can be very sad. Roy Wood wrote the song. That's The Way God Planned another fave, and would chart again in 1988 on the Apple EP, but yes it doesnt sound quite so great in the 21st century.

 

Give Peace A Chance a chart-topping anthem for me, his attempt to create a modern chant to sing at rallies, and of course I agreed with every word as an idealistic 11-year-old. Jim Reeves, still 4 more years of archive-mining to go....

 

Love Affair was a goodie, and sadly never played much on oldies stations these days, shame! Early In The Morning I got to hear days before we left RAF Swinderby - and then the tune was in my head for the next few years without getting to hear it in real life. Loved it. Eventually taped it off the radio in 1974. Then bought it on a compilation album a few years later. Hooray! Top tune. My Cherie Amour way better than the original A side, loved it.

 

Too Busy Thinking Bout My Baby totally missed out on, never heard it, it was the 1972 Mardi Gras upbeat hit cover that is my original version - still prefer it to Marvin's. Goodnight Midnight I loved, not quite as good as Come Back & Shake Me in retrospect, but I loved them both equally at the time. Goo Goo barabajagal I liked, very hippy, Peaceful is a great song that deserves to be better known, nicely laid-back, and Curly I was a ware of, but not sure I ever heard it properly more than once or twice.

 

Viva Bobby Joe was a fave of my friend at the time, and mine too, very catchy, Eddy was fab even before he was Eddy Grant Popstar. Saved By The Bell my mum bought in Singapore, one of only 2 singles she ever bought (the other was I Will Survive) so a huge fave of mine, atmospheric soaring sad ballad from Robin in pain and screwed-up before he made up with Mo and Barry. The B side Mother & Jack is a goodie too, easily should have been the follow-up single. Very 60's.

 

Heather Honey another one I heard once or twice, loved, and then didn't get to hear again for absolutely years (80's I think). When I did get to hear it, the memory of the tune was better than the actual reality, oops! No Matter What Sign You Are didn't get to hear till the mid 70's, not one of their greats! I Can Sing A Rainbow, Cilla's version is the only version anyone should need, under-stated and charming. Love Is Blue, Paul mauriat or Vicky leandros thanks. A bit OTT this one.

 

Talking of Cilla, I loved Conversations, but it hasnt aged that well, OK tune though. Her next one is better. Si Tu Dois Partir I think I heard once and quite liked, had no idea it was a Dylan Song. It's passable, poor Sandy Denny not long for this world though, mental illness, alcoholism and a habit of throwing herself down stairs one too many times. Richard Thompson still a folk music hero though.

Creedence getting their second 9 in a row but I am worn over by the sensuality of “Je T’aime…”.

 

9 Jane Birkin And Serge Gainsbourg Je T'Aime... Moi Non Plus Will be the 277th #1 on proper release: one of the most passionate records ever but has a really beautiful tenderness to it too

9 Creedence Clearwater Revival Bad Moon Rising 276th #1: this has more than 750 million Spotify plays (though amazingly 2 of theirs have more); certainly a wonderful classic

8 Zager And Evans In The Year 2525 (Exordium And Terminus) 275th #1: a unique one hit wonder record and I love how the dystopian horror builds with the crescendo and the key changes

7 The Box Tops Soul Deep Last of their 3 hits; not the original but the best known version and a beautiful, truly soulful song that's had many further covers

7 The Peddlers Birth 1st of 2 Top 40s for this UK jazz trio: an interesting song which switches up from the verse to the chorus with lovely lead vocals

6 The Temptations Cloud Nine A Grammy winning soul song here: it's really good, especially the "bom bom" sung bass line, but only takes me to about cloud 6

6 Humble Pie Natural Born Bugie A supergroup with their only hit, written by Steve Marriott of the Small Faces, and an enjoyable and twangy piece of blues rock

5 Mama Cass It's Getting Better Her only solo hit and the last time she'll appear at all: beatifully sung and uplifting but the chorus isn't quite strong enough

5 Crosby, Stills And Nash Marrakesh Express Only hit for this supergroup, originally meant for The Hollies, and a nice but not especiallymemorable piece of sunshine pop

4 Philharmonia Orchestra, Conductor Lorin Maazel Thus Spake Zarathustra The opening of a classical work by Strauss used in the film "2001: A Space Odyssey": a great piece but an odd pop chart hit

