Roba returns ( ;) )to say 'Robins Return' is a nice plinky plonky piano song!

 

'Something' I only really came to know in the ranking and a very moving track. 'Come Together' is very good too. I am a fan of the Joe Cocker version as well!

Something/Come Together comparatively bombed for the Fabs because a) it wasn't Lennon/Mcartney on the radio hit, and it seemed quite MOR for the world's top band (see Shirley Bassey cover in 1970). It was nice, and touching, but it was my least fave Beatles song since Paperback Writer, and I think that was the immediate reaction of most. Both tracks have proven to have legs, but b) We never got to hear Come Together at all. Not even once. First time I heard it was on the Beatles Blue album in 1975 when I got it for Xmas, and I was somewhat disappointed despite repeat plays for years. Never really got it.

 

Family, another band I never got, think I've heard this once in my lifetime, at most. Sweet Dream another I didn't hear until early 1975, and wasn't too fussed. Call Me Number One, I spotted this as a big UK hit that didn't get played in Singapore, so was quite keen to hear it. 5 years later I did, and loved it. Here Comes The Star another mystery track to me, Robin's Return never heard of it. This is going to be a regular theme...!

 

Trash, never heard either the cover nor the originals until I bought Abbey Road in the 80's, I will stick with The Beatles I think! Biljo, another one I knew of years before hearing it. It's quite decent, I like it. Marv, whoosh, missed that one, but his Motown stuff is always good. Jimmy Cliff became a reggae icon before Bob Marley took his crown away, and this track another belated listen for me, but I do like it, and he wrote the fabulous You can get It If You Really Want for Desmond Dekker (coming soon).

 

Dave Clark 5, the first version I knew was Annie Lennox/Al Green in the 80's, then Jackie De Shannon, so this is quite weedy in comparison. Teresa, another blank from me and it's def no Make Me An Island. Gin Gan Goolie. Was never a Scout, thankfully, but I remember my younger brother finding this amusing. Not me though.

We’re almost at the end of the 60s but looking at much of this group you’d think it was the end of the 50s: not the strongest set but yay for my favourite Elvis record.

 

9 Elvis Presley Suspicious Minds The sheer brilliantly conveyed anguish of the vocal line over the urgent writhing guitar is what makes this such a great record

8 Marvin Gaye And Tammi Terrell The Onion Song The biggest hit for this duo and the last before Tammi's death: a heartwarming record with lyrics about social consciousness

7 Blue Mink Melting Pot Debut hit for this interesting UK pop group with a male and female vocalist: a lovely well produced song about racial harmony

7 Creedence Clearwater Revival Green River Not one of their big hits but has a twangy rockier edge to it that I really like, and the instrumental lines give it a river like flow

6 Rolf Harris Two Little Boys 280th #1: I do like this song though the vocals aren't great: it's a well set story and a unique hit; can understand the success

6 Nancy Sinatra Highway Song Her first hit since Bond: the brass instruments and backing harmonies give this a warm feel and it's a sweet and carefree song

5 Roger Whittaker Durham Town (The Leavin') Debut hit for this UK singer who died a few months ago: it's very sincere and charming; just drags slightly towards the end

4 The Cuff Links Tracy "Baa baa ba ba ba baa" - a catchy debut for this New York pop group and a big hit, but verges on annoying after a few listens

4 Engelbert Humperdinck Winter World Of Love His last Top 10 and definitely one of his better ones: a nice restrained performance and a good tune, though nothing exciting

3 Stevie Wonder Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday His biggest so far but I'm not a big fan: the play on words is quite naff and the record has nice moments but plods somewhat

3 The Checkmates Ltd. Featuring Sonny Charles Proud Mary The only Top 40 version aside from the original as Tina's never made it: has a much more singalong choir feel and I'm not keen

2 Des O'Connor Loneliness Not painful to listen to and hence it beats the two tracks below it, but it's very dreary and seems to swoop around aimlessly

1 Malcolm Roberts Love Is All 2nd and last Top 40 for him and a croony and grandiose number which he over-sings, creating an unpleasant aural assault

1 Pat Campbell The Deal A spoken song about a man who prays that his wife and their newborn can both survive and he can die in their place: ghastly

 

 

1969 Group 15:

 

#3442 06/12/1969 Bobbie Gentry And Glen Campbell All I Have To Do Is Dream 3 27-17-7-7-7-5-{3}-4-5-11-15-22-32-27->14

