7th January 1973

 

It's straight in on top for The Sweet and their first retro number one, Blockbuster as they pretty much can't go wrong for the next 12 months, and neither can Chinn-Chapman who will having monster glam hits with Suzi Quatro and Mud instead of New World, who have their last hurrah with Alice at 20. New in at 13, my actual fave record in january 1973, Dave Edmunds Phil Spector-inspired version of Baby I Love You, recorded at his own Rockfield studios, and his 3rd Retro chart entry, 4th counting Love Sculpture.

 

Strawbs get a 3rd retro entry with Hudson-Ford featuring Part Of The Union, a sort of oom pah pah stomping anti-Union song rather than Dave Cousins folk, so the writing was very much on the wall for a split due to musical differences. The lyrics sounded like it was all about celebrating power to the Unions (who were very active in the 70's) but it wasn't. Presumably they weren't impressed by the Top Of The Pops studio (Musicians Union) orchestra ruining many a solo singer performance...

 

New at 41, Thin Lizzy debut with Irish folk tune Whiskey In The Jar, which I was never a huge fan of at the time, but it's grown on me with the years, while at 49 the non-single from Neil Sedaka's second comeback album, future hit Solitaire, a terrific song that I recall getting on a flexi-disc free with Record Mirror (unless it was Sounds) circa 1975. The official hit single was That's When The Music Takes Me, which wasn't as good and pops in lower at 73, nestling co-incidentally next to 10CC. The album was produced at their Strawberry Studios and all the back up instruments and vocals are actual 10CC. That would be worth a "feature" these days. Finally, Ann Peebles debuts future 1983 Paul Young hit, I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down, and good it is too.

 

JANUARY 1973 CHARTS WITH VIDEO LINKS FOR CLIMBERS TOP 40

 

https://popchartfreak.wordpress.com/2025/01...3-retro-charts/

 

1 ( NEW ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet # 1

2 ( 5 ) WISHING WELL - Free # 1

3 ( 3 ) WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER - Timmy Thomas # 1

4 ( 2 ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE - The Detroit Spinners # 1

5 ( 7 ) SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION - T.Rex # 1

6 ( 1 ) SATELLITE OF LOVE - Lou Reed featuring David Bowie # 1

7 ( 8 ) DANNY’S SONG - Anne Murray # 7

8 ( 4 ) I'M ON MY WAY TO A BETTER PLACE - Chairmen Of The Board # 4

9 ( 9 ) I BELIEVE IN LOVE - The Pioneers # 9

10 ( 6 ) THE RIGHT THING TO DO - Carly Simon # 6

 

11 ( 13 ) WE NEED ORDER - The Chi-Lites # 11

12 ( 10 ) WALK ON THE WILD SIDE - Lou Reed featuring Thunderthighs # 1

13 ( NEW ) BABY I LOVE YOU - Dave Edmunds # 13

14 ( 15 ) COME SOFTLY TO ME - The New Seekers featuring Marty Kristian # 14

15 ( 11 ) SUPERSTITION - Stevie Wonder # 1

16 ( 16 ) LOVE TRAIN - The O’Jays # 1

17 ( 12 ) LITTLE DRUMMER BOY - The Pipes & Drums of The Royal Scots Dragoons Guard Band # 9

18 ( 22 ) MY THING - The Moments # 18

19 ( 24 ) DADDY’S HOME - Jermaine Jackson # 19

20 ( 26 ) LIVING NEXT DOOR TO ALICE - New World # 20

 

21 ( 21 ) ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH - John Denver # 8

22 ( 18 ) THE JEAN GENIE - David Bowie # 2

23 ( NEW ) PART OF THE UNION - The Strawbs # 23

24 ( 14 ) HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER) - John & Yoko & The Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir # 4

25 ( 19 ) PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE - The Temptations # 1

26 ( 23 ) KEEPER OF THE CASTLE - The Four Tops # 10

27 ( 47 ) PAPER PLANE - Status Quo # 27

28 ( 33 ) WHEN I AM A KID - Demis Roussos # 28

29 ( 29 ) STAY WITH ME - Blue Mink # 3

30 ( 20 ) YOU’RE SO VAIN - Carly Simon featuring Mick Jagger # 6

 

31 ( 28 ) LEADER OF THE PACK - The Shangri-Las # 1

32 ( 30 ) IT MIGHT AS WELL RAIN UNTIL SEPTEMBER - Carole King # 1

33 ( 31 ) DO IT AGAIN - Steely Dan # 1

34 ( 34 ) LOOKING THROUGH THE EYES OF LOVE - The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones and featuring David Cassidy # 25

35 ( 25 ) PERFECT DAY - Lou Reed # 17

36 ( 36 ) MY TENNESSEE MOUNTAIN HOME - Dolly Parton # 36

37 ( 46 ) I AM AN ASTRONAUT - Ricky Wilde # 37

38 ( 17 ) REGGAE CHRISTMAS - Gable Hall School Choir # 17

39 ( 27 ) SWEET SURRENDER - Bread # 13

40 ( 35 ) I’LL BE AROUND - The Detroit Spinners # 1

 

41 ( NEW ) WHISKEY IN THE JAR - Thin Lizzy # 41

42 ( 38 ) REMEMBER (CHRISTMAS) - Nilsson # 38

43 ( 39 ) TWEEDLE DEE - Little Jimmy Osmond # 39

44 ( 61 ) TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROADS - Olivia Newton-John # 44

45 ( 40 ) C. MOON - Wings # 40

46 ( 37 ) MANANA - Bay City Rollers # 5

47 ( 53 ) I'VE NEVER FOUND ME A MAN - Esther Phillips # 47

48 ( 45 ) SHOTGUN WEDDING - Roy C # 20

49 ( NEW ) SOLITAIRE - Neil Sedaka # 49

50 ( 44 ) YOU’LL ALWAYS BE A FRIEND - Hot Chocolate # 1

 

51 ( 64 ) ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA (2001) - Deodato # 51

52 ( 32 ) DESPERATE DAN - Lieutenant Pigeon # 32

53 ( 71 ) DON’T LEAVE ME STARVIN’ FOR YOUR LOVE - Holland-Dozier featuring Brian Holland # 53

54 ( 41 ) EYE LEVEL - Simon Park Orchestra # 38

55 ( 68 ) DUELING BANJOS - Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell # 55

56 ( 42 ) DO YOU WANT TO DANCE? - Bette Midler # 42

57 ( 55 ) VENTURA HIGHWAY - America # 5

58 ( 51 ) HOUSE OF THE KING - Focus # 19

59 ( 59 ) THE COLDEST DAYS OF MY LIFE (PART 1) - The Chi-Lites # 1

60 ( 56 ) GAUDETE - Steeleye Span # 56

 

61 ( 69 ) BIG CITY - Dandy Livingstone # 61

62 ( 62 ) LOOKIN’ THROUGH THE WINDOWS - The Jackson 5 # 1

63 ( 43 ) OH NO NOT MY BABY - Merry Clayton # 43

64 ( 66 ) LIVING TOGETHER, GROWING TOGETHER - The 5th Dimension # 64

65 ( 65 ) CRAZY HORSES - The Osmonds # 1

66 ( 54 ) 992 ARGUMENTS - The O’Jays # 15

67 ( 50 ) GETTING A DRAG - Lynsey De Paul # 26

68 ( NEW ) I’M GONNA TEAR YOUR PLAYHOUSE DOWN - Ann Peebles # 68

69 ( 75 ) GOOD MORNING HEARTACHE - Diana Ross # 69

70 ( 52 ) JOHNNY DON’T DO IT - 10cc # 10

 

71 ( 74 ) GIVE ME YOUR LOVE - Barbara Mason # 71

72 ( 73 ) ON A SATURDAY NIGHT - Terry Dactyl & The Dinosaurs # 72

73 ( NEW ) THAT’S WHEN THE MUSIC TAKES ME - Neil Sedaka # 73

74 ( 49 ) THE LOVE IN YOUR EYES - Vicki Leandros # 49

75 ( 48 ) BALL PARK INCIDENT - Wizzard # 48

 

 

 

7th January 1973 My charts of that week back then

 

It's a first week at one as Chairmen Of The Board break into the UK top 30 and qualify for my top 20, the forgotten I'm On My Way To A Better Place is one of their best records, and keeps off the Lt Pigeon follow-up to number 2 peaking Mouldy Old Dough - Desperate Dan was a bit jauntier but not much different. I turned 15 years old this week and have no idea what my prezzies were, but I'm guessing it was going back to school and a record token. I preferred the latter, on the whole, less getting bullied involved. I even got smacked in the head hard by a 3rd-year girl who misunderstood some crap joke I was attempting to make a couple of weeks into January.

 

.Other than that, the post-xmas lull, 10CC enter with their flop 2nd 50's pastiche Johnny Don't Do It, and Cat Stevens is at 30 with Can't Keep It In, my least-fave-ever Cat Stevens record - I just couldn't get my teenage mind away from the image of not keeping something in your pants. Most 15-year-old's were probably thinking the same thing. At the cinema, though, was The Poseidon Adventure, the Irwin Allen disaster movie - the creator of Lost In Space, The Time Tunnel and Land Of The Giants TV sci-fi shows I loved in the 60's, had gone into the big league with the top-grossing film of 1973. An ocean-liner is turned upside-down and the focus is on a group of survivors trying to climb up a sinking wrecked ship to the hull. A cast of wonderful stars made the will-they-survive plot exciting beyond belief (some didn't survive!). Mum took me and my brother to see it in Mansfield on a visit, and I became a fan of Roddy McDowell (fresh off Planet Of The Apes movies), Stella Stevens, Shelley Winters, Ernest Borgnine and the rest of the cast, my all-time fave film for the next few years. Bought the book, sketched the film poster, bought Film Review magazines, the lot.

 

 

 

1 ( 21 ) I’M ON MY WAY TO A BETTER PLACE - Chairmen Of The Board

2 ( 22 ) DESPERATE DAN - Lieutenant Pigeon

3 ( 1 ) HAPPY XMAS. WAR IS OVER - John & Yoko, The Plastic Ono Band & The Harlem Community Choir

4 ( 2 ) SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION - T.Rex

5 ( 7 ) NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN - The Moody Blues

6 ( 3 ) BALL PARK INCIDENT - Wizzard

7 ( 5 ) YOU’RE SO VAIN - Carly Simon

8 ( 8 ) ALWAYS ON MY MIND - Elvis Presley

9 ( 4 ) LITTLE DRUMMER BOY - Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Band

10 ( 10 ) LOOKING THROUGH THE WINDOWS - The Jackson 5

 

11 ( 9 ) HI HI HI - Wings

12 ( 11 ) SHOTGUN WEDDING - Roy C

13 ( 6 ) GETTING A DRAG - Lynsey De Paul

14 ( 13 ) CROCODILE ROCK - Elton John

15 ( 17 ) THE JEAN GENIE - David Bowie

16 ( 16 ) STAY WITH ME - Blue Mink

17 ( 15 ) KEEPER OF THE CASTLE - The Four Tops

18 ( 18 ) BEN - Michael Jackson

19 ( RE ) LONG-HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL - Little Jimmy Osmond

20 ( 27 ) CRAZY HORSES - The Osmonds

 

21 ( 23 ) IT NEVER RAINS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA - Albert Hammond

22 ( NEW ) JOHNNY DON’T DO IT - 10CC

23 ( 25 ) COME SOFTLY TO ME - The New Seekers featuring Marty Kristian

24 ( 24 ) DON’T DO THAT - Geordie

25 ( 30 ) GUDBYE T’JANE - Slade

26 ( 29 ) HELP ME MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT - Gladys Knight & The Pips

27 ( 12 ) HI HO SILVER LINING - The Jeff Beck Group

28 ( 26 ) REGGAE CHRISTMAS - Gable Hall School Choir

29 ( 14 ) LEADER OF THE PACK - The Shangri-Las

30 ( NEW ) CAN’T KEEP IT IN - Cat Stevens

14th January 1973

 

It's a brand new entry at 1 as 1973 really kicks into gear with the fab Dutch instrumental Sylvia from Focus giving them a 3rd and biggest retro hit. Dave Edmunds gets a 2nd top 5 with Baby I Love You, 3rd if you count Love Sculpture, and The Glitter Band do fab back-up and "yeah"s on Mike Leander's stomping production of Do You Wanna Touch Me? new in at 5 and 3 in a row for the former Paul Gadd. The Strawbs go top 10 with their anti-Unions anthem that everyone thinks is an actual pro-Union song. The words suggest otherwise, otherwise it might be higher than 10, cos it's a great record.

 

Demis Roussos gets his first solo top 20 with a terrific Greek-sounding rockpop track, ELO enter at 21 with Roll Over Beethoven, well outdoing Chuck Berry, as Jeff Lynne demonstrates he'll be fine without Roy Wood. Elton enters at a modest 34 with the touching Daniel, and just ahead of Roberta Flack's lovely cover of Killing Me Softly With His Song, a song about Don McLean. The Beach Boys are back with an untypical song, but good anyway, Sail On, Sailor at 44.

 

Gladys Knight's got another US biggie at 73, and UK flop, Vicki Lawrence's odd (but huge in the USA) Night The Lights Went Out and fresh from The Carol Burnett Show where she mostly played straight-woman to the funny and sharp Carol, and her many guests - most notably the brilliant Tim Conway. Google "Carol Burnett/Tim Conway/siamese elephants" for the funniest out-take from any show ever as Tim Conway ignores the script entirely and reduces Dick Van Dyke, Vicki and Carol to tear-filled laughter.