4 Booker T And The MG's Soul Clap '69 Not captivating like "Time Is Tight": this instrumental is more like pleasant background noise, but I do like the relaxed feel of it

3 Oliver Good Morning Starshine From the musical "Hair" and only hit for this US singer, it is sweet and a catchy tune but the nonsense lyrics are quite naff

3 Bee Gees Don't Forget To Remember I wonder how this had such a collapse from #2: anyway another slow and ponderous melody that doesn't do too much for me

2 Engelbert Humperdinck I'm A Better Man This broke his run of 7 straight Top 5s; it starts off not too badly but then just meanders along and there isn't much of a chorus

1 Ken Dodd Tears Won't Wash Away These Heartaches He's back after 2.5 years without a hit, and unsurprisingly hasn't changed a bit while music has progressed: deeply uninspiring

 

 

 

1969 Group 11:

 

#3384 30/08/1969 Bobbie Gentry I'll Never Fall In Love Again 1 37-32-19-9-4-2-2-{1}-2-6-9-15-25-33-31-40-32-40-40->19

#3385 30/08/1969 The Isley Brothers Put Yourself In My Place 13 50-34-23-28-{13}-25-15-22-21-26-39->11

#3386 06/09/1969 Elvis Presley Clean Up Your Own Back Yard 21 35-36-22-{21}-29-49-41->7

#3387 06/09/1969 Chicken Shack Tears In The Wind 29 36-38-{29}-36-45-47->6

#3388 06/09/1969 Karen Young Nobody's Child 6 39-35-31-20-14-10-{6}-7-7-6-9-8-11-15-14-24-20-20-28-35-49->21

#3389 06/09/1969 Sounds Nice Featuring Tim Mycroft Love At First Sight (Je T'Aime... Moi Non Plus) 18 45-50-24-27-19-22-{18}-19-21-37-44->11

#3390 06/09/1969 Johnny Cash A Boy Named Sue 4 47-41-15-10-{4}-4-4-10-10-12-18-21-32-41-33-41-36-36-47->19

#3391 06/09/1969 David Bowie Space Oddity 5 48-39R(2)-25-20-13-8-6-{5}-7-16-18-34-36-49->14

#3392 13/09/1969 Bob Dylan Lay Lady Lay 5 30-30-12-9-{5}-7-9-11-20-27-38-43->12

#3393 13/09/1969 Cliff Richard And Hank Marvin Throw Down A Line 7 34-14-14-{7}-8-14-15-28-46->9

#3394 13/09/1969 Radha Krishna Temple Hare Krishna Mantra 12 44-19-19-{12}-12-15-22-29-42->9

#3395 13/09/1969 Roy Orbison Penny Arcade 27 47-44-40-32R(2)-35-39-{27}-41-38-41-36-47-37-44->14

#3396 13/09/1969 Edwin Starr 25 Miles 36 48-{36}-37-42-36-47->6

#3397 13/09/1969 Lou Christie I'm Gonna Make You Mine 2 49-35-28-17-11-3-3-{2}-3-10-16-22-29-29-31-34-34->17

#3398 20/09/1969 Diana Ross And The Supremes And The Temptations I Second That Emotion 18 33-31-{18}-24-19-28-30-40->8

Edited February 19, 20241 yr by JulianT

The Zager & Evans track is still one of my very favourite discoveries from the Sunday SyncTube sessions :wub: and gotta love 'Je T'Aime... Moi Non Plus' as well ofc x

Some brilliant #1 hits here, 'Je T'Aime... Moi Non Plus' would come out on top for me as well :wub: such a ground-breaking record, in terms of its overt sexuality and boasting the accolade of first foreign language chart-topper in the U.K too. I was really sad to hear of Jane Birkin's passing last year and spent a lot of time with her work, including collabs with Serge, over the summer. My favourite random discovery from that time is that her song 'Je m'appelle Jane' is sampled in 'Whatcha Think About That' by Pussycat Dolls/Missy Elliott :lol:

 

Gotta echo the love for '2525 (Exordium And Terminus)' :heart: I mean, it fills me with a lot of existential dread but it's so powerful and unique, with a wonderful build-up as you say.

 

'Bad Moon Rising' is also fab, I didn't quite realise it had that many Spotify plays :o although have noticed the band popping up in the streaming thread, great that they're still relevant today.