#3443 06/12/1969 The Dave Clark Five Good Old Rock 'N' Roll 7 30-25-16-12-12-8-8-{7}-13-18-27-40->12

#3444 06/12/1969 Cliff Richard With The Eyes Of A Child 20 45-39-{20}-22-22-22-20-41-45-43-50->11

#3445 06/12/1969 Jim Reeves But You Love Me Daddy 15 50-36-22-17-17-17-{15}-18-19-24-30-31-44-33-34-41->16

#3446 13/12/1969 Tom Jones Without Love (There Is Nothing) 10 21-12-{10}-10-13-11-17-24-29-33-43-49R(3)->12

#3447 13/12/1969 Cilla Black If I Thought You'd Ever Change Your Mind 20 34-37-29-29-{20}-27-21-38-42->9

#3448 13/12/1969 Georgie Fame Seventh Son 25 45-38-35-35-{25}-37-27->7

#3449 13/12/1969 Diana Ross And The Supremes Someday We'll Be Together 13 47-29-27-27-24-{13}-14-15-17-19-29-36-49->13

#3450 20/12/1969 Delaney And Bonnie And Friends Featuring Eric Clapton Comin' Home 16 34-47-47-19-21-{16}-21-23-42->9

#3451 20/12/1969 The Marmalade Reflections Of My Life 3 40-30-30-16-9-{3}-3-3-6-15-26-35->12

#3452 20/12/1969 Leapy Lee Good Morning 29 47-{29}R(3)-43-29-33-40-41->7

#3453 27/12/1969 Lou Christie She Sold Me Magic 25 32-32-27-30-{25}-27-35-49->8

#3454 27/12/1969 Vanity Fare Hitchin' A Ride 16 37-37-32-26-23-23-{16}-20-16-22-26-41-45->13

#3455 27/12/1969 The Equals Rub A Dub Dub 34 41-41-46-41-39-{34}-37->7

Edited February 22, 20241 yr by JulianT

Elvis at his 60's best here, total classic, but oddly it also passed me by at the time, more of one I grew into as a radio oldie in the 70's. The Onion Song, ditto, and late '74 when I heard it - and was really disappointed. Like the message, hate the image and hook. I've never liked non-food concepts being compared to food, and generally dislike any song obsessed by food unless I'm very hungry. Fast Food Rockers I'm especially looking at you.

 

Melting Pot ditto missed out on it, love Blue Mink, going to see both Roger Cook (he songwriter of many a number one and previous career as David & Jonathan, and Nashville Songwriter Hall Of Fame after he left the UK when Blue Mink folded) and lead act Madeleine Bell on her 81st birthday concert with orchestra in London in a couple of months. She's another great American singer (see PP Arnold) that got a long UK career. Oddly, this is my least-fave song of all their hits. Bassist Herbie Flowers will also write a UK number one soon (for Clive Dunn) and provide the bass-line for Lou Reed before joining the final T.Rex line-up.

 

Green River's OK, CCR were never bad, and occasionally great. Two Little Boys was a huge fave, and 2-Way Family Favourites regular on the Forces Sunday global radio network show for Forces abroad - requests from family back home, letters were the only other communication to loved ones. Sentimental and hugely life-affirming song. Nancy, one I missed, but I love her and she's busy tweeting these days on lefty political issues and her and her dad's back catalogue. She's fab and this is good.

 

Durham Town is one of Roger Whittaker's best records, a good MOR tune. He was often on telly. Tracy I didn't hear till early '75, which was a sudden "hey that's Ron Dante" moment (lead singer of The Archies). Only not as good as half the Archies records. Engelbert usually pleasant, one I acquainted myself with in 2019. Yester-Me is a fave Stevie track and one that did get some plays I heard in the early 70's, great tune, though the gimmicky title couldve been dropped.

 

The last 4 all mean nothing to me, heard them once in 2019 and that was enough for me!

 

 

Not a stellar finish to the 60s but a few really nice ones here. It’s close between Marmalade and The Supremes for the win and they both have a feeling of hopefulness looking forward to the new decade, but it’s the former that’s really grown on me.