 

1 ( NEW ) SYLVIA - Focus # 1

2 ( 1 ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet # 1

3 ( 2 ) WISHING WELL - Free # 1

4 ( 13 ) BABY I LOVE YOU - Dave Edmunds # 4

5 ( NEW ) DO YOU WANNA TOUCH ME? (OH YEAH) - Gary Glitter & The Glitter Band # 5

6 ( 3 ) WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER - Timmy Thomas # 1

7 ( 4 ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE - The Detroit Spinners # 1

8 ( 7 ) DANNY’S SONG - Anne Murray # 7

9 ( 5 ) SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION - T.Rex # 1

10 ( 23 ) PART OF THE UNION - The Strawbs # 10

 

11 ( 6 ) SATELLITE OF LOVE - Lou Reed featuring David Bowie # 1

12 ( 8 ) I'M ON MY WAY TO A BETTER PLACE - Chairmen Of The Board # 4

13 ( 9 ) I BELIEVE IN LOVE - The Pioneers # 9

14 ( 10 ) THE RIGHT THING TO DO - Carly Simon # 6

15 ( 28 ) WHEN I AM A KID - Demis Roussos # 15

16 ( 16 ) LOVE TRAIN - The O’Jays # 1

17 ( 12 ) WALK ON THE WILD SIDE - Lou Reed featuring Thunderthighs # 1

18 ( 19 ) DADDY’S HOME - Jermaine Jackson # 18

19 ( 15 ) SUPERSTITION - Stevie Wonder # 1

20 ( 17 ) LITTLE DRUMMER BOY - The Pipes & Drums of The Royal Scots Dragoons Guard Band # 9

 

21 ( NEW ) ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN - Electric Light Orchestra # 21

22 ( 27 ) PAPER PLANE - Status Quo # 22

23 ( 21 ) ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH - John Denver # 8

24 ( 11 ) WE NEED ORDER - The Chi-Lites # 11

25 ( 14 ) COME SOFTLY TO ME - The New Seekers featuring Marty Kristian # 14

26 ( 25 ) PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE - The Temptations # 1

27 ( 26 ) KEEPER OF THE CASTLE - The Four Tops # 10

28 ( 49 ) SOLITAIRE - Neil Sedaka # 28

29 ( 20 ) LIVING NEXT DOOR TO ALICE - New World # 20

30 ( 18 ) MY THING - The Moments # 18

 

31 ( 22 ) THE JEAN GENIE - David Bowie # 2

32 ( 43 ) TWEEDLE DEE - Little Jimmy Osmond # 32

33 ( 24 ) HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER) - John & Yoko & The Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir # 4

34 ( NEW ) DANIEL - Elton John # 34

35 ( NEW ) KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG - Roberta Flack # 35

36 ( 36 ) MY TENNESSEE MOUNTAIN HOME - Dolly Parton # 36

37 ( 37 ) I AM AN ASTRONAUT - Ricky Wilde # 37

38 ( 53 ) DON’T LEAVE ME STARVIN’ FOR YOUR LOVE - Holland-Dozier featuring Brian Holland # 38

39 ( 31 ) LEADER OF THE PACK - The Shangri-Las # 1

40 ( 29 ) STAY WITH ME - Blue Mink # 3

 

41 ( 41 ) WHISKEY IN THE JAR - Thin Lizzy # 41

42 ( 44 ) TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROADS - Olivia Newton-John # 42

43 ( 33 ) DO IT AGAIN - Steely Dan # 1

44 ( NEW ) SAIL ON, SAILOR - The Beach Boys # 44

45 ( 40 ) I’LL BE AROUND - The Detroit Spinners # 1

46 ( 32 ) IT MIGHT AS WELL RAIN UNTIL SEPTEMBER - Carole King # 1

47 ( 30 ) YOU’RE SO VAIN - Carly Simon featuring Mick Jagger # 6

48 ( 39 ) SWEET SURRENDER - Bread # 13

49 ( 35 ) PERFECT DAY - Lou Reed # 17

50 ( 47 ) I'VE NEVER FOUND ME A MAN - Esther Phillips # 47

 

51 ( 42 ) REMEMBER (CHRISTMAS) - Nilsson # 38

52 ( 68 ) I’M GONNA TEAR YOUR PLAYHOUSE DOWN - Ann Peebles # 52

53 ( 50 ) YOU’LL ALWAYS BE A FRIEND - Hot Chocolate # 1

54 ( 38 ) REGGAE CHRISTMAS - Gable Hall School Choir # 17

55 ( 51 ) ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA (2001) - Deodato # 51

56 ( 45 ) C. MOON - Wings # 40

57 ( 69 ) GOOD MORNING HEARTACHE - Diana Ross # 57

58 ( 48 ) SHOTGUN WEDDING - Roy C # 20

59 ( 59 ) THE COLDEST DAYS OF MY LIFE (PART 1) - The Chi-Lites # 1

60 ( 54 ) EYE LEVEL - Simon Park Orchestra # 38

 

61 ( 34 ) LOOKING THROUGH THE EYES OF LOVE - The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones and featuring David Cassidy # 25

62 ( 73 ) THAT’S WHEN THE MUSIC TAKES ME - Neil Sedaka # 62

63 ( 46 ) MANANA - Bay City Rollers # 5

64 ( 52 ) DESPERATE DAN - Lieutenant Pigeon # 32

65 ( 55 ) DUELING BANJOS - Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell # 55

66 ( 61 ) BIG CITY - Dandy Livingstone # 61

67 ( 64 ) LIVING TOGETHER, GROWING TOGETHER - The 5th Dimension # 64

68 ( 62 ) LOOKIN’ THROUGH THE WINDOWS - The Jackson 5 # 1

69 ( 58 ) HOUSE OF THE KING - Focus # 19

70 ( 71 ) GIVE ME YOUR LOVE - Barbara Mason # 70

 

71 ( 72 ) ON A SATURDAY NIGHT - Terry Dactyl & The Dinosaurs # 71

72 ( 57 ) VENTURA HIGHWAY - America # 5

73 ( NEW ) NEITHER ONE OF US (WANTS TO BE THE FIRST TO SAY GOODBYE) - Gladys Knight & The Pips # 73

74 ( NEW ) NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA - Vicki Lawrence # 74

75 ( NEW ) TODAY I STARTED LOVING YOU AGAIN - Bettye Swann # 75

 

 

 

14th January 1973 My Charts Of That Week Then

 

It's a very lucky week on top for Lieutenant Pigeon as Desperate Dan replaces Chairmen Of The Board. My top 20 was reserved for records in the UK top 30 in those days and I'm On MY Way To A Better Place had dropped out, so it was forced to be number 21 while still my actual fave that week. It'll be back. The Sweet enter at 2 with new smash Blockbuster, their 8th chart hit and following up on chart-topper Wig Wam Bam. New at 10 are Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes with the Philly soul classic If You Don't Know Me By Now, or as they should have been known "featuring Teddy Pendergrass" due to Teddy on lead vocal being the main draw.

 

Status Quo debut Paper Plane, a world away from the last record of there's I knew Pictures Of Matchstick Men, and a new no-nonsense-rock-boogie career starts at 25. The better side of the Rod double A drops in at 29, Jimi Hendrix's Angel, and Free return with their greatest record, Wishing Well, at 30. Sorry it's not that rock classic everyone knows.

 

 

1 ( 2 ) DESPERATE DAN - Lieutenant Pigeon

2 ( NEW ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet

3 ( 3 ) HAPPY XMAS. WAR IS OVER - John & Yoko, The Plastic Ono Band & The Harlem Community Choir

4 ( 4 ) SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION - T.Rex

5 ( 6 ) BALL PARK INCIDENT - Wizzard

6 ( 5 ) NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN - The Moody Blues

7 ( 8 ) ALWAYS ON MY MIND - Elvis Presley

8 ( 9 ) LITTLE DRUMMER BOY - Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Band

9 ( 11 ) HI HI HI/C. Moon - Wings

10 ( NEW ) IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME BY NOW - Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes

 

11 ( 7 ) YOU’RE SO VAIN - Carly Simon

12 ( 12 ) SHOTGUN WEDDING - Roy C

13 ( 14 ) CROCODILE ROCK - Elton John

14 ( 15 ) THE JEAN GENIE - David Bowie

15 ( 13 ) GETTING A DRAG - Lynsey De Paul

16 ( 16 ) STAY WITH ME - Blue Mink

17 ( 20 ) CRAZY HORSES - The Osmonds

18 ( 19 ) LONG-HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL - Little Jimmy Osmond

19 ( 18 ) BEN - Michael Jackson

20 ( 25 ) GUDBYE T’JANE - Slade

 

21 ( 1 ) I’M ON MY WAY TO A BETTER PLACE - Chairmen Of The Board

22 ( 22 ) JOHNNY DON’T DO IT - 10CC

23 ( 21 ) IT NEVER RAINS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA - Albert Hammond

24 ( 24 ) DON’T DO THAT - Geordie

25 ( 10 ) LOOKING THROUGH THE WINDOWS - The Jackson 5

26 ( NEW ) PAPER PLANE - Status Quo

27 ( 23 ) COME SOFTLY TO ME - The New Seekers featuring Marty Kristian

28 ( 17 ) KEEPER OF THE CASTLE - The Four Tops

29 ( NEW ) ANGEL - Rod Stewart

30 ( NEW ) WISHING WELL - Free

 

21st January 1973

 

It's a first number one for Dave Edmunds and his copycat Phil Spector plus version of Spector's Baby I Love You, while Glitter has a 2nd number 2 courtesy of of Mike leander's stomping production and The Glitter Band's pounding beats and electric guitar riffs, still sounds totally in ya face, though the answer to the title question is actually (Oh No). New in at 9 the obscure Miki Anthony who did a very nice line in tuneful MOR not a million miles away from Anne Murray - who is one place lower at 10.

 

Bread are staright in at 16 with Aubrey as they start their 4th year of Retro ballads in the style of their previous: all top 20 hits. The Four Tops follow-up a top 10 with an instant top 40: Ain't No Woman was actually not a UK hit, annoyingly, but was huge in the USA. Tony Christie does the theme tune to TV detective show The Protectors - Robert "Napoleon Solo" Vaughan and Nyree "Forsyte Saga" Dawn Porter starring - a Mitch Murray/Peter Callender song (see Hitchin' A Ride, and many more to come) though it apes John Barry a bit.

 

Alice Cooper does a ballad shock! Hello! Hurray! New at 66. Helen Reddy covers 1969 Georgie Fame goodie, Peaceful, Lindisfarne get a 4th chart retro entry, and Colin Blunstone also a 4th solo entry, ignoring Zombies and pseudonyms. That, I think, would be a good title for a horror spoof movie.

 

 

1 ( 4 ) BABY I LOVE YOU - Dave Edmunds # 1

2 ( 5 ) DO YOU WANNA TOUCH ME? (OH YEAH) - Gary Glitter & The Glitter Band # 2

3 ( 2 ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet # 1

4 ( 1 ) SYLVIA - Focus # 1

5 ( 3 ) WISHING WELL - Free # 1

6 ( 6 ) WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER - Timmy Thomas # 1

7 ( 7 ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE - The Detroit Spinners # 1

8 ( 10 ) PART OF THE UNION - The Strawbs # 8

9 ( NEW ) IF IT WASN’T FOR THE REASON THAT I LOVE YOU - Miki Anthony # 9

10 ( 8 ) DANNY’S SONG - Anne Murray # 7

 

11 ( 22 ) PAPER PLANE - Status Quo # 11

12 ( 9 ) SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION - T.Rex # 1

13 ( 13 ) I BELIEVE IN LOVE - The Pioneers # 9

14 ( 34 ) DANIEL - Elton John # 14

15 ( 35 ) KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG - Roberta Flack # 15

16 ( NEW ) AUBREY - Bread # 16

17 ( 11 ) SATELLITE OF LOVE - Lou Reed featuring David Bowie # 1

18 ( 16 ) LOVE TRAIN - The O’Jays # 1

19 ( 44 ) SAIL ON, SAILOR - The Beach Boys # 19

20 ( 14 ) THE RIGHT THING TO DO - Carly Simon # 6

 

21 ( 21 ) ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN - Electric Light Orchestra # 21

22 ( 17 ) WALK ON THE WILD SIDE - Lou Reed featuring Thunderthighs # 1

23 ( 23 ) ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH - John Denver # 8

24 ( 41 ) WHISKEY IN THE JAR - Thin Lizzy # 24

25 ( 19 ) SUPERSTITION - Stevie Wonder # 1

26 ( 26 ) PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE - The Temptations # 1

27 ( 20 ) LITTLE DRUMMER BOY - The Pipes & Drums of The Royal Scots Dragoons Guard Band # 9

28 ( 28 ) SOLITAIRE - Neil Sedaka # 28

29 ( 12 ) I'M ON MY WAY TO A BETTER PLACE - Chairmen Of The Board # 4

30 ( 25 ) COME SOFTLY TO ME - The New Seekers featuring Marty Kristian # 14

 

31 ( 15 ) WHEN I AM A KID - Demis Roussos # 15

32 ( 38 ) DON’T LEAVE ME STARVIN’ FOR YOUR LOVE - Holland-Dozier featuring Brian Holland # 32

