On 17/08/2025 at 12:52, jimwatts said:

'Heart Of Gold' is a classic and has probably overtaken 'Only Love Can Break Your Heart' as my favourite Neil Young song these days, very lyrically endearing. Not surprised but a bit sad to see the low score for 'Amazing Grace', that sound can be quite stirring in the right setting. Its pure sales were 998,509 as of early 2022 so even if it's selling 7 downloads a week it must have a chance of trickling past the million mark some time soon!

ooh I'd love to see some further actual sales millionaires, all this one would need would be a decent advert or film spot then!

Another strong group here: 1972 is definitely exceeding expectations so far. Elton started his hit-making career pretty flawlessly with “Your Song” and “Rocket Man” and I like this Sly And The Family Stone song even more than “Family Affair”.

9	Elton John	Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long, Long Time)	Inspired by Bowie and a story about an astronaut, it's a 2nd outstanding hit for him and more successful than "Your Song"
9	Sly And The Family Stone	Runnin' Away	Last of their 5 hits: this has dark lyrics juxtaposed with a happy sounding track and the sardonic "ha ha"; I think it's brilliant
8	The Rolling Stones	Tumbling Dice	The main single from "Exile On Main Street", this feels joyous with great lyrics and combines a blues style with rock and roll
8	Johnny Cash And The Evangel Temple Choir	A Thing Called Love	His biggest hit: the song is originally from 1968 and has many versions but it suits Johnny very well and he does it brilliantly
7	Johnny Nash	Stir It Up	A cover of a song by Bob Marley who won't have a hit here for a while: this is beautifully done with expressive falsetto
7	Paul Simon	Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard	A folky 2nd solo hit for him with intrguing lyrics: this style is more to my taste than that of "Mother And Child Reunion"
7	The Temptations	Take A Look Around	I love the harpsichord bassline running through this: it's a lovely and soulful track with beautiful lead and backing vocals
6	David Cassidy	Could It Be Forever/Cherish	1st hit for this US star: "Cherish" is an Association cover but both sides are sincerely performed and rousing pop ballads
6	Ramsey Lewis	Wade In The Water	Only hit for this US pianist and composer: this is a lovely jazz instrumental but more something you'd want to hear live
6	Mungo Jerry	Open Up	It has that bouncy guitar bassline you might find in T.Rex or other Mungo Jerry songs: a good but not remarkable track
5	The Marmalade	Radancer	I think their more soulful songs have been some of the folkier ones: this is a standard pulsing rock number but it's decent
5	Daniel Boone	Beautiful Sunday	His 2nd and last solo hit and this was a big international success: it's a jolly record but feels very slightly formulaic to me
4	Vicky Leandros	Come What May	The English version of "Après Toi" that won Eurovision for Luxembourg: it's not bad but a somewhat overblown ballad
4	Leeds United FC	Leeds United	The 1st of 2 #10 hits that they'll have: the B side of this is the better known one but this isn't a bad tune for what it is
3	Dave Newman	The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh)	Only hit for this artist about which I can find no information: it's very similar to The Tokens version from a decade before

1972 Group 6:

#3950	29/04/1972	Hurricane Smith	Oh, Babe, What Would You Say?	4	38-27-18-15-6-{4}-4-8-12-20-27-27-33-37-41-49->16
#3951	29/04/1972	Donnie Elbert	A Little Piece Of Leather	27	39-36-30-31-{27}-27-30-34-47->9
#3952	29/04/1972	Bread	Everything I Own	32	43-35-35-{32}-40-49->6
#3953	06/05/1972	The Moody Blues	Isn't Life Strange	13	34-39-24-19-{13}-15-15-22-37-47->10
#3954	06/05/1972	Jerry Lee Lewis	Chantilly Lace	33	44-{33}-33-34-39->5
#3955	13/05/1972	T.Rex	Metal Guru	1	9-{1}-1-1-1-2-4-15-22-28-34-42-44-46->14
#3956	13/05/1972	Lindisfarne	Lady Eleanor	3	29-19-12-6-{3}-6-10-23-33-46-49->11
#3957	13/05/1972	New World	Sister Jane	9	31-27-16-16-{9}-9-11-17-24-26-36-39-45->13
#3958	13/05/1972	Don McLean	Vincent	1	36-29-11-5-2-{1}-1-2-5-8-19-26-29-40-49->15
#3959	13/05/1972	Diana Ross	Doobedood'ndoobe Doobedood'ndoobe Doobedood'ndoobe	12	42-30-22-18-18-{12}-26-34-41->9
#3960	13/05/1972	The Angelettes	Don't Let Him Touch You	35	44-40-{35}-38-41->5
#3961	13/05/1972	Neil Diamond	Song Sung Blue	14	45-38-31-31-23-16-15-{14}-17-24-29-34-43->13
#3962	13/05/1972	The Move	California Man	7	46-34-20-11-8-{7}-7-7-10-14-24-25-32-41->14
#3963	20/05/1972	Chicory Tip	What's Your Name	13	39-26-23-21-{13}-27-31-42->8
#3964	20/05/1972	Michael Jackson	Rockin' Robin	3	43-33-22-10-5-{3}-6-7-10-15-22-25-34-48->14