 

8 The Marmalade Reflections Of My Life A lovely song here with lush production and warm harmonies and an interesting guitar solo that's partly played back in reverse

8 Diana Ross And The Supremes Someday We'll Be Together One of their last hits credited together with Diana, so the lyrics are quite poignant, and it's one of their more beautiful songs

7 Vanity Fare Hitchin' A Ride 3rd and final hit for them: a hitchhiking lyrical theme and it's a really strong record with lovely recorder and guitar sections

7 Lou Christie She Sold Me Magic Last of Lou's 4 hits and I've enjoyed them all: a good tune and more high drama and high camp with excellent use of falsetto

6 Georgie Fame Seventh Son Last of 12 hits for him and it's his usual laid back jazzy style that I do really enjoy, and a catchy tune that bobs along nicely

6 Delaney And Bonnie And Friends Featuring Eric Clapton Comin' Home Only hit for this group of musicians: it's a good rocky number that would have sounded really innovative a few years back

5 Cilla Black If I Thought You'd Ever Change Your Mind Certainly one of her nicer ones: I absolutely love the oboe and it's a sweet emotional filled song; vocals are just a bit weedy

5 Leapy Lee Good Morning His 2nd and final hit: it's quite twee but I do rather like the very bouncy accompaniment and it has an unusual kind of charm

4 The Dave Clark Five Good Old Rock 'N' Roll A medley including early rock classics like "Chantilly Lace" and "Lucille": not an essential record but nicely performed excerpts

4 Cliff Richard With The Eyes Of A Child Over 50 hits now but his canon remains patchy: this aims to be dramatic with the rumbling drum but it doesn't quite succeed

3 Bobbie Gentry And Glen Campbell All I Have To Do Is Dream Bobbie is nearly inaudible on this and it's quite a drab cover without the hypnotic quality and warmth that this song should have

2 Tom Jones Without Love (There Is Nothing) One way to make a soppy ballad even more grisly is to include a trite spoken section: the rest is a display of vocal brute force

2 The Equals Rub A Dub Dub Not sure if this was inspired by the nursery rhyme: yes "rub", "scrub" and "tub" all rhyme but we didn't need a song with them

1 Jim Reeves But You Love Me Daddy Oh dear this is hideous: recorded in 1959 apparently so not sure why it's surfaced now or who the child is, but better forgotten

 

Edited February 22, 20241 yr by JulianT

Marmalade for me too, the more mature sound was fantastic, adore Reflections Of My Life and another I heard first in 1974, just gorgeous. What a song, Junior Campbell was under-rated as a songwriter, including his solo hits after he left in 1972 (which killed off Marmalade's career). I also missed the last Supremes song, but it was a good one to go out on as The Supremes started to get sidelined unfairly as Ms Ross got the Our Biggest Star treatment at Motown.

 

Hitchin' a Ride, an actual song I did know at the time, I liked this version but loved the Frank Ifield version I taped off the radio. Yes, I know I'm the only one alive that remembers it, apart from Frank, but the song got another go in 1974 when Paper Lace just missed out on the UK charts with their cover (it would have been a Top 75 hit had we had an extended chart). Lou Christie another goodie I discovered in later decades. The more Lou I hear the more impressed I am - Saint Etienne's Bob Stanley has just curated a CD of unreleased stuff for Lou.

 

Georgie's is nice, Delaney & Bonnie have never clicked with me, apart from the forthcoming hit cover of one of their songs, Cilla's is lovely, her last good record, and the song so tuneful Agnetha Faltskog did a cover and got a hit with it in the Noughties, which was even better. Leapy Lee and Dave Clark 5, meh. Cliff's is OK. Glen & Bobbie's was a big MOR hit, popular on the radio in Singapore, and top old tune - for me this is the original version. Bobbie I think was being moved away from her Country roots by Capitol Records via Glen Campbell's brand of Country-pop, and quite possibly why she gave up the music biz entirely, pretty much gone by the end of 1970 chart-wise.

 

Tom's is fine, The Equals a bit too trvial, Jim's par for the barrel-scraping course of the early 70's.

Average score of 5.30 for 1969 is a bit lower than the last few years - not sure if I’ve become a bit harsher after the standard really stepped up hugely around 1966.