33 ( 31 ) THE JEAN GENIE - David Bowie # 2

34 ( 27 ) KEEPER OF THE CASTLE - The Four Tops # 10

35 ( 42 ) TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROADS - Olivia Newton-John # 35

36 ( 33 ) HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER) - John & Yoko & The Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir # 4

37 ( 24 ) WE NEED ORDER - The Chi-Lites # 11

38 ( NEW ) AIN’T NO WOMAN (LIKE THE ONE I’VE GOT) - The Four Tops # 38

39 ( 39 ) LEADER OF THE PACK - The Shangri-Las # 1

40 ( 40 ) STAY WITH ME - Blue Mink # 3

 

41 ( 18 ) DADDY’S HOME - Jermaine Jackson # 18

42 ( 30 ) MY THING - The Moments # 18

43 ( 43 ) DO IT AGAIN - Steely Dan # 1

44 ( 55 ) ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA (2001) - Deodato # 44

45 ( 45 ) I’LL BE AROUND - The Detroit Spinners # 1

46 ( 52 ) I’M GONNA TEAR YOUR PLAYHOUSE DOWN - Ann Peebles # 46

47 ( 29 ) LIVING NEXT DOOR TO ALICE - New World # 20

48 ( 47 ) YOU’RE SO VAIN - Carly Simon featuring Mick Jagger # 6

49 ( 57 ) GOOD MORNING HEARTACHE - Diana Ross # 49

50 ( 36 ) MY TENNESSEE MOUNTAIN HOME - Dolly Parton # 36

 

51 ( 48 ) SWEET SURRENDER - Bread # 13

52 ( NEW ) I’M JUST A SINGER (IN A ROCK’N’ROLL BAND) - The Moody Blues # 52

53 ( 37 ) I AM AN ASTRONAUT - Ricky Wilde # 37

54 ( 46 ) IT MIGHT AS WELL RAIN UNTIL SEPTEMBER - Carole King # 1

55 ( 32 ) TWEEDLE DEE - Little Jimmy Osmond # 32

56 ( 50 ) I'VE NEVER FOUND ME A MAN - Esther Phillips # 47

57 ( 51 ) REMEMBER (CHRISTMAS) - Nilsson # 38

58 ( 53 ) YOU’LL ALWAYS BE A FRIEND - Hot Chocolate # 1

59 ( 59 ) THE COLDEST DAYS OF MY LIFE (PART 1) - The Chi-Lites # 1

60 ( 49 ) PERFECT DAY - Lou Reed # 17

61 ( NEW ) AVENUES AND ALLEYWAYS - Tony Christie # 61

62 ( 62 ) THAT’S WHEN THE MUSIC TAKES ME - Neil Sedaka # 62

63 ( 56 ) C. MOON - Wings # 40

64 ( 70 ) GIVE ME YOUR LOVE - Barbara Mason # 64

65 ( 54 ) REGGAE CHRISTMAS - Gable Hall School Choir # 17

66 ( NEW ) HELLO HURRAY - Alice Cooper # 66

67 ( 60 ) EYE LEVEL - Simon Park Orchestra # 38

68 ( 73 ) NEITHER ONE OF US (WANTS TO BE THE FIRST TO SAY GOODBYE) - Gladys Knight & The Pips # 68

69 ( 58 ) SHOTGUN WEDDING - Roy C # 20

70 ( NEW ) PEACEFUL - Helen Reddy # 70

 

71 ( 74 ) NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA - Vicki Lawrence # 71

72 ( 75 ) TODAY I STARTED LOVING YOU AGAIN - Bettye Swann # 72

73 ( NEW ) WISH THAT I COULD TALK TO YOU - The Sylvers # 73

74 ( NEW ) COURT IN THE ACT - Lindisfarne # 74

75 ( NEW ) HOW COULD WE DARE TO BE WRONG? - Colin Blunstone # 75

 

21st January 1973 My chart of that week then

 

It's back up for a 2nd week on top for Chairmen Of The Board with John & Yoko dropping out of the UK top 30 as I'm On My Way To A Better Place re-enters it, so they swap number 21 places as per my chart rules. Outside the UK top 30 there were a load of new entries pending the new chart, so in comes The Strawbs jolly-sounding (but cynical) Part Of The Union at 24, setting up the band split in a few months as Hudson-Ford left for a new career.

 

Elton John gets a 5th chart entry with the sweet Daniel at 26, Dandy Livingstone follows-up Suzanne with Big City at 27, complete with synth sounds on a reggae track. The Temptations sprawling, orchestral funk, moody soul classic Papa Was A Rolling Stone is new at 28 - and that was pretty much it for the band till the 80's, and Norman Whitfield's epic song/productions, but what a great to go out on. Gary Glitter gets a 3rd chart entry at 29 and is heading for 1973 chart domination along with Slade, both of them stomping glam rock monsters that especially appealed to teen boys. Do You Want To Touch Me sounded a little bit naughty, but not more than that in the context of the time. Finally, the sound of Philadelphia is getting bigger with Billy Paul's Me And Mrs Jones, a story of infidelity.

 

1 ( 21 ) I’M ON MY WAY TO A BETTER PLACE - Chairmen Of The Board

2 ( 1 ) DESPERATE DAN - Lieutenant Pigeon

3 ( 2 ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet

4 ( 5 ) BALL PARK INCIDENT - Wizzard

5 ( 4 ) SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION - T.Rex

6 ( 6 ) NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN - The Moody Blues

7 ( 7 ) ALWAYS ON MY MIND - Elvis Presley

8 ( 10 ) IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME BY NOW - Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes

9 ( 8 ) LITTLE DRUMMER BOY - Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Band

10 ( 9 ) HI HI HI/ C. MOON - Wings

 

 

11 ( 11 ) YOU’RE SO VAIN - Carly Simon

12 ( 13 ) CROCODILE ROCK - Elton John

13 ( 14 ) THE JEAN GENIE - David Bowie

14 ( 12 ) SHOTGUN WEDDING - Roy C

15 ( 18 ) LONG-HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL - Little Jimmy Osmond

16 ( 17 ) CRAZY HORSES - The Osmonds

17 ( 16 ) STAY WITH ME - Blue Mink

18 ( 26 ) PAPER PLANE - Status Quo

19 ( 19 ) BEN - Michael Jackson

20 ( 20 ) GUDBYE T’JANE - Slade

 

21 ( 3 ) HAPPY XMAS. WAR IS OVER - John & Yoko, The Plastic Ono Band & The Harlem Community Choir

22 ( 22 ) JOHNNY DON’T DO IT - 10CC

23 ( 23 ) IT NEVER RAINS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA - Albert Hammond

24 ( NEW ) PART OF THE UNION - The Strawbs

25 ( 30 ) WISHING WELL - Free

26 ( NEW ) DANIEL - Elton John

27 ( NEW ) BIG CITY - Dandy Livingstone

28 ( NEW ) PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE - The Temptations

29 ( NEW ) DO YOU WANT TO TOUCH ME (OH YEAH)? - Gary Glitter

30 ( NEW ) ME AND MRS JONES - Billy Paul

28th January 1973

 

It's a 4th retro Chi-Lites chart-topper as A Letter To Myself enters on pole, their 4th lush ballad to do it, and a track I didn't know at the time as it was annoyingly not a UK hit and it got little airplay despite being a US hit. Quo get a 2nd top 10 5 years on from Pictures Of Matchstick Men, and new at 20 it's Edgar Winter Group's magnificent rock synth instrumental, Frankenstein, their 2nd chart entry. New at 63, an Aretha Franklin goody that's new to me, Master Of Eyes never popping up on any hits CD collection that I've come across, while Charlie Rich's summer 1974 UK hit is early as it takes off in the Country and USA singles charts. Behind Closed Doors is at 65, as Bunny Sigler debuts with Tossin' & Turnin', a jolly newie to me at 67.

 

That leaves Elton John's Teacher I Need You, the best track off his new Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player album - not one I bought, but my friend of the time Andrew bought it and played it for me, and that was the best non-single track for me. I have the album now and still feel the same. The Hollies switch lead vocalist on Magic Touch Woman, but keep the Crosby, Stills & Nash harmonies - actually C,S&N nicked them off The Hollies, but became more famous for some reason. The Hollies still have the better back catalogue. The Stylistics grab a 5th Philly single, Break Up To make Up, and The Bee Gees go off on one of their musical adventures, having a go at folk-prog-ish styles to limited album and single success, but Saw A New Morning is decent and new to me.

 

1 ( NEW ) A LETTER TO MYSELF - The Chi-Lites # 1

2 ( 2 ) DO YOU WANNA TOUCH ME? (OH YEAH) - Gary Glitter & The Glitter Band # 2

3 ( 1 ) BABY I LOVE YOU - Dave Edmunds # 1

4 ( 3 ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet # 1

5 ( 4 ) SYLVIA - Focus # 1

6 ( 6 ) WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER - Timmy Thomas # 1

7 ( 11 ) PAPER PLANE - Status Quo # 7

8 ( 9 ) IF IT WASN’T FOR THE REASON THAT I LOVE YOU - Miki Anthony # 8

9 ( 7 ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE - The Detroit Spinners # 1

10 ( 5 ) WISHING WELL - Free # 1

 

11 ( 21 ) ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN - Electric Light Orchestra # 11

12 ( 12 ) SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION - T.Rex # 1

13 ( 8 ) PART OF THE UNION - The Strawbs # 8

14 ( 14 ) DANIEL - Elton John # 14

15 ( 15 ) KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG - Roberta Flack # 15

16 ( 16 ) AUBREY - Bread # 16

17 ( 19 ) SAIL ON, SAILOR - The Beach Boys # 17

18 ( 10 ) DANNY’S SONG - Anne Murray # 7

19 ( 18 ) LOVE TRAIN - The O’Jays # 1

20 ( NEW ) FRANKENSTEIN - The Edgar Winter Group # 20

 

21 ( 23 ) ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH - John Denver # 8

22 ( 13 ) I BELIEVE IN LOVE - The Pioneers # 9

23 ( 24 ) WHISKEY IN THE JAR - Thin Lizzy # 23

24 ( 52 ) I’M JUST A SINGER (IN A ROCK’N’ROLL BAND) - The Moody Blues # 24

25 ( 17 ) SATELLITE OF LOVE - Lou Reed featuring David Bowie # 1

26 ( 20 ) THE RIGHT THING TO DO - Carly Simon # 6

27 ( 28 ) SOLITAIRE - Neil Sedaka # 27

28 ( 38 ) AIN’T NO WOMAN (LIKE THE ONE I’VE GOT) - The Four Tops # 28

29 ( 26 ) PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE - The Temptations # 1

30 ( 22 ) WALK ON THE WILD SIDE - Lou Reed featuring Thunderthighs # 1

 

31 ( 25 ) SUPERSTITION - Stevie Wonder # 1

32 ( 35 ) TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROADS - Olivia Newton-John # 32

33 ( 66 ) HELLO HURRAY - Alice Cooper # 33

34 ( 34 ) KEEPER OF THE CASTLE - The Four Tops # 10

35 ( 44 ) ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA (2001) - Deodato # 35

36 ( 36 ) HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER) - John & Yoko & The Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir # 4

37 ( 37 ) WE NEED ORDER - The Chi-Lites # 11

38 ( 29 ) I'M ON MY WAY TO A BETTER PLACE - Chairmen Of The Board # 4

39 ( 39 ) LEADER OF THE PACK - The Shangri-Las # 1

40 ( 40 ) STAY WITH ME - Blue Mink # 3

 

41 ( 33 ) THE JEAN GENIE - David Bowie # 2

42 ( 71 ) NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA - Vicki Lawrence # 42

43 ( 43 ) DO IT AGAIN - Steely Dan # 1

44 ( 46 ) I’M GONNA TEAR YOUR PLAYHOUSE DOWN - Ann Peebles # 44

45 ( 49 ) GOOD MORNING HEARTACHE - Diana Ross # 45

46 ( 30 ) COME SOFTLY TO ME - The New Seekers featuring Marty Kristian # 14

47 ( 27 ) LITTLE DRUMMER BOY - The Pipes & Drums of The Royal Scots Dragoons Guard Band # 9

48 ( 45 ) I’LL BE AROUND - The Detroit Spinners # 1

49 ( 48 ) YOU’RE SO VAIN - Carly Simon featuring Mick Jagger # 6

50 ( 42 ) MY THING - The Moments # 18

 

51 ( 51 ) SWEET SURRENDER - Bread # 13

52 ( 61 ) AVENUES AND ALLEYWAYS - Tony Christie # 52

53 ( 32 ) DON’T LEAVE ME STARVIN’ FOR YOUR LOVE - Holland-Dozier featuring Brian Holland # 32

54 ( 54 ) IT MIGHT AS WELL RAIN UNTIL SEPTEMBER - Carole King # 1

55 ( 62 ) THAT’S WHEN THE MUSIC TAKES ME - Neil Sedaka # 55

56 ( 47 ) LIVING NEXT DOOR TO ALICE - New World # 20

57 ( 73 ) WISH THAT I COULD TALK TO YOU - The Sylvers # 57

58 ( 74 ) COURT IN THE ACT - Lindisfarne # 58

59 ( 59 ) THE COLDEST DAYS OF MY LIFE (PART 1) - The Chi-Lites # 1

60 ( 68 ) NEITHER ONE OF US (WANTS TO BE THE FIRST TO SAY GOODBYE) - Gladys Knight & The Pips # 60