Rocket Man is a classic, always loved it, especially the sci-fi stark, lonely lyrics and mood 10/10. Runnin' Away I also loved at the time, unusual, but these days I've switched more to Family Affair as the jewell in the Sly crown, but it's still great 8/10. I fondly recall the Exile flexi disc I swapped for a Faces single - that was a bad decision! Tumbling Dice I never loved that much, it was OK but was no Honky Tonk Women or Jumping Jack Flash in my mind. A bit shambolic in comparison. 6/10.

A Thing Called Love is my fave Johnny Cash song, upbeat and fun yet oddly affecting in an optimistic fashion, 9/10. One I quite fancy trying at karaoke one day near closing time, that should clear the pub. Johnny Nash is under-rated and forgotten these days - yet he was promoting Bob Marley years ahead of his success, and Stir It Up is a goodie 8/10. The latin-sound of Me & Julio was delicious at the time, and the song is quirky and engaging 8/10.

Take A Look Around should be better-known as a great Temps ballad, love the message and mood 9/10. Could It Be Forever was the main side and turned David into a huge star in the UK, it's still one of his best ballads 9/10 Cherish less so 6/10. My 16-year-old Aunty bought this single at the time. Wade In The Water is a fave of mine, an ancient spiritual song getting the jazz instrumental treatment from Ramsey - long overdue a UK hit and this 1966 track got in on the 1972 re-issue fever 9/10. Open Up for some odd reason I was big on at the time, but it's not weathered well 5/10.

Radancer was catchy and it was great Marmalade were still having hits where other 60's acts had faltered, but it was a last fling for 4 years. I still like it 7/10. Beautiful Sunday always did sound formulaic to me too, singalong in a Sweet Caroline sort of way but not as good 6/10. Come What May robbed the New Seekers of a victory, but it's decent enough, French distraught ballads usually work for me 7/10. My grandma was a Vicky Leandros fan in later years. Leeds United not too bad for a football song 3/10. The Lion Sleeps Tonight was a UK cover, I think, ahead of a big US cover hit by Robert John - who would get his own UK hit in 7 years time. I rather liked both versions, but Robert John's is better. 6/10.

Another very strong bunch and time for the first 10 of the year. “American Pie” came close and that has more going on with it but “Vincent” is just pure art.

I ended up crowning “Nights In White Satin” as my #1 hit of the ‘60s: this isn’t quite as stunning as that but it’s wonderful too.

10	Don McLean	Vincent	314th #1: based on Van Gogh's biography and his most famous painting, this simple track is beautiful and heartbreaking
9	The Moody Blues	Isn't Life Strange	An epic 6 minute progressive rock track full of interesting orchestral features that builds to a huge emotional climax
8	Lindisfarne	Lady Eleanor	This was re-released after "Meet Me On The Corner" and it's a little harder edged than that but another excellent single
8	Diana Ross	Doobedood'ndoobe Doobedood'ndoobe Doobedood'ndoobe	I love the whimsical feel of the chorus to this and it's an excellent sophisticated song that demonstrates her vocal ability
7	The Angelettes	Don't Let Him Touch You	Only hit for this UK group with a really endearing Motown style song: I love the gravelly cello and the punchy chorus
7	Donnie Elbert	A Little Piece Of Leather	His last hit and it wasn't as successful as it's predecessor covers but it's great and showcases his impressive falsetto
7	T.Rex	Metal Guru	313rd #1: this doesn't quite grab me like its predecessors but it's confident with big production and intriguing lyrics
6	The Move	California Man	Last of their mostly very good 10 hits: this is quite a standard traditional rock and roll style song but very enjoyable
6	Hurricane Smith	Oh, Babe, What Would You Say?	His 2nd Top 5: his voice is an acquired taste but I think it works in making this an interesting and sincere sounding track
6	Bread	Everything I Own	This is something of an easy listening classic that will have several other versions done: it's not exciting but very nice
5	Michael Jackson	Rockin' Robin	A cover of Bobby Day's 1958 hit: I do think Michael does a good job with this and it's quite a fun and vibrant version
5	Chicory Tip	What's Your Name	A #13 follow up to chart topper "Son Of My Father": it has that same jolly bouncy feel to it and it's a perfectly nice track
4	Jerry Lee Lewis	Chantilly Lace	A Big Bopper cover: I love the original and this is a competently done version, though I don't love the spoken ad libs
3	Neil Diamond	Song Sung Blue	Inspired by Mozart's Piano Concerto #21, but his first Top 10 miss and it's quite a plodding number that doesn't liven up
2	New World	Sister Jane	Their last Top 40: I find this rather basic and the tune grates quite quickly, and the jarring key change doesn't save it