 

Gold medal for year: Something / Come Together - The Beatles

 

Silver medal: The Boxer - Simon and Garfunkel

 

Bronze medal: Space Oddity - David Bowie

 

Also receiving 9s:

I Heard It On The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye

The Tracks Of My Tears - Smokey Robinson And The Miracles

Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley

In The Ghetto - Elvis Presley

Mrs Robinson EP - Simon And Garfunkel

Born To Be Wild - Steppenwolf

Israelites - Desmond Dekker And The Aces

Je T’aime…Moi Non Plus - Jane Birkin And Serge Gainsbourg

The Windmills Of Your Mind - Noel Harrison

I Put A Spell On You - Nina Simone

He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother - The Hollies

Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival

Lay Lady Lay - Bob Dylan

Oh Well - Fleetwood Mac

Proud Mary - Creedence Clearwater Revival

Pinball Wizard - The Who

No Mule’s Fool - Family

 

Worst hit of the year: The Deal - Pat Campbell

Will need to check 'The Boxer' out as I'm not sure I've heard that unbelievably but then again I'm probably bound to recognise it when I do listen to it lol.

 

 

My favourites since I last commented: 'The Tracks Of My Tears', 'Space Oddity', 'The Boxer'... and the 'Aquarius' / 'Let The Sunshine In' medley, more for the former.

Average scores by year in the 60s:

 

1960 5.37

1961 5.29

1962 5.37

1963 5.51

1964 5.48

 

1965 5.54

1966 5.69

1967 5.57

1968 5.44

1969 5.30

 

The standard definitely ramped up in the second half of the decade, although I may have become a bit harsher to compensate. 1966 was absolutely a highlight.

 

I’ve done a Top 40 hits of the decade. The first 15 all received 10s and the rest 9s.

 

1 Nights In White Satin - The Moody Blues

2 God Only Knows - The Beach Boys

3 Penny Lane / Strawberry Fields Forever - The Beatles

4 Telstar - The Tornadoes

5 I Close My Eyes And Count To Ten - Dusty Springfield

6 Theme From 'A Summer Place'- Percy Faith

7 Stand By Me - Ben E King

8 (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones

9 In Dreams - Roy Orbison

10 I Say A Little Prayer For You - Aretha Franklin

 

11 Something / Come Together - The Beatles

12 Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out - The Beatles

13 The Boxer - Simon and Garfunkel

14 These Boots Were Made For Walking - Nancy Sinatra

15 Downtown - Petula Clark

16 Only The Lonely - Roy Orbison

17 California Dreamin’ - The Mamas And The Papas

18 Space Oddity - David Bowie

19 (Sitting On )The Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding

20 Sukiyaki - Kyu Sakamoto

 

21 The Carnival Is Over - The Seekers

22 Reach Out I’ll Be There - The Four Tops

23 You Really Got Me - The Kinks

24 Runaway - Del Shannon

25 Wonderful Land - The Shadows

26 Daydream Believer - The Monkees

27 End Of The World - Skeeter Davis

28 Be My Baby - The Ronettes

29 Paint It, Black - The Rolling Stones

30 Nut Rocker - B Bumble And The Stingers

 

31 Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan

32 All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix Experience

33 It’s Over - Roy Orbison

34 True Love Ways - Buddy Holly

35 Dedicated To The One I Love - The Mamas And The Papas

36 I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself - Dusty Springfield

37 Wonderful World - Sam Cooke

38 Take Five - The Dave Brubeck Quartet

39 Hit The Road Jack - Ray Charles

40 You Can’t Hurry Love - The Supremes

 

Worst hit of the decade: At The Palace (Parts 1 And 2) - Wilfred Brambell And Harry H Corbett (not even music)

 

Nights In White Satin is a fantastic pick for top spot Julian. I think it would make my list if I were to ever make a 60s top 40. Stunning song.

Delete

Edited February 23, 20241 yr by Dotty New Year

Great top 40 of the 60's there Julian! Your entire top 10 all made my number one (except Telstar would have in the 60's pre-my charts and hasn't had a proper reissue opportunity since), the entire top 20 bar Something which was merely a top 5 on a few occasions, and most of the 21-40 section also topped my actual charts or wouldve-been pre-charts, there isn't even a sub-par one in the list at all, all are great records. :wub:

 

And yes, Steptoe & Son were never funny so it wouldnt even qualify as a comedy record, ignoring music entirely as a comparison. :lol:

At the end of the 50s I did some stats by artist so I’m updating those to cover the whole pre 1970 period:

 

83 artists have had 10 hits or more:

 