Je T'Aime I never got to hear in '69 (banned), ooeerrr, though the tune was familiar due to instrumental versions, but I bought it in late 1974 when it was a hit again and Radio Luxembourg was playing it and I was 16 not 11. Classic naughty record. Bad Moon Rising was an early Singapore radio track, I remember getting a school library book out and finding the lyrics on a piece of paper inside. Result! My abiding memory though, is driving through the Florida Keys at night with it on the radio and a full moon in the sky in the 90's.

 

In The Year 2525 blew my mind, it was futuristic and cynical, immediately mad on it, and the record I most-wanted to buy when I found a record stall in Singapore - but they didnt have it, so settled for Dizzy, another huge fave. I bought it in 1973 on a compilation, though. If anything the lyrics weren't cynical enough, time-wise for the human race, it has turned out in my lifetime.

 

The Box Tops and Peddlers not ones I knew or know that well, but they seem decent enough. Cloud 9 was a funk track that cropped up over the next few years on radio, I liked it, but seems to have been forgotten these days. Never liked Natural Born Bugie much, but It's Getting Better was a big fave, still love Mama Cass and she still had some good singles ahead of her, even if they flopped in the UK charts.

 

Marrakesh Express another 70's fave for me, missed it at the time, bit of a tune and very Graham Nash/ Hollies. Got hold of a copy in 1981 which was when I went big on it. Strauss, 2001 I saw at the cinema in 1970 and it confused me, but visually and musically stunning. Arthur C. Clarke, the writer, became a hero soon after. Soul Clap is fine, Engelbert's is so so, Ken means nothing to me.

 

That leaves massive fave Good Morning Starshine continuing my Hair enthusiasm, loved that tune and the ticking rhythm, bought a US copy in 1979 California. If I hadnt been spending all my pocket money on DC Comics I may well have bought it 10 years earlier! Bee Gees go country on Dont Forget To remember, another one I liked and still do, though it's not up to Robin's solo hit or previous 69 classic First Of May.

I’m celebrating 2 great #5 hits today (though one of them will go on to be the 380th #1): “Space Oddity” really feels like a jaw hitting the floor moment in chart history while “Lay Lady Lay” is a more understated gem.

 

9 David Bowie Space Oddity His debut hit and a timeless classic in any context but it's incredible how forward looking it sounds among the hits of 1969

9 Bob Dylan Lay Lady Lay I think this is Bob's tenderest song: so beautiful and it really suits the simplicity of his vocal style; already this is his last Top 10

8 Cliff Richard And Hank Marvin Throw Down A Line Now and again Cliff surprises us all with a belter of a song like this, which is the only solo hit credit for Shadows guitarist Hank

8 Lou Christie I'm Gonna Make You Mine By far his biggest hit and an incredibly fun and catchy song vigorously performed with a tastefully applied dose of falsetto

7 Roy Orbison Penny Arcade His last hit while alive and a cute one: enjoy having Roy's storytelling ability used on a less serious subject matter for a change

6 Radha Krishna Temple Hare Krishna Mantra This was produced by George Harrison and of course "My Sweet Lord" will be influenced by the mantra; a nice different hit

6 Bobbie Gentry I'll Never Fall In Love Again 278th #1: a Bacharach song done by many different artists over the years, and this is good but I prefer it with Dionne's vocals

5 Diana Ross And The Supremes And The Temptations I Second That Emotion A Smokey Robinson cover: I suppose this version does bring something different to the song but I don't think it's essential

5 Karen Young Nobody's Child Only hit for this UK singer and it's a cover first recorded in 1949, but a sweet lyrical story and she does it nicely with character

4 Chicken Shack Tears In The Wind 2nd and final hit for them; it's nice and a sincere performance, but plods slightly and doesn't stand out like their other one

4 Johnny Cash A Boy Named Sue Spoken records about people pointing guns at each other rarely do well here, but this is mildly endearing and well performed

3 The Isley Brothers Put Yourself In My Place A cover of a Motown song from a few years earlier: I don't find that this does anything to make the song come alive especially

3 Edwin Starr 25 Miles There's a certain kind of soul record that's very well produced, played and sung but doesn't do much for me, and this is one

2 Elvis Presley Clean Up Your Own Back Yard Stuck beteeen Elvis' 2 great #2 hits we have this rather dreary country style number, just to remind us how hit and miss he is

2 Sounds Nice Featuring Tim Mycroft Love At First Sight (Je T'Aime... Moi Non Plus) An instrumental version of "Je T'aime…" - I can't see the point of this as all the interest of the record relies on the vocal parts