1972 Group 7:

#3965	27/05/1972	Wings	Mary Had A Little Lamb	9	36-20-12-10-{9}-9-11-15-27-31-39->11
#3966	27/05/1972	Roberta Flack	The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face	14	38-34-26-22-17-16-{14}-17-21-27-30-38-39-48->14
#3967	27/05/1972	The Kinks	Supersonic Rocket Ship	16	42-32-24-17-{16}-19-21-39->8
#3968	27/05/1972	The Chi-Lites	Oh Girl	14	43-37-25-25-{14}-18-18-30-35->9
#3969	27/05/1972	The Chakachas	Jungle Fever	29	45-45-{29}-39-40-45-45->7
#3970	27/05/1972	Free	Little Bit Of Love	13	47-35-28-19-20-{13}-15-18-30-33->10
#3971	27/05/1972	The Pearls	Third Finger, Left Hand	31	49-44-36-{31}-37-42->6
#3972	03/06/1972	Slade	Take Me Bak 'Ome	1	25-14-3-2-{1}-3-3-8-16-18-28-43-49->13
	03/06/1972	B Bumble And The Stingers	Nut Rocker {1972}	19	47-42-30-25-24-20-{19}-22-24-28-43->11
#3973	10/06/1972	The Staple Singers	I'll Take You There	30	32-33-35-{30}-32-33-32-47->8
#3974	10/06/1972	Gary Glitter	Rock And Roll Parts 1 And 2	2	37-21-6-5-{2}-2-2-3-6-9-12-18-23-31-48->15
#3975	10/06/1972	Frederick Knight	I've Been Lonely For So Long	22	45-38-34-27-26-{22}-23-23-34-50->10
#3976	10/06/1972	The Sweet	Little Willy	4	47-23-8-{4}-4-6-6-11-17-20-28-37-45-50->14
#3977	10/06/1972	Argent	Tragedy	34	48-43-43-40-{34}-34-40->7
#3978	10/06/1972	The New Seekers	Circles	4	50-32-21-11-6-5-{4}-8-9-10-21-19-28-26-37-42->16
#3979	17/06/1972	Elvis Presley	An American Trilogy	8	27-24-{8}-9-9-10-18-22-30-34-47->11

Vincent is fab, poetic and sad life story of the artist who never sold a painting in his lifetime. Also my grandad's name and my middle name, so what's not to like. 9/10. Neither of the hits are my top McLean early single though - that would be Castles In The Air, just gorgeous. Isn't Life Strange is an under-rated Moody track, another 9/10 from, though it's a bit of a patchwork quilt. Lady Eleanor is lovely, and a bizarrely forgotten ballad with Middle-age vibes 50-odd years on - it was a radio fave for years. 9/10.

Diana Ross' sounds like a silly title - and indeed the NME duly slagged it off in the singles review of the time - but I always rated its OTT lush tendencies, and was her last decent hit before the Boring Ballad era arrived. 8/10. Don't Let Him Touch You was bigger on radio than its chart position might indicate, a big fave of mine, and Jonathan King was behind the scenes. That said it's not quite as fresh as it sounded in 1972 8/10. Little Piece Of Leather Donnie's lesser hit for me, but still good. 7/10.

Metal Guru arrived like a bomb after the more tepid Telegram Sam, what a monster hook and back on form Bolan 10/10. The fade-out is fabulous. California Man was The Move's goodbye fling with a retro 50's rocker, Roy on his back on TOTP playing one of the many instruments that he dabbled with but I preferred Chinatown and the non-UK-single Do Ya - see future ELO US hit. 7/10. Oh Babe was fab, very 1940's-sounding, and I loved Norman's unusual voice, catchy as hell and a US hit for the Beatles' engineer now he was out of a job. 9/10. Mama Cass covered it.