69 Elvis Presley

56 The Shadows

51 Cliff Richard

31 Lonnie Donegan

29 Nat ‘King’ Cole

29 Everly Brothers

29 Frank Sinatra

29 Frankie Vaughan

26 Roy Orbison

26 Billy Fury

26 Frankie Laine

26 Pat Boone

23 The Beatles

23 Adam Faith

22 Connie Francis

20 The Hollies

20 Supremes

20 Perry Como

20 Shirley Bassey

20 Alma Cogan

19 The Beach Boys

19 Duane Eddy

19 Brenda Lee

19 Petula Clark

19 Jim Reeves

18 Buddy Holly

18 The Tremeloes

18 Ronnie Hilton

18 David Whitfield

17 Johnnie Ray

17 Gene Pitne

17 Manfred Mann

17 Tommy Steele

17 Herman’s Hermits

17 Russ Conway

17 The Dave Clark Five

17 Cilla Black

17 The Bachelors

16 Bobby Darin

16 Ricky Nelson

16 Dean Martin

16 Tom Jones

15 The Rolling Stones

15 Little Richard

15 The Kinks

15 Dusty Springfield

15 Winifred Atwell

15 Doris Day

15 Guy Mitchell

15 Sandie Shaw

15 Max Bygraves

14 The Animals

14 The Four Tops

14 Del Shannon

14 Dickie Valentine

14 Frank Ifield

14 Ken Dodd

13 Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick And Tich

13 Bill Haley And His Comets

13 Small Faces

13 Kenny Ball And His Jazzmen

12 The Who

12 The Crickets

12 Ray Charles

12 The Searchers

12 Georgie Fame

12 Paul Anka

12 Anthony Newley

11 Bob Dylan

11 Marty Wilde

11 Andy Williams

11 Otis Redding

11 Jimmy Young

10 Donovan

10 Bobby Vee

10 Joe Brown

10 Helen Shapiro

10 Michael Holliday

10 Lulu

10 Ruby Murray

10 Matt Monro

10 Craig Douglas

10 Val Doonican

 

And arranging those same artists by average score to see who my favourite and my least favourite of the artists with at least 10 hits are:

 

The Beatles 8.3

The Rolling Stones 7.7

Little Richard 7.5

The Kinks 7.4

Bob Dylan 7.3

Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky Mick And Tich 7.2

Buddy Holly 7.1

Dusty Springfield 7.1

The Animals 7.0

The Beach Boys 6.9

Donovan 6.9

Duane Eddy 6.8

The Four Tops 6.8

The Who 6.8

Bobby Vee 6.7

Roy Orbison 6.6

Johnnie Ray 6.5

The Crickets 6.5

Bill Haley And His Comets 6.5

Joe Brown 6.5

The Hollies 6.4

Gene Pitney 6.3

Helen Shapiro 6.3

Billy Fury 6.2

Ray Charles 6.2

Brenda Lee 6.1

Manfred Mann 6.1

Winifred Atwell 6.1

Elvis Presley 6.0

The Shadows 6.0

Nat ‘King’ Cole 6.0

The Everly Brothers 6.0

The Supremes 6.0

The Searchers 6.0

Georgie Fame 5.9

Paul Anka 5.9

Doris Day 5.7

Small Faces 5.7

Kenny Ball And His Jazzmen 5.7

Michael Holliday 5.7

Connie Francis 5.6

The Tremeloes 5.5

Bobby Darin 5.5

Lulu 5.5

Ricky Nelson 5.4

Frankie Laine 5.3

Guy Mitchell 5.3

Petula Clark 5.2

Marty Wilde 5.2

Lonnie Donegan 5.1

Tommy Steele 5.1

Sandie Shaw 5.1

Adam Faith 5.0

Del Shannon 5.0

Perry Como 4.8

Jim Reeves 4.8

Herman’s Hermits 4.8

Dean Martin 4.8

Andy Williams 4.8

Cliff Richard 4.7

Shirley Bassey 4.7

Russ Conway 4.6

Dickie Valentine 4.6

Frank Ifield 4.6

Ruby Murray 4.6

Frank Sinatra 4.5

Otis Redding 4.5

Jimmy Young 4.4

Alma Cogan 4.3

Ronnie Hilton 4.3

Frankie Vaughan 4.1

The Dave Clark Five 4.1

Matt Monro 4.0

Cilla Black 3.6

Craig Douglas 3.6

Tom Jones 3.4

Val Doonican 3.3

Pat Boone 3.1

David Whitfield 3.0

The Bachelors 2.7

Max Bygraves 2.7

Anthony Newley 2.5

Ken Dodd 1.9

I have a plan to mix up how I’m doing this so I’m less likely to get burned out with it, but for now I’m boldly venturing forward as normal.