 

 

 

1969 Group 12:

 

#3399 20/09/1969 Dorothy Squires For Once In My Life 24 48-35-47-44-26-26-32-32-{24}-46-48R(4)->11

#3400 27/09/1969 The Four Tops Do What You Gotta Do 11 41-27-19-17-{11}-14-16-22-29-44-42->11

#3401 27/09/1969 Joe Cocker Delta Lady 10 48-39-39-30-20-12-{10}-11-14-23-37->11

#3402 27/09/1969 Nilsson Everybody's Talkin' 23 50-42R(2)-31-{23}-24-26-34-36-42-46-48R(14)-39-45-43-49->15

04/10/1969 Jane Birkin And Serge Gainsbourg Je T'Aime... Moi Non Plus {Official Release} 1 3-{1}-2-4-9-14-20-31-38-43-42-46-49-49->14

#3403 04/10/1969 The Hollies He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother 3 32-16-5-5-{3}-4-4-11-18-25-31-35-44-44-49->15

#3404 04/10/1969 Fleetwood Mac Oh Well 2 34-14-9-8-4-{2}-2-3-4-6-18-25-31-31-34-46->16

#3405 04/10/1969 Barry Ryan The Hunt 34 40-{34}-34-41-43->5

#3406 04/10/1969 Frank Sinatra Love's Been Good To Me 8 44-26-21-13-13-{8}-8-12-12-18-23-28-25-25-39-29-48-48->18

#3407 04/10/1969 The Upsetters Return Of Django/Dollar In The Teeth 5 50-37-20-17-8-{5}-5-5-8-14-22-26-28-28-43->15

#3408 11/10/1969 The Archies Sugar Sugar 1 43-11-{1}-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-3-3-3-6-6-9-14-19-26-25-29-37-38-35-41-45->26

#3409 18/10/1969 Jose Feliciano And The Sun Will Shine 25 28-30-{25}-36-35-48-48->7

#3410 18/10/1969 The Pioneers Long Shot Kick De Bucket 21 43-32-23-25-{21}-24-27-35-44-45-40R(3)->11

#3411 18/10/1969 Kenny Rogers And The First Edition Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town 2 48-49-45-21-19-9-5-3-{2}-2-2-2-2-4-2-7-7-13-18-20-24-30-46->23

#3412 18/10/1969 Junior Walker And The All Stars What Does It Take (To Win Your Love) 13 49-29-22-17-{13}-13-13-20-30-36-50-50->12

#3413 25/10/1969 Harry J All-Stars The Liquidator 9 36-31-24-17-17-{9}-13-13-11-16-16-10-17-15-17-20-25-35-41-45->20

Edited February 19, 20241 yr by JulianT

'Space Oddity' is class <3

Sadly, Space Oddity never made it's way to Singapore, so the first time I heard Space Oddity was when it charted in the USA in 1973, by which time it didn't sound so ground-breaking coming after Starman and John I'm Only Dancing - happily, when it was reissued mid-Plastic-Soul-period Bowie it was a huge hit (and had Changes on the B side, another classic). I was converted, it's still brilliant. Lay Lady Lay was the first Dylan I remember liking, very different to his early stuff. Still nice.

 

The Lou & Cliff comments are superimposed, I heard the Lou Christie track a couple of times in 1974 and loved it, having been aware of it's existence at the time but not hearing it. It's great falsetto pop. Throw Down A Line wasn't one I knew, and really didn't get to hear it properly much until 2019. I like it. Penny Arcade I had no idea even existed until I bought my first Guinness Book Of Hit Singles, I maybe heard it once right through to the noughties and wasn't too fussed, it was jolly Roy rather than tragic Roy. And then a Scottish Football team appeared to have adopted it, and my regular karaoke bar in Gran Canaria has been trotting it out every time I go there, consequentially I rather enjoy the singalong tune now.

 

hare Krishna was one I DID hear in Singapore, a melting pot of British Empire cultures in 1969, and it had already become a bit of a schoolground chant. So I liked it, and I bought a copy in 1975 or so, actual Apple Records and all. It's not one to play too often though. Bobbie Gentry, country icon (disappeared from the world a few years later after an awesome debut hit and album, never to return to music. Still unknown where she is or what happened to her) but I think she was moved into more country MOR stuff with Glen Campbell, and this classic version of Bacharach's song. Dionne is great, love her smooth voice, but Bobbie's emotional gravel-y tones suited the song more - easily my fave of this bunch and the 4th single I ever bought (in Singapore). To this day the I still expect the song to get stuck on a faulty groove until I get up and push it on to the next bit. Still love it though!