I love Bread and David Gates songs, crystal clear, pure vocals and subtle arrangements, and much-coverable in any genre. I still think is the best version, just ahead of Ken Boothe's 9/10. Rockin' Robin is the definitive version, no question, and memories of The Jackson 5 on Top Of The Pops doing it - unusually they were in the actual UK - but I don't love it as much as I did compared to his ballads of the era. 7/10. What's Your Name = Son Of My Father part 2. It sounded better at the time as the synths were still quite exciting, but hasnt dated so well, 7/10.

Chantilly Lace is an OK cover. Jerry was in the UK I think. 6/10. Song Sung Blue is quite low-key but pleasant, and a comeback from the flop Stones single, which was even more downbeat, but it marked the end of Neil Diamond as a creatively inspired hit songwriter and a move into dull ballads. Just compare with his 60's songs, dozens of great ones, none of them hits in the UK for Neil, but many were as covers. 7/10. I liked New World at the time, but Sister Jane did seem more like a by-numbers hit where the WAY better follow-up song struggled. 6/10. This was due to Chinn-Chapman getting massive Glam Hits with multiple acts so the singalong folkpop side took a back seat until the Glam bubble burst and Smokie carried on where New World left off, right down to re-using their songs....

A mixture of soul and rock here but this simple and stunning ballad has to be at the top.

9	Roberta Flack	The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face	A US #1 and the 1st hit for this soul singer with a 1957 Peggy Seeger folk song: this version is slow and utterly beautiful
8	Elvis Presley	An American Trilogy	A medley of three old folk songs which doesn't promise to be compelling, but Elvis gives a brilliant rousing performance
8	Gary Glitter	Rock And Roll Parts 1 And 2	His 1st hit split into a vocal and non vocal part: the beat across both parts is very compelling and the riff mesmerising
7	The Staple Singers	I'll Take You There	1st hit for this US gospel group with a US #1 and a very recognisable rousing tune: not my favourite genre but it's great
7	Argent	Tragedy	This doesn't have the menacing brilliance of "Hold Your Head Up" but it's still great and a very dramatic performance
7	The Chakachas	Jungle Fever	Only Top 40 for this Latin group and an unusual but enjoyable instrumental with groans that got it banned by the BBC
6	Slade	Take Me Bak 'Ome	314th #1: they've definitely found their groove: it doesn't do anything unexpected but it's a gritty powerful number
6	The Kinks	Supersonic Rocket Ship	Their last hit for a very long time: this is slightly sugary and not a favourite, but it has a very nice calypso character to it
6	The Chi-Lites	Oh Girl	Another very emotion laden slow ballad from them: the vocal performance is great and you can feel the heartbreak
5	Free	Little Bit Of Love	Similar in style to "All Right Now" and  a pleasant rock track, but it washes over without leaving very much impression
5	Frederick Knight	I've Been Lonely For So Long	Only hit for this US soul singer with a falsetto heavy track that's quite nice but has a slightly dragging spoken section
4	The New Seekers	Circles	Their 4th straight Top 5: this has a sweetness and sincerity to it but it's quite schmaltzy and becomes a little repetitive
3	The Pearls	Third Finger, Left Hand	1st hit for this UK duo who did '60s covers: good song but the Martha And The Vandellas original sounds much richer
2	Wings	Mary Had A Little Lamb	The nursery rhyme set to a tune written by Paul and Linda: an interesting stylistic direction but it does very little for me
1	The Sweet	Little Willy	Their biggest US hit and it does have catchy elements but it's very irritating lyrically and musically after multiple listens