 

1970 Group 1:

 

#3456 10/01/1970 Chicago I'm A Man 8 31-23-20-12-{8}-9-14-18-23-33-49->11

#3457 10/01/1970 Badfinger Come And Get It 4 33-10-8-{4}-5-5-13-19-22-40-50->11

#3458 10/01/1970 Jonathan King Let It All Hang Out 26 36-32-31-{26}-27-29-34->7

#3459 10/01/1970 Arrival Friends 8 45-18-11-{8}-9-11-28-39-41->9

#3460 10/01/1970 The Kinks Victoria 33 48-{33}-35-37->4

#3461 10/01/1970 Sacha Distel Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head 10 50-47R(2)-47-41-32-26-16-15-{10}-14-16-23-26-32-35-30-33-50-46-49-49-47R(3)-43-50-47-47R(2)-44R(2)->27

#3462 17/01/1970 The Fifth Dimension Wedding Bell Blues 16 34-33-25-28-{16}-21-25-34-46->9

#3463 17/01/1970 Peter, Paul And Mary Leaving On A Jet Plane 2 36-13-9-4-{2}-3-6-6-15-19-23-29-29-42-47-42->16

#3464 17/01/1970 The Temptations I Can't Get Next To You 13 39-26-20-{13}-14-17-17-39-37->9

#3465 17/01/1970 Shocking Blue Venus 8 42-37-30-21-10-9-{8}-12-16-22-37->11

#3466 17/01/1970 Judy Collins Both Sides Now 14 44-43-28-25-23-20-{14}-17-23-31-50->11

#3467 17/01/1970 Canned Heat Let's Work Together 2 47-44-29-15-3-{2}-3-3-7-12-14-20-24-39-43->15

#3468 17/01/1970 Boris Gardiner Elizabethan Reggae 14 48-39R(2)-33-34-24-23-{14}-24-21-28-28-44-34-40->14

#3469 24/01/1970 Edison Lighthouse Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) 1 12-{1}-1-1-1-1-4-5-17-19-27-28->12

#3470 24/01/1970 Jethro Tull The Witch's Promise/Teacher 4 30-10-6-{4}-8-12-21-31-38->9

 

Gratified to see amongst your top 10 of Music Greats on the average score rating my own faves Dave Dee and co, unfairly dismissed as not a top 60's singles band thanks to the band name (my theory!). :cheer:

feel free to take a break to avoid burn-out or slow the pace, it's quite an achievement to get to the end of the 60's already!

 

There's more hits from the time I know in 1970 as we moved house, mum and dad bought a hi-fi record player with stereo radio, and so I got to hear good-quality sound new music on the radio, which boosts the wow factor that lacks on a tinny mono early 60's thing.

feel free to take a break to avoid burn-out or slow the pace, it's quite an achievement to get to the end of the 60's already!

 

There's more hits from the time I know in 1970 as we moved house, mum and dad bought a hi-fi record player with stereo radio, and so I got to hear good-quality sound new music on the radio, which boosts the wow factor that lacks on a tinny mono early 60's thing.

Thanks! I have a plan to take a break by moving into my comfort zone for a bit where I’ll already know many of the songs well, but more on that to follow…

Now I’m fully expecting the 70s to have its share of weak batches. I’m also expecting the charts to become quite a bit faster, as the monetisation of them really ramps up. However amazingly 1970 actually has fewer hits than any year of the 60s, so maybe it’s more like an honorary 60s year.

 

This first group of 1970 is absolutely fabulous; in fact it’s getting the highest average score of any group so far and I feel like I could happily keep listening to these tracks forever and not go any further. I’m also giving a very rare triple 9, and any of the 8s could also have been group winners in a lesser bunch.