 

Nobody's Child, another I heard in 1974 oldies chart rundowns, wasn't too fussed on the song until Traveling Wilbury's did a fab version in the late 80's/early 90's. Chicken Shack, didn't know, still don't. A Boy Named Sue was huge in our household, a great story song (as were huge numbers of songs in the olden days, singers didn't start writing about themselves in pop song lyrics till the 60's really, and The Beatles). I'm oddly not bothered about the song these days though, I think I was always a bit dubious on the "grew up tough" message, being the exact opposite of that.

 

The Isley's are on a 3rd great Motown oldie inside 12 months, albeit not quite as classic, but one I heard after the song was a hit in 1971 for The Elgins, a version I rated. 25 Miles is one I got to know in more recent years, and after it had been sampled, it's rather good. Edwin Starr moved to the UK where he was more appreciated I think. Elvis? Still never heard that one, must have been a movie out-take. Sounds Nice? It was the only way you got to hear the song, and was why the tune sounded familiar. No chance of the original getting played. Sadly!

It will be the 615th #1 in a few decades, and I must confess that I’m a sucker for “He Ain’t Heavy…”, and I like the fact that it’s a different kind of love song. “Oh Well” is a very different kind of special record too.

 

9 The Hollies He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother #3 for now for one of the most beautiful slow ballads ever; the vocal harmonies and the harmonica make the emotion so real

9 Fleetwood Mac Oh Well An epic and brilliant largely instrumental hit; the full 9 minute of both parts together is a really immersive listening experience

8 Harry J All-Stars The Liquidator A stonking ska instrumental and the only hit for this Jamaican band; it has been used by various football teams as games start

8 Nilsson Everybody's Talkin' Debut hit for this US singer songwriter and actually a cover, but a beautiful piece of folk rock with very soulful poetic lyrics

7 The Archies Sugar Sugar 279th #1 with an 8 week run and a 1 hit wonder; manages to avoid being sickly sweet and is a very well constructed record

7 Kenny Rogers And The First Edition Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town 6 weeks in the runner up position for this: a really lovely understated country song with a charming twinkling accompaniment

7 Junior Walker And The All Stars What Does It Take (To Win Your Love) There's something very warm and heartfelt about this with the way the saxophone and vocal harmonies gently push it along

6 The Upsetters Return Of Django/Dollar In The Teeth Another 1 hit wonder: this isn't quite as striking as "Liquidator" or "Oh Well", but both sides of the instrumental are enjoyable

6 The Pioneers Long Shot Kick De Bucket 1st hit for this Jamaican trio including Desmond Dekker's brother about an unsuccessful racehorse called Longshot: good fun

5 Jose Feliciano And The Sun Will Shine His last hit for more than 50 years and a cover of a slow dramatic Bee Gees song, but a very well sung and arranged version

5 Barry Ryan The Hunt Another epic number from Barry with huge production: very interesting but slightly shouty in places and not all that accessible

4 The Four Tops Do What You Gotta Do Another version of this heavily covered song: nothing essential but as expected from them very nicely sung and produced

3 Joe Cocker Delta Lady The follow up to his chart topping cover and an original song: it's alright but I find it a bit saccharine and overly sentimental

3 Frank Sinatra Love's Been Good To Me Quite a big hit for Frank though I suppose it was riding the wave of "My Way": this is quite nice and sincere but also twee

2 Dorothy Squires For Once In My Life Oh gosh this is a cover we really didn't need, without all the soul and effortless brilliance of Stevie's and far too stern and stiff

 

 

 

1969 Group 13:

 

#3414 25/10/1969 Neville Dickie Robin's Return 33 37-41-{33}-40-37-46-49-43R(2)-48-48->10

#3415 25/10/1969 Trash Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight 35 38-47-{35}->3

#3416 25/10/1969 Jimmy Cliff Wonderful World Beautiful People 6 44-18-11-7-{6}-7-11-10-17-24-24-35-38->13

#3417 25/10/1969 The Dave Clark Five Put A Little Love In Your Heart 31 47-39-{31}-37->4