1972 Group 8:

#3980	17/06/1972	Donny Osmond	Puppy Love	1	36-13-3-{1}-1-1-1-1-4-4-10-17-19-30-35-33-38-50R(2)-45-46R(8)-46-46-48R(3)->23
#3981	17/06/1972	Gilbert O'Sullivan	Ooh-Wakka-Doo-Wakka-Day	8	40-18-12-{8}-11-11-21-19-29-31-45->11
#3982	17/06/1972	Love Unlimited	Walkin' In The Rain With The One I Love	14	44-31-21-19-16-16-{14}-21-27-44->10
#3983	17/06/1972	Gladys Knight And The Pips	Just Walk In My Shoes	35	45-42-47-39-36-42-{35}-49->8
#3984	24/06/1972	The Who	Join Together	9	36-22-16-12-{9}-13-15-18-35->9
#3985	24/06/1972	The Stylistics	Betcha By Golly, Wow	13	38-32-25-25-{13}-15-16-14-23-23-34-41->12
#3986	24/06/1972	Donald Peers And The Les Reed Orchestra	Give Me One More Chance	36	41-44-{36}-41-44-41->6
#3987	24/06/1972	Dr Hook And The Medicine Show	Sylvia's Mother	2	44-28-13-4-3-{2}-3-5-8-16-26-35-44->13
#3988	24/06/1972	Johnny Nash	I Can See Clearly Now	5	46-25-12-7-{5}-7-8-8-16-15-19-22-33-38-45->15
#3989	24/06/1972	Bruce Ruffin	Mad About You	9	48-43-35-23-14-{9}-13-13-19-21-32-37->12
#3990	24/06/1972	David Bowie	Starman	10	49-41-29-20-18-{10}-12-11-18-35-43->11
#3991	01/07/1972	Hawkwind	Silver Machine	3	49-40-37-20-12-7-7-{3}-3-4-7-13-19-41-47->15
#3992	08/07/1972	The Partridge Family	Breaking Up Is Hard To Do	3	30-13-7-4-5-{3}-6-8-16-20-24-26-38->13
	08/07/1972	Richard Harris	MacArthur Park {1972}	38	46-47-47-{38}-40-45->6
	08/07/1972	Mary Wells	My Guy {1972}	14	48-38-26-20-{14}-15-22-34-33-42->10
#3993	15/07/1972	Terry Dactyl And The Dinosaurs	Seaside Shuffle	2	29-12-5-4-{2}-2-5-10-15-26-37-46->12
#3994	15/07/1972	The Supremes	Automatically Sunshine	10	35-25-17-{10}-12-17-30-37-47->9

Roberta's classic was a little slow for me at the time to fully appreciate - I was 14 - but once I saw the original stalker classic movie Play Misty For Me with Clint and the amazing Jessica Walter, it really came over beautifully 9/10. Roberta was a classy singer. Elvis' mash-up was well-sung, and is still a showstopper at any Elvis tribute concert, but ... I've never really been a fan of it in comparison to older Elvis classics I was mad on. 5/10. Rock & Roll part 2 was the A side, really. No Gary Glitter singing, just doing the Hey's along with the Glitter Band, and those riffs remain powerful and stunning mixed with the heavy drums. 10/10

I was an instant Staple Singers fan with I'll Take You There and was miffed it only scraped into the top 30 - I'm not quite so big on it as I was but at least it was a minor hit unlike Respect Yourself and others. 8/10. Tragedy, wot u said, that's my opinion too, 8/10. Jungle Fever, Radio Luxembourg played it a bit, but banned on the Beeb so I had to buy a second hand copy years later, annoyed I couldnt tape it off the chart show. Very naughty, and I was very naive. 7/10. funky though.

Take Me Bak 'Ome was a departure from the more ominous previous 2 hits, this was more Glam than Stomp, and I wasnt quite as much a fan of it, but still good. 8/10. Supersonic Rocket Ship was catchy and cute, very much in the Apeman vibe, but I liked the sci-fi lyrics. Not quite as big on it these days, but fun 7/10. The Chi-Lites can't beaten for heartbreak ballads, adored Oh Girl at the time as it sailed to the top of my charts, and still do 10/10. Lush. Little Bit Of Love was my All Right Now, as I'd not got to hear that one in Singapore, so I'm guess I'm alone in viewing this as the best of the two! 8/10.

Loved the Frederick Knight song, I do enjoy me some falsetto, especially in sweet soul, 8/10. Circles is a touching Harry Chapin song, and quite sombre for The New Seekers, but I've found this one has stayed the test of time for me in a way some of their jollier ones havent. 9/10. It was nice The Pearls got some more chart action under this new name, and Third Finger Left hand wasnt known in the UK - so it sounded like an old Motown record without appearing to be an old Motown record even though it was originally an old Motown record. 8/10. They would do a Sugababes by the end of the year and completely change the line-up.

Mary Had A Little Lamb was Paul reacting to getting banned: a tuneful song for his kids that the BBC couldnt possibly ban. I love the melody, very sweet 8/10. Little Willy is The Sweet going Glam, and the one that broke them in the USA to boot in a year or two, along with Ballroom Blitz - I'd rather liked their calypso-pop phase but this was the sound of the future, and yes it was very annoying after a lot of plays, smutty lols for teenagers on first hearing, and it didn't get banned. 7/10.

8.5 / 10 for Pearls - Third Finger Left Hand

It's my second favourite song from 1972 year.

Also it's my 5000th post.