 

9 Judy Collins Both Sides Now A Joni Mitchell song and I love her but this version sparkles beautifully with Judy's crystal clear voice and the twinkling backing

9 Shocking Blue Venus Dutch 1 hit wonder that combines a great pop tune with a fantastic instrumental: the gritty guitar part dances along fabulously

9 Peter, Paul And Mary Leaving On A Jet Plane Only big hit for this US folk trio: a beautiful song written by John Denver and I love the light and shade in the performance

8 Edison Lighthouse Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) 281st #1: almost a 9 as it's one of the catchiest pop tunes ever and going round my head as I write, but the 3 above are greater

8 Canned Heat Let's Work Together Easily their biggest hit; a cover but a fabulous version with a really forceful driving guitar part and robust vocals from them

8 Arrival Friends 1st of 2 hits for this English folk rock group and it's fab; I love the lead singer's voice and the harmonies and it's a soaring tune

7 Jonathan King Let It All Hang Out Only his 2nd hit 5 years after the fabulously quirky "Everyone's Gone To The Moon": also great and sounds almost like Britpop

7 Boris Gardiner Elizabethan Reggae This Jamaican will top the chart in the future but this is an instrumental: a very interesting reggae adaptation of a classical piece

7 The Kinks Victoria They'll have bigger and better to come this year but this is a very nice minor hit satirising 19th century working class patriotism

6 Jethro Tull The Witch's Promise/Teacher The last of their trio of big hits: both tracks are good but I prefer "The Witch's Promise" which has an enchanting folky quality

6 The Temptations I Can't Get Next To You A US #1 and another well performed soul song from them; feel I should like it more but it's a bit punchy and doesn't draw me in

5 Chicago I'm A Man Debut hit for this US rock band and a Spencer Davis Group cover: very enjoyable instrumental parts but don't love the song

5 Badfinger Come And Get It Debut McCartney penned hit for this Welsh group: it's very decent with a strong melody, but a bit ordinary and heavy handed

4 The Fifth Dimension Wedding Bell Blues 2nd and final hit for them and a cover that reached #1 Stateside about someone who wants her boyfriend to propose: not bad

4 Sacha Distel Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head The biggest UK hit version of this Bacharach song but I prefer those to come: this is slightly too fast and the vocals too heavy

 

 

 

 

1970 Group 2:

 

#3471 24/01/1970 The Contours Just A Little Misunderstanding 31 42-35-{31}-36-33-40->6

#3472 31/01/1970 Mary Hopkin Temma Harbour 6 22-10-8-{6}-7-10-19-24-34-38-50->11

#3473 31/01/1970 The Peddlers Girlie 34 36-{34}-38-39->4

#3474 31/01/1970 The Jackson Five I Want You Back 2 42-30-12-4-4-{2}-4-4-12-12-20-30-39->13

#3475 31/01/1970 Steam Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye 9 50-46-35-27-21-13-13-{9}-10-11-18-22-29-36->14

#3476 07/02/1970 Herman's Hermits Years May Come And Years May Go 7 32-24-12-11-8-9-{7}-13-16-22-24-45R(2)->12

#3477 07/02/1970 Lee Marvin/Clint Eastwood Wand'rin' Star/I Talk To The Trees 1 36-18-5-2-{1}-1-1-2-4-5-8-13-21-23-26-35-38-44-47R(2)-50-42-49R(6)-47->23

#3478 07/02/1970 Kenny Rogers And The First Edition Something's Burning 8 48-39-32-28-16-18-13-11-{8}-9-15-18-22-36->14

#3479 07/02/1970 White Plains My Baby Loves Lovin' 9 49-22-11-{9}-9-14-18-21-34-31-49->11

#3480 14/02/1970 Creedence Clearwater Revival Down On The Corner 31 37-37-34-{31}-35-44->6

#3481 14/02/1970 Brotherhood Of Man United We Stand 10 40-19-{10}-11-12-16-17-26-36->9

#3482 14/02/1970 Rare Bird Sympathy 27 44-45-35-29-{27}-27-27-41->8

#3483 14/02/1970 The Tams Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy 32 46-47-37-38-39-{32}-44->7

#3484 21/02/1970 John Lennon And Yoko Ono With The Plastic Ono Band Instant Karma 5 7-{5}-5-6-10-15-24-38-48->9

#3485 21/02/1970 BJ Thomas Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head 38 {38}-48-42-49R(8)->4

Edited March 3, 20241 yr by JulianT

'Leaving On A Jet Plane' is really nice. Not one I've heard before but I can definitely see the John Denver involvement in this for sure.

 

'Venus' is fab and much better than the Bananarama cover which is also quite good but not quite on the same level.

 

'Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)' is another great record too.