 

61 ( 58 ) YOU’LL ALWAYS BE A FRIEND - Hot Chocolate # 1

62 ( 64 ) GIVE ME YOUR LOVE - Barbara Mason # 62

63 ( NEW ) MASTER OF EYES (THE DEEPNESS OF YOUR EYES) - Aretha Franklin # 63

64 ( 70 ) PEACEFUL - Helen Reddy # 64

65 ( NEW ) BEHIND CLOSED DOORS - Charlie Rich # 65

66 ( 31 ) WHEN I AM A KID - Demis Roussos # 15

67 ( 72 ) TODAY I STARTED LOVING YOU AGAIN - Bettye Swann # 67

68 ( NEW ) TOSSIN’ & TURNIN’ - Bunny Sigler # 68

69 ( 53 ) I AM AN ASTRONAUT - Ricky Wilde # 37

70 ( NEW ) TEACHER I NEED YOU - Elton John # 70

 

71 ( NEW ) MAGIC WOMAN TOUCH - The Hollies # 71

72 ( 41 ) DADDY’S HOME - Jermaine Jackson # 18

73 ( 75 ) HOW COULD WE DARE TO BE WRONG? - Colin Blunstone # 73

74 ( NEW ) BREAK UP TO MAKE UP - The Stylistics # 74

75 ( NEW ) SAW A NEW MORNING - The Bee Gees # 75

 

 

 

 

 

Wot I liked then 28th Jan 1973

 

It's a 2nd lucky week on top for Desperate Dan as my actual fave record was still Chairmen Of The Board, but it was knocked out the UK top 30 again and was ineligible for the top 20. Gary Glitter rockets to 3 for a 3rd top 5 in a row and The Strawbs equally (but slower) pounding Part Of The Union is at 4, already outdoing Lay Down. Elton John takes Daniel for a 4th top 10, and The Who are having a Relay at 17. Dave Edmunds is new at 25 with his Phil Spector-ish cover of Phil Spector's Ronettes' Baby I Love You, a major fave of mine not getting into the top 30. I was so annoyed I couldn't tape it off the Top 20 countdown I bought the single the following week. And ELO get a 2nd hit, their orchestral rock version of Chuck Berry's Roll Over Beethoven.

 

1 ( 2 ) DESPERATE DAN - Lieutenant Pigeon

2 ( 3 ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet

3 ( 29 ) DO YOU WANT TO TOUCH ME (OH YEAH)? - Gary Glitter

4 ( 24 ) PART OF THE UNION - The Strawbs

5 ( 5 ) SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION - T.Rex

6 ( 4 ) BALL PARK INCIDENT - Wizzard

7 ( 26 ) DANIEL - Elton John

8 ( 6 ) NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN - The Moody Blues

9 ( 7 ) ALWAYS ON MY MIND - Elvis Presley

10 ( 8 ) IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME BY NOW - Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes

 

11 ( 27 ) BIG CITY - Dandy Livingstone

12 ( 25 ) WISHING WELL - Free

13 ( 10 ) HI HI HI/ C. MOON - Wings

14 ( 18 ) PAPER PLANE - Status Quo

15 ( 13 ) THE JEAN GENIE - David Bowie

16 ( 14 ) SHOTGUN WEDDING - Roy C

17 ( NEW ) RELAY - The Who

18 ( 30 ) ME AND MRS JONES - Billy Paul

19 ( 16 ) CRAZY HORSES - The Osmonds

20 ( 15 ) LONG-HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL - Little Jimmy Osmond

 

21 ( 1 ) I’M ON MY WAY TO A BETTER PLACE - Chairmen Of The Board

22 ( 22 ) JOHNNY DON’T DO IT - 10CC

23 ( 11 ) YOU’RE SO VAIN - Carly Simon

24 ( 28 ) PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE - The Temptations

25 ( NEW ) BABY I LOVE YOU - Dave Edmunds

26 ( 21 ) HAPPY XMAS. WAR IS OVER - John & Yoko, The Plastic Ono Band & The Harlem Community Choir

27 ( NEW ) ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN - Electric Light Orchestra

28 ( 12 ) CROCODILE ROCK - Elton John

29 ( 23 ) IT NEVER RAINS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA - Albert Hammond

30 ( 9 ) LITTLE DRUMMER BOY - Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Band

4th February 1973

 

It's 2 weeks on top for The Chi-Lites as Bread slice another top 10 ballad form the hit loaf with Aubrey at 8 and Edgar Winter Group make it 2 top 10 intrumentals with the fab Frankenstein at 10. New at 26, Dawn are back with some Tony Orlando billing for their biggest track in a year or so - the once-famous Tie A Yellow Ribbon. Not so much these days, but it's a piece of cake to choose a karaoke song if, like me, you struggle to stay in tune. Returning at 39, Billy Preston gets a 3rd top 40 solo track (plus one with The Beatles), the funky-jazz Will It Go Round In Circles, out this week - as a B side to the rather bland cover of The Fabs Blackbird!! It would soon get flipped over.

 

Rod & the Faces gang are back for a rather belated 2nd single hit, Cindy Incidentally at 45 - appropriately given The Faces were largely incidental to his solo career. The Pearls cover The Stylistics for a 3rd chart entry, You Are Everything, Dobie Gray's classic Drift Away gets an early start, but it would never be a big UK hit. Bob Marley is back with another good track that remains largely unknown, Ronnie Dyson gets a 3rd chart entry, Joe Simon ditto with his sole UK hit (a bit early here) Step By Step, Al Green inexplicably didn't get a hit with Call Me in the UK, but enters just ahead of White Plains last blast of UK chart action, the TV advert jingle Step Into A Dream. That record hasn't been played on UK radio for 50 years I'd bet.

 

1 ( 1 ) A LETTER TO MYSELF - The Chi-Lites # 1

2 ( 2 ) DO YOU WANNA TOUCH ME? (OH YEAH) - Gary Glitter & The Glitter Band # 2

3 ( 6 ) WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER - Timmy Thomas # 1

4 ( 3 ) BABY I LOVE YOU - Dave Edmunds # 1

5 ( 5 ) SYLVIA - Focus # 1

6 ( 4 ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet # 1

7 ( 7 ) PAPER PLANE - Status Quo # 7

8 ( 16 ) AUBREY - Bread # 8

9 ( 9 ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE - The Detroit Spinners # 1

10 ( 20 ) FRANKENSTEIN - The Edgar Winter Group # 10

11 ( 8 ) IF IT WASN’T FOR THE REASON THAT I LOVE YOU - Miki Anthony # 8

12 ( 10 ) WISHING WELL - Free # 1

13 ( 24 ) I’M JUST A SINGER (IN A ROCK’N’ROLL BAND) - The Moody Blues # 13

14 ( 15 ) KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG - Roberta Flack # 14

15 ( 13 ) PART OF THE UNION - The Strawbs # 8

16 ( 12 ) SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION - T.Rex # 1

17 ( 17 ) SAIL ON, SAILOR - The Beach Boys # 17

18 ( 18 ) DANNY’S SONG - Anne Murray # 7

19 ( 28 ) AIN’T NO WOMAN (LIKE THE ONE I’VE GOT) - The Four Tops # 19

20 ( 11 ) ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN - Electric Light Orchestra # 11

 

 

21 ( 14 ) DANIEL - Elton John # 14

22 ( 19 ) LOVE TRAIN - The O’Jays # 1

23 ( 21 ) ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH - John Denver # 8

24 ( 22 ) I BELIEVE IN LOVE - The Pioneers # 9

25 ( 30 ) WALK ON THE WILD SIDE - Lou Reed featuring Thunderthighs # 1

26 ( NEW ) TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - Dawn featuring Tony Orlando # 26

27 ( 26 ) THE RIGHT THING TO DO - Carly Simon # 6

28 ( 25 ) SATELLITE OF LOVE - Lou Reed featuring David Bowie # 1

29 ( 33 ) HELLO HURRAY - Alice Cooper # 29

30 ( 32 ) TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROADS - Olivia Newton-John # 30

 

31 ( 29 ) PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE - The Temptations # 1

32 ( 31 ) SUPERSTITION - Stevie Wonder # 1

33 ( 68 ) TOSSIN’ & TURNIN’ - Bunny Sigler # 33

34 ( 34 ) KEEPER OF THE CASTLE - The Four Tops # 10

35 ( 57 ) WISH THAT I COULD TALK TO YOU - The Sylvers # 35

36 ( 44 ) I’M GONNA TEAR YOUR PLAYHOUSE DOWN - Ann Peebles # 36

37 ( 37 ) WE NEED ORDER - The Chi-Lites # 11

38 ( 36 ) HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER) - John & Yoko & The Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir # 4

39 ( NEW ) WILL IT GO ROUND IN CIRCLES - Billy Preston # 39

40 ( 42 ) NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA - Vicki Lawrence # 40

 

41 ( 23 ) WHISKEY IN THE JAR - Thin Lizzy # 23

42 ( 52 ) AVENUES AND ALLEYWAYS - Tony Christie # 42

43 ( 39 ) LEADER OF THE PACK - The Shangri-Las # 1

44 ( 38 ) I'M ON MY WAY TO A BETTER PLACE - Chairmen Of The Board # 4

45 ( NEW ) CINDY INCIDENTALLY - The Faces featuring Rod Stewart # 45

46 ( 70 ) TEACHER I NEED YOU - Elton John # 46

47 ( 45 ) GOOD MORNING HEARTACHE - Diana Ross # 45

48 ( 27 ) SOLITAIRE - Neil Sedaka # 27

49 ( 40 ) STAY WITH ME - Blue Mink # 3

50 ( 43 ) DO IT AGAIN - Steely Dan # 1

 

51 ( 48 ) I’LL BE AROUND - The Detroit Spinners # 1

52 ( 55 ) THAT’S WHEN THE MUSIC TAKES ME - Neil Sedaka # 52

53 ( 41 ) THE JEAN GENIE - David Bowie # 2

54 ( 51 ) SWEET SURRENDER - Bread # 13

55 ( 71 ) MAGIC WOMAN TOUCH - The Hollies # 55

56 ( 49 ) YOU’RE SO VAIN - Carly Simon featuring Mick Jagger # 6

57 ( 50 ) MY THING - The Moments # 18

58 ( 35 ) ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA (2001) - Deodato # 35

59 ( 54 ) IT MIGHT AS WELL RAIN UNTIL SEPTEMBER - Carole King # 1

60 ( 75 ) SAW A NEW MORNING - The Bee Gees # 60

 

61 ( 67 ) TODAY I STARTED LOVING YOU AGAIN - Bettye Swann # 61

62 ( 58 ) COURT IN THE ACT - Lindisfarne # 58

63 ( 59 ) THE COLDEST DAYS OF MY LIFE (PART 1) - The Chi-Lites # 1

64 ( 60 ) NEITHER ONE OF US (WANTS TO BE THE FIRST TO SAY GOODBYE) - Gladys Knight & The Pips # 60

65 ( 63 ) MASTER OF EYES (THE DEEPNESS OF YOUR EYES) - Aretha Franklin # 63

66 ( 64 ) PEACEFUL - Helen Reddy # 64

67 ( 65 ) BEHIND CLOSED DOORS - Charlie Rich # 65

68 ( NEW ) YOU ARE EVERYTHING - The Pearls # 68

69 ( NEW ) DRIFT AWAY - Dobie Gray # 69

70 ( NEW ) BABY WE’VE GOT A DATE (ROCK IT BABY) - Bob Marley & The Wailers # 70

 

 

71 ( NEW ) ONE MAN BAND (PLAYS ALL ALONE) - Ronnie Dyson # 71

72 ( 74 ) BREAK UP TO MAKE UP - The Stylistics # 72

73 ( NEW ) STEP BY STEP - Joe Simon # 73

74 ( NEW ) CALL ME (COME BACK HOME) - Al Green # 74

75 ( NEW ) STEP INTO A DREAM - White Plains # 75

 

 

 

 

 

4th February 1973 Wot I Liked That Week Then

 

It's a first week on top for The Sweet and their 2nd number one with Blockbuster, in an otherwise quiet top 20 and just 4 new entries down the bottom end for Olivia Newton-John getting the first hit cover of the John Denver country standard Take Me Home Country Roads at 30. Bigger versions would follow, but Livvie's is the best one. Focus enter at 27 with the wonderful instrumental Sylvia bringing a touch of Dutch rock class, Stevie Wonder is at 28 with his most-beloved and brilliant funk masterpiece Superstition, and The O'Jays grab a follow-up to the chart-topping Back Stabbers.