#3418 25/10/1969 Marv Johnson I Miss You Baby 25 48-50-34-29-26-{25}-28-35->8

#3419 01/11/1969 The Tremeloes (Call Me) Number One 2 20-13-3-{2}-2-4-6-9-14-14-15-25-34-44->14

#3420 01/11/1969 Jethro Tull Sweet Dream 7 36-19-12-{7}-10-9-16-27-23-23-38->11

#3421 01/11/1969 Family No Mule's Fool 29 37-38-32-35-{29}-40-48->7

#3422 01/11/1969 The Plastic Ono Band Cold Turkey 14 38-18-{14}-15-16-19-28-29->8

#3423 01/11/1969 The Scaffold Gin Gan Goolie 38 48-50-42-44-45-39-43-39-{38}-38-44-50R(2)->12

#3424 01/11/1969 Joe Dolan Teresa 20 49-30-28-{20}-28-34-38->7

#3425 08/11/1969 The Beatles Something/Come Together 4 15-6-{4}-6-8-11-18-21-21-18-40-45->12

#3426 08/11/1969 Clodagh Rodgers Biljo 22 29-23-{22}-24-22-26-33-33-33->9

#3427 08/11/1969 Herman's Hermits Here Comes The Star 33 47-39-34-35-{33}-41-50-45-45->9

Edited February 19, 20241 yr by JulianT

'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother' is a right heart tugger of a track. 'Everybody's Talkin' is lovely too!

He Ain't Heavy was a song I was aware of, as it popped up in a songsheet book of 1969 hits I bought in early 1970 - yes actual notes and lyrics on printed-out format - but had never heard. A Neil Diamond version was the first one I heard, then in the 70's it popped up on radio 1 fairly regularly and I quite liked it. By 1988 I was fully on board with it, a classic. Oh Well, pretty much a 70's radio oldie for me too that grew on me over time. Rifftastic, and a 90's cover did the trick of full conversion.

 

The Liquidator is fab, heard it in 1974 and liked it right off. Bought it a few years later. Everybody's Talkin' is an achingly brilliant record, Nilsson at his very best, a song I heard a few times in 69/70 and then I saw Midnight Cowboy on TV in the mid-70's and wallop! Powerful film and soundtrack, and this song just gave me goosebumps forever afterwards. Beautiful South did a good version too.

 

Sugar Sugar, and The Archies, I will defend as pure delightful bubblegum till I die - rock musos hated it, and Jonathan King took the piss out of them by covering it in a heavy style. The Archies were on TV in Singapore (the cartoon group had many songs on their show, some great ones to this day unreleased, and written by professional songwriters like Andy Kim and Jeff Barry, and sung by still-touring Ron Dante of Cufflinks hits, aimed at pre-teens) and I used to record the songs off the TV using a microphone and reel to reel, I was that obsessed. First EP I ever bought was Sugar Sugar mini hits compilation (they had a few US hits before and after Sugar Sugar) and first LP with my own money was Sugar Sugar, some great little bubblegum tunes for kiddies.

 

Ruby is one mum loved in Singapore, and it's quite dark lyrically, and fairly topical for Nam War Vets returning home with life-changing injuries. Powerful and moving, Kenny's best record by a country mile. No exceptions. What Does It Take is a latterday fave classic, having missed it at the time - I got big on Junior Walker in 72/73 and his sax-driven melodic soul, and this record turned out to be so good SAW borrowed the format for the brilliant charity record You've Got A Friend in 1990 for ahem, cough, Sonia and Big Fun. Adore both.

 

Upsetters is OK, Pioneers is OK (but much better to come) and I should note I'm going to Duckie night in London next Saturday for a Ska-themed evening - so these tracks may well turn up on the playlist, older folk po-going round a dancefloor, beer in hand, pausing for breath, po-going again, I daresay. I must take my pork-pie hat with me....

 

Jose does Bee Gees, all OK, bizarre how his 1970 Xmas flop that was unknown to everyone has become a chart regular this century. The Hunt is OK, Barry has better to come. Four Tops is a nice one, always quality, but better to come, Delta Lady I never liked much (It was on a 1972 compilation I bought), still don't, Joe was at his best in the 90's, bar the Number One. Frank's passed me by, it's OK, and Dorothy Squires was often on UK TV and a pet peeve of mine. Hated everything she did.

It’s time for my 20th and last perfect 10 of the decade, again going to another sublime and beautifully complementary Beatles double A. How this era defining single only peaked at #4 I have no idea. But there’s also one of my favourite new discoveries of the year here in “No Mule’s Fool” which is beautiful and unique.