 

1 ( 2 ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet

2 ( 3 ) DO YOU WANT TO TOUCH ME (OH YEAH)? - Gary Glitter

3 ( 4 ) PART OF THE UNION - The Strawbs

4 ( 7 ) DANIEL - Elton John

5 ( 5 ) SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION - T.Rex

6 ( 6 ) BALL PARK INCIDENT - Wizzard

7 ( 8 ) NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN - The Moody Blues

8 ( 11 ) BIG CITY - Dandy Livingstone

9 ( 9 ) ALWAYS ON MY MIND - Elvis Presley

10 ( 10 ) IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME BY NOW - Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes

 

 

11 ( 14 ) PAPER PLANE - Status Quo

12 ( 12 ) WISHING WELL - Free

13 ( 15 ) THE JEAN GENIE - David Bowie

14 ( 16 ) SHOTGUN WEDDING - Roy C

15 ( 18 ) ME AND MRS JONES - Billy Paul

16 ( 13 ) HI HI HI/ C. MOON - Wings

17 ( 17 ) RELAY - The Who

18 ( 19 ) CRAZY HORSES - The Osmonds

19 ( 23 ) YOU’RE SO VAIN - Carly Simon

20 ( 20 ) LONG-HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL - Little Jimmy Osmond

 

21 ( 25 ) BABY I LOVE YOU - Dave Edmunds

22 ( 1 ) DESPERATE DAN - Lieutenant Pigeon

23 ( 24 ) PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE - The Temptations

24 ( 21 ) I’M ON MY WAY TO A BETTER PLACE - Chairmen Of The Board

25 ( 22 ) JOHNNY DON’T DO IT - 10CC

26 ( 27 ) ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN - Electric Light Orchestra

27 ( NEW ) SYLVIA - Focus

28 ( NEW ) SUPERSTITION - Stevie Wonder

29 ( NEW ) 992 ARGUMENTS - The O’Jays

30 ( NEW ) TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROADS - Olivia Newton-John

11th February 1973

 

It's up to the top spot for a first number one for Frankenstein, The Edgar Winter Group synthrock instrumental fabulousness. That leaves The Moody Blues to grab a 3rd top 10 in 5 years of Retro charting. Highest new entry is the brilliant First Choice soul track Armed And Extremely Dangerous. Other acts will be taking notes at the time. New in at 16, as New York City debut their soul classic I'm Doin' Fine Now at 39, both tracks out this week in the USA, and both future UK hits, The Pasadenas getting an even bigger hit than New York City with their 90's cover.

 

In at 50, Jimmy Helms, future Londonbeat member and backing singer to many an act, with his only solo hit, Gonna Make You An Offer You Can't Refuse, but Jimmy will be charting with other tracks in my retro charts (as he did in my original charts). The New Seekers go off at another tangent and do a medley of Pete Townsend "Tommy" songs, both having charted in my 1969 retro charts already for The Who. They are at 56 just ahead of Carpenters' sweet Sing - it's got kids on it, I think, but that's not always a bad thing.

 

In the expanded end of my chart, due to too many new releases and too much good older stuff hanging on, Circus debut at 73 with Stop, Look & Listen. No, I've never heard of it, or them, either, but it sounds like it's a lost 1976 US rock hit in the tradition of Boston or similar lesser names, The Temptations also debut Masterpiece - though strictly speaking that's Papa was A Rolling Stone - and keep the musical ambitions going. There's a footie song at 76, silly and singalong Nice One Cyril, The Real Thing get a 2nd funk entry with Plastic Man, Paul Williams does his own version of his own Carpenters song and he's always classy, Bill Withers is Kissing My Love, another new track to me, and Middle Of The Road slip in at 80 with the non-UK-release Yellow Boomerang as they buggered off to Europe where they still had big hit records.

 

 

 

1 ( 10 ) FRANKENSTEIN - The Edgar Winter Group # 1

2 ( 2 ) DO YOU WANNA TOUCH ME? (OH YEAH) - Gary Glitter & The Glitter Band # 2

3 ( 1 ) A LETTER TO MYSELF - The Chi-Lites # 1

4 ( 3 ) WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER - Timmy Thomas # 1

5 ( 5 ) SYLVIA - Focus # 1

6 ( 8 ) AUBREY - Bread # 6

7 ( 4 ) BABY I LOVE YOU - Dave Edmunds # 1

8 ( 6 ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet # 1

9 ( 13 ) I’M JUST A SINGER (IN A ROCK’N’ROLL BAND) - The Moody Blues # 9

10 ( 9 ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE - The Detroit Spinners # 1

 

11 ( 11 ) IF IT WASN’T FOR THE REASON THAT I LOVE YOU - Miki Anthony # 8

12 ( 19 ) AIN’T NO WOMAN (LIKE THE ONE I’VE GOT) - The Four Tops # 12

13 ( 7 ) PAPER PLANE - Status Quo # 7

14 ( 12 ) WISHING WELL - Free # 1

15 ( 17 ) SAIL ON, SAILOR - The Beach Boys # 15

16 ( NEW ) ARMED AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS - First Choice # 16

17 ( 16 ) SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION - T.Rex # 1

18 ( 14 ) KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG - Roberta Flack # 14

19 ( 15 ) PART OF THE UNION - The Strawbs # 8

20 ( 26 ) TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - Dawn featuring Tony Orlando # 20

 

21 ( 18 ) DANNY’S SONG - Anne Murray # 7

22 ( 22 ) LOVE TRAIN - The O’Jays # 1

23 ( 23 ) ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH - John Denver # 8

24 ( 21 ) DANIEL - Elton John # 14

25 ( 20 ) ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN - Electric Light Orchestra # 11

26 ( 29 ) HELLO HURRAY - Alice Cooper # 26

27 ( 24 ) I BELIEVE IN LOVE - The Pioneers # 9

28 ( 25 ) WALK ON THE WILD SIDE - Lou Reed featuring Thunderthighs # 1

29 ( 33 ) TOSSIN’ & TURNIN’ - Bunny Sigler # 29

30 ( 45 ) CINDY INCIDENTALLY - The Faces featuring Rod Stewart # 30

 

31 ( 27 ) THE RIGHT THING TO DO - Carly Simon # 6

32 ( 28 ) SATELLITE OF LOVE - Lou Reed featuring David Bowie # 1

33 ( 39 ) WILL IT GO ROUND IN CIRCLES - Billy Preston # 33

34 ( 35 ) WISH THAT I COULD TALK TO YOU - The Sylvers # 34

35 ( 32 ) SUPERSTITION - Stevie Wonder # 1

36 ( 31 ) PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE - The Temptations # 1

37 ( 40 ) NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA - Vicki Lawrence # 37

38 ( 42 ) AVENUES AND ALLEYWAYS - Tony Christie # 38

39 ( NEW ) I’M DOIN’ FINE NOW - New York City # 39

40 ( 34 ) KEEPER OF THE CASTLE - The Four Tops # 10

 

41 ( 30 ) TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROADS - Olivia Newton-John # 30

42 ( 36 ) I’M GONNA TEAR YOUR PLAYHOUSE DOWN - Ann Peebles # 36

43 ( 46 ) TEACHER I NEED YOU - Elton John # 43

44 ( 37 ) WE NEED ORDER - The Chi-Lites # 11

45 ( 43 ) LEADER OF THE PACK - The Shangri-Las # 1

46 ( 38 ) HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER) - John & Yoko & The Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir # 4

47 ( 55 ) MAGIC WOMAN TOUCH - The Hollies # 47

48 ( 52 ) THAT’S WHEN THE MUSIC TAKES ME - Neil Sedaka # 48

49 ( 60 ) SAW A NEW MORNING - The Bee Gees # 49

50 ( NEW ) GONNA MAKE YOU AN OFFER YOU CAN’T REFUSE - Jimmy Helms # 50

 

51 ( 41 ) WHISKEY IN THE JAR - Thin Lizzy # 23

52 ( 51 ) I’LL BE AROUND - The Detroit Spinners # 1

53 ( 50 ) DO IT AGAIN - Steely Dan # 1

54 ( 49 ) STAY WITH ME - Blue Mink # 3

55 ( 44 ) I'M ON MY WAY TO A BETTER PLACE - Chairmen Of The Board # 4

56 ( NEW ) PINBALL WIZARD - SEE ME FEEL ME - The New Seekers # 56

57 ( 54 ) SWEET SURRENDER - Bread # 13

58 ( NEW ) SING - Carpenters # 58

59 ( 53 ) THE JEAN GENIE - David Bowie # 2

60 ( 61 ) TODAY I STARTED LOVING YOU AGAIN - Bettye Swann # 60

 

61 ( 56 ) YOU’RE SO VAIN - Carly Simon featuring Mick Jagger # 6

62 ( 68 ) YOU ARE EVERYTHING - The Pearls # 62

63 ( 67 ) BEHIND CLOSED DOORS - Charlie Rich # 63

64 ( 63 ) THE COLDEST DAYS OF MY LIFE (PART 1) - The Chi-Lites # 1

65 ( 65 ) MASTER OF EYES (THE DEEPNESS OF YOUR EYES) - Aretha Franklin # 63

66 ( 70 ) BABY WE’VE GOT A DATE (ROCK IT BABY) - Bob Marley & The Wailers # 66

67 ( 69 ) DRIFT AWAY - Dobie Gray # 67

68 ( 71 ) ONE MAN BAND (PLAYS ALL ALONE) - Ronnie Dyson # 68

69 ( 73 ) STEP BY STEP - Joe Simon # 69

70 ( 48 ) SOLITAIRE - Neil Sedaka # 27

 

71 ( 74 ) CALL ME (COME BACK HOME) - Al Green # 71

72 ( 62 ) COURT IN THE ACT - Lindisfarne # 58

73 ( NEW ) STOP WAIT & LISTEN - Circus # 73

74 ( 75 ) STEP INTO A DREAM - White Plains # 74

75 ( NEW ) MASTERPIECE - The Temptations # 75

76 ( NEW ) NICE ONE CYRIL - Cockerel Chorus # 76

77 ( NEW ) PLASTIC MAN - The Real Thing # 77

78 ( NEW ) I WON’T LAST A DAY WITHOUT YOU - Paul Williams # 78

79 ( NEW ) KISSING MY LOVE - Bill Withers # 79

80 ( NEW ) YELLOW BOOMERANG - Middle Of The Road # 80

 

 

11th February 1973 My original charts of that week then

 

It's up to a first chart-topper for Dave Edmunds as he grabs a 2nd top 10 with his Phil Spector cover of Baby I Love You, and Focus do a double with Sylvia up to 5 on the fab Sylvia, and enter at 6 with the 2-year-old mad Hocus Pocus. Paper Plane finally makes the top 10 for Quo, Superstition is just pipped as it climbs up 17 places for Stevie Wonder, and Junior Walker is back again for another fab Motown soul monster, Take Me Girl I'm Ready at 22.

 

The Partridge Family get a 7th chart entry at 27 with their cover of Gene Pitney's Looking Through The Eyes Of Love, the TV show still giving David Cassidy assisted additional promo boost in the week that the very different Last Tango In Paris was boosting Marlon Brando's X-Rated profile at the cinemas. The Jackson 5 cover Jackson Browne's Doctor My Eyes a bit more upbeat and cheerful than the original, at 29, and Thin Lizzy scrape in with Whisky In The Jar, a record I never liked much at the time, at best it was OK, but it grew on me in later years.

 

 

1 ( 21 ) BABY I LOVE YOU - Dave Edmunds

2 ( 1 ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet

3 ( 2 ) DO YOU WANT TO TOUCH ME (OH YEAH)? - Gary Glitter

4 ( 3 ) PART OF THE UNION - The Strawbs

5 ( 27 ) SYLVIA - Focus

6 ( NEW ) HOCUS POCUS - Focus

7 ( 6 ) BALL PARK INCIDENT - Wizzard

8 ( 4 ) DANIEL - Elton John

9 ( 9 ) ALWAYS ON MY MIND - Elvis Presley

10 ( 11 ) PAPER PLANE - Status Quo

 

11 ( 28 ) SUPERSTITION - Stevie Wonder

12 ( 12 ) WISHING WELL - Free

13 ( 17 ) RELAY - The Who

14 ( 13 ) THE JEAN GENIE - David Bowie

15 ( 19 ) YOU’RE SO VAIN - Carly Simon

16 ( 10 ) IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME BY NOW - Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes

17 ( 20 ) LONG-HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL - Little Jimmy Osmond

18 ( 18 ) CRAZY HORSES - The Osmonds

19 ( 15 ) ME AND MRS JONES - Billy Paul

20 ( 26 ) ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN - Electric Light Orchestra

 

21 ( 29 ) 992 ARGUMENTS - The O’Jays

22 ( NEW ) TAKE ME GIRL I'M READY - Junior Walker & The Allstars

23 ( 5 ) SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION - T.Rex

24 ( 22 ) DESPERATE DAN - Lieutenant Pigeon

25 ( 30 ) TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROADS - Olivia Newton-John

26 ( 8 ) BIG CITY - Dandy Livingstone

27 ( NEW ) LOOKING THROUGH THE EYES OF LOVE - The Partridge Family

28 ( 7 ) NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN - The Moody Blues

29 ( NEW ) DOCTOR MY EYES - The Jackson 5

30 ( NEW ) WHISKY IN THE JAR - Thin Lizzy

18th February 1973

 

It's up 15 places for a first chart-topper for First Choice and their police-siren soul dance goodie, Armed And Extremely Dangerous, holding off a new entry from Gladys Knight & The Pips - Dusty Springfield has already charted with the gorgeous The Look Of Love song - taken from the spoof Bond film Casino Royale - and written by the late great Burt Bacharach and Hal David. That's Gladys' biggest hit to date on the retro list. The Four Tops make it 3 years in a row for Top 10 songs, Ain't No Woman continuing the trend for a 7th year of retro hits including 2 number ones.

 

Roberta Flack breaks into the top 10 with the ode to Don McLean, at 6, while Gerry Rafferty and Rusty Egan's classic Stuck In The Middle With You is new at 17. New York City leap into the 20, while fresh from the South African charts a pop goodie which I had on one of those Ronco/K-Tel 20/22 Fantastic Hits albums enters at 24 for Kincade, Dreams Are Ten A Penny. Not a UK hit sadly. Kenny debuts at 25 with Heart Of Stone - this falsetto glam-style singalong wasn't the band Kenny, though, he was an Irish solo singer and topped my charts at the time.

 

Straight in at 1 on the UK singles chart, and also topping my charts of the time, Slade have to make do with 30 for Cum On Feel The Noize, for now. Shirley Bassey covers a big Italian hit, and is rewarded with Never, Never, Never at 45, Blue Mink get a swift follow-up hit with By The Devil (I Was Tempted), at 60, and finally Donny Osmond scrapes in at 79 with his version of Johnny Mathis' The Twelfth Of Never. Johnny's is still the best. The Beach Boys join themselves on the chart with California Saga - not as good as Sail On, Sailor though.

 

 

1 ( 16 ) ARMED AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS - First Choice # 1

2 ( NEW ) THE LOOK OF LOVE - Gladys Knight & The Pips # 2

3 ( 1 ) FRANKENSTEIN - The Edgar Winter Group # 1

4 ( 3 ) A LETTER TO MYSELF - The Chi-Lites # 1

5 ( 12 ) AIN’T NO WOMAN (LIKE THE ONE I’VE GOT) - The Four Tops # 5

6 ( 18 ) KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG - Roberta Flack # 6

7 ( 4 ) WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER - Timmy Thomas # 1

8 ( 5 ) SYLVIA - Focus # 1

9 ( 9 ) I’M JUST A SINGER (IN A ROCK’N’ROLL BAND) - The Moody Blues # 9

10 ( 10 ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE - The Detroit Spinners # 1

 

11 ( 8 ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet # 1

12 ( 2 ) DO YOU WANNA TOUCH ME? (OH YEAH) - Gary Glitter & The Glitter Band # 2

13 ( 7 ) BABY I LOVE YOU - Dave Edmunds # 1

14 ( 6 ) AUBREY - Bread # 6

15 ( 14 ) WISHING WELL - Free # 1

16 ( 11 ) IF IT WASN’T FOR THE REASON THAT I LOVE YOU - Miki Anthony # 8

17 ( NEW ) STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU - Stealer’s Wheel # 17

18 ( 13 ) PAPER PLANE - Status Quo # 7

19 ( 19 ) PART OF THE UNION - The Strawbs # 8

20 ( 39 ) I’M DOIN’ FINE NOW - New York City # 20

 

21 ( 21 ) DANNY’S SONG - Anne Murray # 7

22 ( 30 ) CINDY INCIDENTALLY - The Faces featuring Rod Stewart # 22

23 ( 20 ) TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - Dawn featuring Tony Orlando # 20

24 ( NEW ) DREAMS ARE TEN A PENNY - Kincade # 24

25 ( NEW ) HEART OF STONE - Kenny # 25

26 ( 22 ) LOVE TRAIN - The O’Jays # 1

27 ( 17 ) SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION - T.Rex # 1

28 ( 24 ) DANIEL - Elton John # 14

29 ( 15 ) SAIL ON, SAILOR - The Beach Boys # 15

30 ( NEW ) CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE - Slade # 30

 

31 ( 47 ) MAGIC WOMAN TOUCH - The Hollies # 31

32 ( 33 ) WILL IT GO ROUND IN CIRCLES - Billy Preston # 32

33 ( 34 ) WISH THAT I COULD TALK TO YOU - The Sylvers # 33

34 ( 28 ) WALK ON THE WILD SIDE - Lou Reed featuring Thunderthighs # 1

35 ( 23 ) ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH - John Denver # 8

36 ( 29 ) TOSSIN’ & TURNIN’ - Bunny Sigler # 29

37 ( 26 ) HELLO HURRAY - Alice Cooper # 26

38 ( 50 ) GONNA MAKE YOU AN OFFER YOU CAN’T REFUSE - Jimmy Helms # 38

39 ( 27 ) I BELIEVE IN LOVE - The Pioneers # 9

40 ( 31 ) THE RIGHT THING TO DO - Carly Simon # 6

 

41 ( 32 ) SATELLITE OF LOVE - Lou Reed featuring David Bowie # 1

42 ( 35 ) SUPERSTITION - Stevie Wonder # 1

43 ( 36 ) PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE - The Temptations # 1

44 ( 38 ) AVENUES AND ALLEYWAYS - Tony Christie # 38

45 ( NEW ) NEVER, NEVER, NEVER (GRANDE, GRANDE, GRANDE) - Shirley Bassey # 45

46 ( 25 ) ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN - Electric Light Orchestra # 11

47 ( 68 ) ONE MAN BAND (PLAYS ALL ALONE) - Ronnie Dyson # 47

48 ( 71 ) CALL ME (COME BACK HOME) - Al Green # 48

49 ( 58 ) SING - Carpenters # 49

50 ( 69 ) STEP BY STEP - Joe Simon # 50

 

51 ( 75 ) MASTERPIECE - The Temptations # 51

52 ( 43 ) TEACHER I NEED YOU - Elton John # 43

53 ( 48 ) THAT’S WHEN THE MUSIC TAKES ME - Neil Sedaka # 48

54 ( 45 ) LEADER OF THE PACK - The Shangri-Las # 1

55 ( 40 ) KEEPER OF THE CASTLE - The Four Tops # 10

56 ( 52 ) I’LL BE AROUND - The Detroit Spinners # 1

57 ( 73 ) STOP WAIT & LISTEN - Circus # 57

58 ( 62 ) YOU ARE EVERYTHING - The Pearls # 58

59 ( 66 ) BABY WE’VE GOT A DATE (ROCK IT BABY) - Bob Marley & The Wailers # 59

60 ( NEW ) BY THE DEVIL (I WAS TEMPTED) - Blue Mink # 60

 

61 ( 44 ) WE NEED ORDER - The Chi-Lites # 11

62 ( 56 ) PINBALL WIZARD - SEE ME FEEL ME - The New Seekers # 56

63 ( 55 ) I'M ON MY WAY TO A BETTER PLACE - Chairmen Of The Board # 4

64 ( 65 ) MASTER OF EYES (THE DEEPNESS OF YOUR EYES) - Aretha Franklin # 63

65 ( 77 ) PLASTIC MAN - The Real Thing # 65

66 ( 53 ) DO IT AGAIN - Steely Dan # 1

67 ( 67 ) DRIFT AWAY - Dobie Gray # 67

68 ( 37 ) NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA - Vicki Lawrence # 37

69 ( 64 ) THE COLDEST DAYS OF MY LIFE (PART 1) - The Chi-Lites # 1

70 ( 57 ) SWEET SURRENDER - Bread # 13

 

71 ( 54 ) STAY WITH ME - Blue Mink # 3

72 ( 49 ) SAW A NEW MORNING - The Bee Gees # 49

73 ( 63 ) BEHIND CLOSED DOORS - Charlie Rich # 63

74 ( 74 ) STEP INTO A DREAM - White Plains # 74

75 ( 78 ) I WON’T LAST A DAY WITHOUT YOU - Paul Williams # 75

76 ( 61 ) YOU’RE SO VAIN - Carly Simon featuring Mick Jagger # 6

77 ( 79 ) KISSING MY LOVE - Bill Withers # 77

78 ( 59 ) THE JEAN GENIE - David Bowie # 2

79 ( NEW ) THE TWELFTH OF NEVER - Donny Osmond # 79

80 ( NEW ) CALIFORNIA SAGA - The Beach Boys # 80

 

 

 

18th February My chart of that week then

 

It's 2 weeks on top for Dave Edmunds 50 years ago, as Focus put up a prog-rock attempt to overthrow the 60's Spector revival, followed closely by Junior Walker getting his biggest track to date with the fab Take Me Girl i'm Ready at 3. ELO make it 2 top 10's in a row with the Chuck Berry song as The man Himself enters at 25 with Reelin' & Rockin' bit of naughtiness. Free's Wishing Well is top 10 again, and Alice Cooper grabs a 3rd top 10 in a row with Hello Hurray.

 

Rod & his Faces mates are new at 19 with Cindy Incidentally, their 2nd chart hit, and Miki Anthony gets his only moment in the minor sun with his very-Anne-Murray sounding If It Wasn't For The Reason That I Loved You new at 23, one I was very partial to at the time and still like. Roberta Flack meanwhile is on a 3rd chart hit, as she covers a song about Don McLean, Killing Me Softly With His Song. A very young Will.i.am was taking notes for the future...

 

1 ( 1 ) BABY I LOVE YOU - Dave Edmunds

2 ( 5 ) SYLVIA - Focus

3 ( 22 ) TAKE ME GIRL I'M READY - Junior Walker & The Allstars

4 ( 11 ) SUPERSTITION - Stevie Wonder

5 ( 2 ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet

6 ( 20 ) ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN - Electric Light Orchestra

7 ( 4 ) PART OF THE UNION - The Strawbs

8 ( 3 ) DO YOU WANT TO TOUCH ME (OH YEAH)? - Gary Glitter

9 ( 12 ) WISHING WELL - Free

10 ( NEW ) HELLO HURRAY - Alice Cooper

 

11 ( 6 ) HOCUS POCUS - Focus

12 ( 7 ) BALL PARK INCIDENT - Wizzard

13 ( 29 ) DOCTOR MY EYES - The Jackson 5

14 ( 14 ) THE JEAN GENIE - David Bowie

15 ( 8 ) DANIEL - Elton John

16 ( 9 ) ALWAYS ON MY MIND - Elvis Presley

17 ( 10 ) PAPER PLANE - Status Quo

18 ( 16 ) IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME BY NOW - Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes

19 ( NEW ) CINDY INCIDENTALLY - The Faces

20 ( 15 ) YOU’RE SO VAIN - Carly Simon

 

21 ( 27 ) LOOKING THROUGH THE EYES OF LOVE - The Partridge Family

22 ( 21 ) 992 ARGUMENTS - The O’Jays

23 ( NEW ) IF IT WASN'T FOR THE REASON THAT I LOVED YOU - Miki Anthony

24 ( 25 ) TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROADS - Olivia Newton-John

25 ( NEW ) REELIN’ AND ROCKIN’ - Chuck Berry

26 ( 13 ) RELAY - The Who

27 ( NEW ) KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG - Roberta Flack

28 ( 18 ) CRAZY HORSES - The Osmonds

29 ( 30 ) WHISKY IN THE JAR - Thin Lizzy

30 ( 19 ) ME AND MRS JONES - Billy Paul

25th February 1973

 

It's straight in at 1 for veteran band Mud, getting the Chinn-Chapman hit machine treatment with the fabulous Glam-Tango-Rock of Crazy, the start of a great run of singles fronted by the wonderful Les Grey and future songwriter hitmaker (in 25 years-time) Rob Davies. That means T.Rex have to settle for a number 2 new entry, for now, with the rifftastic 20th Century Boy. Boys at school my age were starting to slag off Marc Bolan, the lyric about "20th Century Boy, I wanna be your toy" a little bit too gay for the very homophobic times.

 

Slade, meanwhile leap up to 7 for a 2nd retro Top 10 with Cum On Feel The Noize, though in my charts of the time it was their first number one and 5th top 10. These days it's used for selling old people stuff, and I just attended a 70th birthday party with loads of Glam Rock and older people trying to hark back at their younger days. The spirit is willing, the body says "hang on a mo, let me catch my breath!" Gerry Rafferty goes top 10 for the first time with Stuck In The Middle at 8, and new in at 13 it's Roxy Music's avante-grade version of Glam Rock, the quirky Pyjamarama, their 2nd retro top 20.

 

Down the lower end, Steely Dan get a 2nd retro hit with Reelin' In The Years at 62, and at 65 it's the forgotten gem from Brenda & The Tabulations, One Girl Too Late, written and produced by the talented Van McCoy, and coming out in the UK in 1975 after his massive disco hit The Hustle, which is when I first noticed, liked and charted it. It's very 60's girl-group sounding but with the lush orchestral backdrop that underpinned The Sound Of Philadelphia soul hits.