 

10 The Beatles Something/Come Together Another stunning complementary double A: "Something" with its emotional power and "Come Together" with its great story

9 Family No Mule's Fool Debut hit for this UK rock band; I adore the enchanting folky violin riff, the acceleration and the building sense of desperation

8 Jethro Tull Sweet Dream A worthy follow up to "Living In The Past" but that is hypnotic and this is more powerful; this is also rhythmically interesting

7 The Tremeloes (Call Me) Number One Deservedly a big hit: poppy but with a psychedelic edge with interesting use of instruments and a tightly harmonised chorus

7 Herman's Hermits Here Comes The Star After their last #2 that I wasn't keen on, this lovely track mystifyingly did poorly for them: it's very sweet and atmospheric

6 Neville Dickie Robin's Return A similar style to Winifred and Russ: a very smile inducing, sunny and melodious piano instrumental with light drum backing

6 Trash Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight A Beatles cover by "Trash" isn't promising but it's a very nicely done section of the medley within the "Abbey Road" album

5 Clodagh Rodgers Biljo Her 3rd hit of the year, all in the same catchy slickly produced style, and it's slightly a case of diminishing returns but still nice

5 Marv Johnson I Miss You Baby Last hit for Marv: I guess I've just about forgiven him for "You Got What It Takes" now and this is a nice melodious soul song

4 Jimmy Cliff Wonderful World Beautiful People Debut hit for this Jamaican ska musician: it's well done but I can't get excited by this song; in fact the melody slightly grates

3 The Plastic Ono Band Cold Turkey 2nd hit for The Plastic Ono Band and this isn't bloated like the last but I'm still not a fan: I feel like the track is snarling at me

3 The Dave Clark Five Put A Little Love In Your Heart A nice song that will be covered a few times, but this cover is very much in the usual Dave Clark style and not that interesting

2 Joe Dolan Teresa "Make Me An Island" is at least catchy: he gives it some welly but this is a rather drippy ballad that whines away in self pity

1 The Scaffold Gin Gan Goolie A century old gibberish song that reminds me of going camping with scouts; I can't say I enjoy anything about this record

 

 

 

 

1969 Group 14:

#3428 08/11/1969 Roger Whittaker Durham Town (The Leavin') 12 49-41-28-26-16-19-14-13-13-{12}-12-19-18-26-31-36-47-43->18

#3429 15/11/1969 Stevie Wonder Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday 2 31-10-3-{2}-4-4-6-6-9-14-24-31-39->13

#3430 15/11/1969 Marvin Gaye And Tammi Terrell The Onion Song 9 36-33-19-17-{9}-13-11-11-11-19-28-43->12

#3431 15/11/1969 Pat Campbell The Deal 31 43-39-{31}-44-50->5

#3432 15/11/1969 The Checkmates Ltd. Featuring Sonny Charles Proud Mary 30 45-40-{30}-38-32-42-46-46->8

#3433 15/11/1969 Engelbert Humperdinck Winter World Of Love 7 46-19-15-12-{7}-8-8-8-14-16-22-32-38->13

#3434 15/11/1969 Creedence Clearwater Revival Green River 19 47-23-21-24-20-21-{19}-19-23-22-38->11

#3435 15/11/1969 Blue Mink Melting Pot 3 50-27-14-7-5-5-5-5-{3}-7-10-16-22-28-41->15

#3436 22/11/1969 Malcolm Roberts Love Is All 12 30-20-21-{12}-15-15-15-26-24-36-41-50->12

#3437 22/11/1969 Rolf Harris Two Little Boys 1 32-17-5-3-{1}-1-1-1-1-1-2-2-7-10-15-20-21-20-24-25-30-37-37-40-50R(7)->25

#3438 29/11/1969 Des O'Connor Loneliness 18 37-26-24-19-{18}-18-30-31-40-46-44->11

#3439 29/11/1969 Elvis Presley Suspicious Minds 2 39-10-8-6-4-4-7-{2}-6-6-12-17-30-43->14

#3440 29/11/1969 The Cuff Links Tracy 4 40-23-15-10-9-9-{4}-5-5-11-14-21-23-24-36-42->16

#3441 29/11/1969 Nancy Sinatra Highway Song 21 41-32-27-23-26-26-{21}-28-32-40->10

Edited February 19, 20241 yr by JulianT