 

1 ( NEW ) CRAZY - Mud # 1

2 ( NEW ) 20th CENTURY BOY - T.Rex # 2

3 ( 1 ) ARMED AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS - First Choice # 1

4 ( 2 ) THE LOOK OF LOVE - Gladys Knight & The Pips # 2

5 ( 3 ) FRANKENSTEIN - The Edgar Winter Group # 1

6 ( 4 ) A LETTER TO MYSELF - The Chi-Lites # 1

7 ( 30 ) CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE - Slade # 7

8 ( 17 ) STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU - Stealer’s Wheel # 8

9 ( 7 ) WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER - Timmy Thomas # 1

10 ( 8 ) SYLVIA - Focus # 1

 

11 ( 10 ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE - The Detroit Spinners # 1

12 ( 11 ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet # 1

13 ( NEW ) PJYAMARAMA - Roxy Music # 13

14 ( 24 ) DREAMS ARE TEN A PENNY - Kincade # 14

15 ( 14 ) AUBREY - Bread # 6

16 ( 15 ) WISHING WELL - Free # 1

17 ( 9 ) I’M JUST A SINGER (IN A ROCK’N’ROLL BAND) - The Moody Blues # 9

18 ( 5 ) AIN’T NO WOMAN (LIKE THE ONE I’VE GOT) - The Four Tops # 5

19 ( 6 ) KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG - Roberta Flack # 6

20 ( 20 ) I’M DOIN’ FINE NOW - New York City # 20

 

 

21 ( 32 ) WILL IT GO ROUND IN CIRCLES - Billy Preston # 21

22 ( 47 ) ONE MAN BAND (PLAYS ALL ALONE) - Ronnie Dyson # 22

23 ( 16 ) IF IT WASN’T FOR THE REASON THAT I LOVE YOU - Miki Anthony # 8

24 ( 21 ) DANNY’S SONG - Anne Murray # 7

25 ( 22 ) CINDY INCIDENTALLY - The Faces featuring Rod Stewart # 22

26 ( 12 ) DO YOU WANNA TOUCH ME? (OH YEAH) - Gary Glitter & The Glitter Band # 2

27 ( 13 ) BABY I LOVE YOU - Dave Edmunds # 1

28 ( 18 ) PAPER PLANE - Status Quo # 7

29 ( 38 ) GONNA MAKE YOU AN OFFER YOU CAN’T REFUSE - Jimmy Helms # 29

30 ( 45 ) NEVER, NEVER, NEVER (GRANDE, GRANDE, GRANDE) - Shirley Bassey # 30

 

 

31 ( 19 ) PART OF THE UNION - The Strawbs # 8

32 ( 25 ) HEART OF STONE - Kenny # 25

33 ( 27 ) SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION - T.Rex # 1

34 ( 31 ) MAGIC WOMAN TOUCH - The Hollies # 31

35 ( 28 ) DANIEL - Elton John # 14

36 ( 36 ) TOSSIN’ & TURNIN’ - Bunny Sigler # 29

37 ( 60 ) BY THE DEVIL (I WAS TEMPTED) - Blue Mink # 37

38 ( 23 ) TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - Dawn featuring Tony Orlando # 20

39 ( 35 ) ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH - John Denver # 8

40 ( 26 ) LOVE TRAIN - The O’Jays # 1

 

 

41 ( 34 ) WALK ON THE WILD SIDE - Lou Reed featuring Thunderthighs # 1

42 ( 50 ) STEP BY STEP - Joe Simon # 42

43 ( 57 ) STOP WAIT & LISTEN - Circus # 43

44 ( 39 ) I BELIEVE IN LOVE - The Pioneers # 9

45 ( 40 ) THE RIGHT THING TO DO - Carly Simon # 6

46 ( 42 ) SUPERSTITION - Stevie Wonder # 1

47 ( 43 ) PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE - The Temptations # 1

48 ( 29 ) SAIL ON, SAILOR - The Beach Boys # 15

49 ( 49 ) SING - Carpenters # 49

50 ( 48 ) CALL ME (COME BACK HOME) - Al Green # 48

 

 

51 ( 58 ) YOU ARE EVERYTHING - The Pearls # 51

52 ( 51 ) MASTERPIECE - The Temptations # 51

53 ( 62 ) PINBALL WIZARD - SEE ME FEEL ME - The New Seekers # 53

54 ( 41 ) SATELLITE OF LOVE - Lou Reed featuring David Bowie # 1

55 ( 59 ) BABY WE’VE GOT A DATE (ROCK IT BABY) - Bob Marley & The Wailers # 55

56 ( 44 ) AVENUES AND ALLEYWAYS - Tony Christie # 38

57 ( 54 ) LEADER OF THE PACK - The Shangri-Las # 1

58 ( 56 ) I’LL BE AROUND - The Detroit Spinners # 1

59 ( 55 ) KEEPER OF THE CASTLE - The Four Tops # 10

60 ( 65 ) PLASTIC MAN - The Real Thing # 60

 

 

61 ( 46 ) ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN - Electric Light Orchestra # 11

62 ( NEW ) REELIN’ IN THE YEARS - Steely Dan # 62

63 ( 37 ) HELLO HURRAY - Alice Cooper # 26

64 ( 67 ) DRIFT AWAY - Dobie Gray # 64

65 ( NEW ) ONE GIRL TOO LATE - Brenda & The Tabulations # 65

66 ( 80 ) CALIFORNIA SAGA - The Beach Boys # 66

67 ( 64 ) MASTER OF EYES (THE DEEPNESS OF YOUR EYES) - Aretha Franklin # 63

68 ( 33 ) WISH THAT I COULD TALK TO YOU - The Sylvers # 33

69 ( 69 ) THE COLDEST DAYS OF MY LIFE (PART 1) - The Chi-Lites # 1

70 ( 63 ) I'M ON MY WAY TO A BETTER PLACE - Chairmen Of The Board # 4

 

71 ( 79 ) THE TWELFTH OF NEVER - Donny Osmond # 71

72 ( 75 ) I WON’T LAST A DAY WITHOUT YOU - Paul Williams # 72

73 ( 52 ) TEACHER I NEED YOU - Elton John # 43

74 ( 53 ) THAT’S WHEN THE MUSIC TAKES ME - Neil Sedaka # 48

75 ( 77 ) KISSING MY LOVE - Bill Withers # 75

 

 

25th February 1973 My charts of that week then

 

It's 3 weeks on top for Dave Edmunds, as Junior Walker slides into runners-up and The Partridge Family make it a 6th top 5, with David Cassidy on 7. Roberta Flack gets a first top 10 with Killing Me Softly at 6 and Miki Anthony at 7 with If It Wasn't For The Reason, and Cindy Incidentally up to 8 for The Faces, their 2nd top 10 signals a busy chart-week in both my charts of the time and my retro charts.

 

New at 16 it's The Detroit Emeralds debuting Feel The Need In Me, a soul classic that will be re-recorded and a hit again in 1977, and covered by Forrest in 1983. Irish singer Kenny gets a debut too, new at 23 with Heart Of Stone, falsetto Glam Bubble Rock that I loved at the time, not so much these days, and Slade are in at 21 with their monster hit Cum On Feel The Noize as they sealed their claim to be the most-popular popstars of the time, taking over from T.Rex.

 

At 25, The New Seekers cover The Who's Tommy rock-opera hits Pinball Wizard and See Me Feel Me, but as a medley, and odd decision and not as good as the original Pinball Wizard but better than the original See Me Feel Me. New at 30 thanks to a TV advert, White Plains are back, with Step Into A Dream. It's just a ditty, really. It was never designed to be a hit.

 

1 ( 1 ) BABY I LOVE YOU - Dave Edmunds

2 ( 3 ) TAKE ME GIRL I'M READY - Junior Walker & The Allstars

3 ( 2 ) SYLVIA - Focus

4 ( 5 ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet

5 ( 21 ) LOOKING THROUGH THE EYES OF LOVE - The Partridge Family

6 ( 27 ) KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG - Roberta Flack

7 ( 23 ) IF IT WASN'T FOR THE REASON THAT I LOVED YOU - Miki Anthony

8 ( 19 ) CINDY INCIDENTALLY - The Faces

9 ( 10 ) HELLO HURRAY - Alice Cooper

10 ( 4 ) SUPERSTITION - Stevie Wonder

 

11 ( 6 ) ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN - Electric Light Orchestra

12 ( 7 ) PART OF THE UNION - The Strawbs

13 ( 8 ) DO YOU WANT TO TOUCH ME (OH YEAH)? - Gary Glitter

14 ( 13 ) DOCTOR MY EYES - The Jackson 5

15 ( 14 ) THE JEAN GENIE - David Bowie

16 ( NEW ) FEEL THE NEED IN ME - The Detroit Emeralds

17 ( 9 ) WISHING WELL - Free

18 ( 11 ) HOCUS POCUS - Focus

19 ( 24 ) TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROADS - Olivia Newton-John

20 ( 25 ) REELIN’ AND ROCKIN’ - Chuck Berry

21 ( NEW ) CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE - Slade

22 ( 12 ) BALL PARK INCIDENT - Wizzard

23 ( NEW ) HEART OF STONE - Kenny

24 ( 15 ) DANIEL - Elton John

25 ( NEW ) PINBALL WIZARD/SEE ME FEEL ME - The New Seekers

26 ( 29 ) WHISKY IN THE JAR - Thin Lizzy

27 ( 16 ) ALWAYS ON MY MIND - Elvis Presley

28 ( 17 ) PAPER PLANE - Status Quo

29 ( 18 ) IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME BY NOW - Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes

30 ( NEW ) STEP INTO A DREAM - White Plains

4th March 1973

 

It's a first week on top for the glamtastic T.Rex as 20th Century Boy becomes their 7th number one out of 9 singles, and Roxy Music get a 2nd top 5 as Pyjamarama climbs to 4. A classic album is out, one with no UK singles and no radio airplay to speak of, but America will eventually convince Pink Floyd to release the most-commercial track, the biting Money, which debuts at 5 to give them a first retro chart hit since Arnold Layne and a 3rd in total 6 years on.

 

It's also a big Eurovision week as the UK picks which of 6 songs Cliff Richard would sing for the UK - the public picked the right one, the pretty good Power To All Our Friends, with 2 of the runners-up following later in the year as a double A side. Cliff enters at 49 for a 6th consecutive retro year of charting, but he's beaten by Abba at 36 - the Swedish public didn't pick Ring Ring, thankfully, as it made Bjorn & Benny try again next year with a big rise in quality, but it was huge in Sweden anyway and is their 5th chart entry with a 6th lower down as their singles strategy was quite relaxed in different territories - and smart. Another Town Another Train is at 63 and would become better known on their first Greatest Hits album in 1976. Ring Ring would get remixed and issued in the UK as follow-up to you-know-what in 18 months. Oh, and their debut album is out at the end of March 1973.

 

New at 43, Stevie Wonder follows his funk classic with the MOR gift to artists prone to cover hit songs - You Are The Sunshine Of My Life. Aided vocally by Lani Groves and Jim Gilstrap, who will have to wait 2 years to get how own hit. Archie Bell & The Drells meanwhile keep the good dance stuff coming at 68, Geordie grab a 2nd Brian Johnson chart entry with All Because Of You, rockin' it somewhat, Gilbert O'Sullivan lets slip his sexist tendencies which will become much more apparent in 2 years time, with the very over-rated Get Down. Yeah, despite Pans People attempts to suggest otherwise, it's not about dogs. The Jackson 5 meanwhile drop one of their lesser singles, the fairly average Hallelujah Day, but there's a gem coming later in the year.

 

 

1 ( 2 ) 20th CENTURY BOY - T.Rex # 1

2 ( 1 ) CRAZY - Mud # 1

3 ( 3 ) ARMED AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS - First Choice # 1

4 ( 13 ) PJYAMARAMA - Roxy Music # 4

5 ( NEW ) MONEY - Pink Floyd # 5

6 ( 4 ) THE LOOK OF LOVE - Gladys Knight & The Pips # 2

7 ( 7 ) CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE - Slade # 7

8 ( 6 ) A LETTER TO MYSELF - The Chi-Lites # 1

9 ( 5 ) FRANKENSTEIN - The Edgar Winter Group # 1

10 ( 10 ) SYLVIA - Focus # 1

 

11 ( 11 ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE - The Detroit Spinners # 1

12 ( 12 ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet # 1

13 ( 8 ) STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU - Stealer’s Wheel # 8

14 ( 14 ) DREAMS ARE TEN A PENNY - Kincade # 14

15 ( 9 ) WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER - Timmy Thomas # 1

16 ( 21 ) WILL IT GO ROUND IN CIRCLES - Billy Preston # 16

17 ( 16 ) WISHING WELL - Free # 1

18 ( 20 ) I’M DOIN’ FINE NOW - New York City # 18

19 ( 23 ) IF IT WASN’T FOR THE REASON THAT I LOVE YOU - Miki Anthony # 8

20 ( 37 ) BY THE DEVIL (I WAS TEMPTED) - Blue Mink # 20

 

21 ( 17 ) I’M JUST A SINGER (IN A ROCK’N’ROLL BAND) - The Moody Blues # 9

22 ( 30 ) NEVER, NEVER, NEVER (GRANDE, GRANDE, GRANDE) - Shirley Bassey # 22

23 ( 34 ) MAGIC WOMAN TOUCH - The Hollies # 23

24 ( 24 ) DANNY’S SONG - Anne Murray # 7

25 ( 29 ) GONNA MAKE YOU AN OFFER YOU CAN’T REFUSE - Jimmy Helms # 25

26 ( 18 ) AIN’T NO WOMAN (LIKE THE ONE I’VE GOT) - The Four Tops # 5

27 ( 19 ) KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG - Roberta Flack # 6

28 ( 22 ) ONE MAN BAND (PLAYS ALL ALONE) - Ronnie Dyson # 22

29 ( 25 ) CINDY INCIDENTALLY - The Faces featuring Rod Stewart # 22

30 ( 27 ) BABY I LOVE YOU - Dave Edmunds # 1

 

31 ( 65 ) ONE GIRL TOO LATE - Brenda & The Tabulations # 31

32 ( 49 ) SING - Carpenters # 32

33 ( 33 ) SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION - T.Rex # 1

34 ( 15 ) AUBREY - Bread # 6

35 ( 42 ) STEP BY STEP - Joe Simon # 35

36 ( NEW ) RING RING - Abba # 36

37 ( 51 ) YOU ARE EVERYTHING - The Pearls # 37

38 ( 38 ) TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - Dawn featuring Tony Orlando # 20

39 ( 60 ) PLASTIC MAN - The Real Thing # 39

40 ( 31 ) PART OF THE UNION - The Strawbs # 8

 

41 ( 41 ) WALK ON THE WILD SIDE - Lou Reed featuring Thunderthighs # 1

42 ( 28 ) PAPER PLANE - Status Quo # 7

43 ( NEW ) YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE - Stevie Wonder featuring Jim Gilstrap & Lani Groves # 43

44 ( 44 ) I BELIEVE IN LOVE - The Pioneers # 9

45 ( 39 ) ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH - John Denver # 8

46 ( 46 ) SUPERSTITION - Stevie Wonder # 1

47 ( 40 ) LOVE TRAIN - The O’Jays # 1

48 ( 47 ) PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE - The Temptations # 1

49 ( NEW ) POWER TO ALL OUR FRIENDS - Cliff Richard # 49

50 ( 45 ) THE RIGHT THING TO DO - Carly Simon # 6

 

51 ( 43 ) STOP WAIT & LISTEN - Circus # 43

52 ( 26 ) DO YOU WANNA TOUCH ME? (OH YEAH) - Gary Glitter & The Glitter Band # 2

53 ( 32 ) HEART OF STONE - Kenny # 25

54 ( 35 ) DANIEL - Elton John # 14

55 ( 36 ) TOSSIN’ & TURNIN’ - Bunny Sigler # 29

56 ( 62 ) REELIN’ IN THE YEARS - Steely Dan # 56

57 ( 66 ) CALIFORNIA SAGA - The Beach Boys # 57

58 ( 64 ) DRIFT AWAY - Dobie Gray # 58

59 ( 52 ) MASTERPIECE - The Temptations # 51

60 ( 57 ) LEADER OF THE PACK - The Shangri-Las # 1

 

61 ( 53 ) PINBALL WIZARD - SEE ME FEEL ME - The New Seekers # 53

62 ( 58 ) I’LL BE AROUND - The Detroit Spinners # 1

63 ( NEW ) ANOTHER TOWN ANOTHER TRAIN - Abba # 63

64 ( 59 ) KEEPER OF THE CASTLE - The Four Tops # 10

65 ( 54 ) SATELLITE OF LOVE - Lou Reed featuring David Bowie # 1

66 ( 48 ) SAIL ON, SAILOR - The Beach Boys # 15

67 ( 71 ) THE TWELFTH OF NEVER - Donny Osmond # 67

68 ( NEW ) DANCING TO YOUR MUSIC - Archie Bell & The Drells # 68

69 ( 55 ) BABY WE’VE GOT A DATE (ROCK IT BABY) - Bob Marley & The Wailers # 55

70 ( 69 ) THE COLDEST DAYS OF MY LIFE (PART 1) - The Chi-Lites # 1

 

71 ( 61 ) ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN - Electric Light Orchestra # 11

72 ( NEW ) ALL BECAUSE OF YOU - Geordie # 72

73 ( NEW ) GET DOWN - Gilbert O’Sullivan # 73

74 ( 50 ) CALL ME (COME BACK HOME) - Al Green # 48

75 ( NEW ) HALLELUJAH DAY - The Jackson 5 # 75

 

4th March 1973 wot I liked that week then

 

It's Slade finally getting that number one after Coz I Luv You and Look Wot You Dun peaked at 2, Cum On Feel The Noize getting that one spot extra. The Jackson 5 make it 2 top 10's in a row, and an 8th in total, plus 4 extra for Michael. Neil Sedaka also enters with his new track recorded at Strawberry Studios with 10c.c., That's When The Music Takes Me going where Oh Carol has recently been, if lower at 17.

 

There's a bunch of new entries in the 20's, Timmy Thomas's classic and evocative, sparse organ soul classic Why Can't We Live Together at 22. Still great. The Pearls cover The Stylistics' non-UK-hit You Are Everything and grab a 3rd chart hit for me - well, the name has 3 at any rate, Sue and Sunny have been replaced by this time, but not to worry both Sunny and The Pearls would go top 10 in the UK in 1974.

 

Jimmy Helms has a great vocal range, and it gets a workout on Gonna Make You An Offer You Can't Refuse at 27, soul just ahead of shambolic football laugh Nice One Cyril - Cockerel Chorus being Spurs FC more or less. T.Rex return at a modest 29 with the monster glam classic 20th Century Boy, so good it was the hit again in 1991 by which time it was recognised as a Bolan cornerstone rather than a career in decline, as was the general mood at my school at any rate. Finally, Andy & David Williams do I Don't Know Why - teen nephews of the more famous Andy Williams. By the end of the year Andy, with a bit of help from Neil Sedaka, would show them how to get a proper hit.

 

1 ( 21 ) CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE - Slade

2 ( 1 ) BABY I LOVE YOU - Dave Edmunds

3 ( 2 ) TAKE ME GIRL I'M READY - Junior Walker & The Allstars

4 ( 6 ) KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG - Roberta Flack

5 ( 7 ) IF IT WASN'T FOR THE REASON THAT I LOVED YOU - Miki Anthony

6 ( 3 ) SYLVIA - Focus

7 ( 4 ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet

8 ( 5 ) LOOKING THROUGH THE EYES OF LOVE - The Partridge Family

9 ( 14 ) DOCTOR MY EYES - The Jackson 5

10 ( 8 ) CINDY INCIDENTALLY - The Faces

 

11 ( 10 ) SUPERSTITION - Stevie Wonder

12 ( 9 ) HELLO HURRAY - Alice Cooper

13 ( 18 ) HOCUS POCUS - Focus

14 ( 13 ) DO YOU WANT TO TOUCH ME (OH YEAH)? - Gary Glitter

15 ( 12 ) PART OF THE UNION - The Strawbs

16 ( 16 ) FEEL THE NEED IN ME - The Detroit Emeralds

17 ( NEW ) THAT'S WHEN THE MUSIC TAKES ME - Neil Sedaka

18 ( 17 ) WISHING WELL - Free

19 ( 11 ) ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN - Electric Light Orchestra

20 ( 19 ) TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROADS - Olivia Newton-John

 

21 ( 23 ) HEART OF STONE - Kenny

22 ( NEW ) WHY CAN'T WE LIVE TOGETHER - Timmy Thomas

23 ( NEW ) YOU ARE EVERYTHING - The Pearls

24 ( 25 ) PINBALL WIZARD/SEE ME FEEL ME - The New Seekers

25 ( 15 ) THE JEAN GENIE - David Bowie

26 ( 20 ) REELIN’ AND ROCKIN’ - Chuck Berry

27 ( NEW ) GONNA MAKE YOU AN OFFER YOU CAN'T REFUSE - Jimmy Helms

28 ( NEW ) NICE ONE CYRIL - Cockeral Chorus

29 ( NEW ) 20th CENTURY BOY - T.Rex

30 ( NEW ) I DON'T KNOW WHY - Andy & David Williams

11th March 1973

 

It's a first week on top, straight in at 1, and debut for Sylvia Robinson's sultry soul smash Pillow Talk, classy and naughty for 1973 - though not in comparison to some 21st Century blatant unsubtle tripe. Sylvia is the only black female record label owner/writer/singer/producer in the Rock 'n' Roll hall Of Fame, and pretty much this was the record that led to All Platinum record label, some great mid 70's soulfunk dance tracks, and the debut of a thing called Rap in 1979 and beyond with Sugarhill Gang.

 

In a great week for classic soul debuts, Barry White starts his solo career proper after masterminding hits from Felice Taylor and Love Unlimited, among others, and it begins with an equally sultry bedroom great, I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby. Strings, soul, and a long build up to the climax/chorus - still Barry's greatest solo record for me. Bloodstone debut 6 months early (for the UK charts) with laid-back soul fabness - Natural High - at 13, Bobby Womack's classic Across 110th Street is also new in at 31, social conscience soul music, while The Undisputed Truth are back at 65 with Mama I Gotta Brand new Thing - not a record I knew until this week, but it's stamped thoroughly Norman Whitfield.

 

New at 31, Argent get a 4th chart retro entry, ex-Zombie Rod this time getting an assist from budding future hit songwriter Russ Ballard setting out an impressive stool with God Gave Rock And Roll To You, progrock goodness, though I'll take the single edit version anyday to ignore the 2 minutes of twiddly bits that detract from the great core song. One I'd forgotten debuts at 35, it's Sonny & Cher waving a sad farewell ahead of their divorce and successful TV career heading south, but a great way to say goodbye - the mad, rocking Mama Was A Rock And Roll Singer Papa Used To Write All Her Songs. Cher will be back shortly though, with even better. And on into the 2010's.

 

Perry Como isn't satisfied with his It's Impossible return, so he does a hit turn on Don McLean's And I Love You So, new at 71 and not as good as the original which has already charted here, Andy Williams' nephews Andy & David try for a bit of teen Donny Osmond market action, but never really take off, though I Don't Know Why is OK at 74, and the other top teen idol of 1973 squeeks in at 75: David Cassidy's fairly limp Some Kind Of A Summer is not as good as The Partridge Family hits of 1973, and the real reason to buy it was the other A side I'm A Clown, 1972 album track and his 2nd best solo single, which has already charted for me.

 

 

1 ( NEW ) PILLOW TALK - Sylvia # 1

2 ( NEW ) I’M GONNA LOVE YOU JUST A LITTLE MORE BABY - Barry White # 2

3 ( 2 ) CRAZY - Mud # 1

4 ( 1 ) 20th CENTURY BOY - T.Rex # 1

5 ( 4 ) PJYAMARAMA - Roxy Music # 4

6 ( 3 ) ARMED AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS - First Choice # 1

7 ( 5 ) MONEY - Pink Floyd # 5

8 ( 6 ) THE LOOK OF LOVE - Gladys Knight & The Pips # 2

9 ( 8 ) A LETTER TO MYSELF - The Chi-Lites # 1

10 ( 9 ) FRANKENSTEIN - The Edgar Winter Group # 1

 

11 ( 13 ) STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU - Stealer’s Wheel # 8

12 ( 12 ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet # 1

13 ( NEW ) NATURAL HIGH - Bloodstone # 13

14 ( 11 ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE - The Detroit Spinners # 1

15 ( 15 ) WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER - Timmy Thomas # 1

16 ( 18 ) I’M DOIN’ FINE NOW - New York City # 16

17 ( 14 ) DREAMS ARE TEN A PENNY - Kincade # 14

18 ( 10 ) SYLVIA - Focus # 1

19 ( 36 ) RING RING - Abba # 19

20 ( 23 ) MAGIC WOMAN TOUCH - The Hollies # 20

21 ( NEW ) GOD GAVE ROCK AND ROLL TO YOU - Argent # 21

22 ( 31 ) ONE GIRL TOO LATE - Brenda & The Tabulations # 22

23 ( 7 ) CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE - Slade # 7

24 ( 35 ) STEP BY STEP - Joe Simon # 24

25 ( 19 ) IF IT WASN’T FOR THE REASON THAT I LOVE YOU - Miki Anthony # 8

26 ( 17 ) WISHING WELL - Free # 1

27 ( 21 ) I’M JUST A SINGER (IN A ROCK’N’ROLL BAND) - The Moody Blues # 9

28 ( 20 ) BY THE DEVIL (I WAS TEMPTED) - Blue Mink # 20

29 ( 22 ) NEVER, NEVER, NEVER (GRANDE, GRANDE, GRANDE) - Shirley Bassey # 22

30 ( 30 ) BABY I LOVE YOU - Dave Edmunds # 1

 

31 ( NEW ) ACROSS 110TH STREET - Bobby Womack # 31

32 ( 49 ) POWER TO ALL OUR FRIENDS - Cliff Richard # 32

33 ( 33 ) SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION - T.Rex # 1

34 ( 43 ) YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE - Stevie Wonder featuring Jim Gilstrap & Lani Groves # 34

35 ( NEW ) MAMA WAS A ROCK AND ROLL SINGER PAPA USED TO WRITE ALL HER SONGS - Sonny & Cher # 35

36 ( 38 ) TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - Dawn featuring Tony Orlando # 20

37 ( 28 ) ONE MAN BAND (PLAYS ALL ALONE) - Ronnie Dyson # 22

38 ( 24 ) DANNY’S SONG - Anne Murray # 7

39 ( 37 ) YOU ARE EVERYTHING - The Pearls # 37

40 ( 25 ) GONNA MAKE YOU AN OFFER YOU CAN’T REFUSE - Jimmy Helms # 25

 

41 ( 26 ) AIN’T NO WOMAN (LIKE THE ONE I’VE GOT) - The Four Tops # 5

42 ( 16 ) WILL IT GO ROUND IN CIRCLES - Billy Preston # 16

43 ( 40 ) PART OF THE UNION - The Strawbs # 8

44 ( 41 ) WALK ON THE WILD SIDE - Lou Reed featuring Thunderthighs # 1

45 ( 27 ) KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG - Roberta Flack # 6

46 ( 46 ) SUPERSTITION - Stevie Wonder # 1

47 ( 47 ) LOVE TRAIN - The O’Jays # 1

48 ( 34 ) AUBREY - Bread # 6

49 ( 63 ) ANOTHER TOWN ANOTHER TRAIN - Abba # 49

50 ( 48 ) PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE - The Temptations # 1

 

51 ( 45 ) ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH - John Denver # 8

52 ( 42 ) PAPER PLANE - Status Quo # 7

53 ( 32 ) SING - Carpenters # 32

54 ( 50 ) THE RIGHT THING TO DO - Carly Simon # 6

55 ( 54 ) DANIEL - Elton John # 14

56 ( 44 ) I BELIEVE IN LOVE - The Pioneers # 9

57 ( 57 ) CALIFORNIA SAGA - The Beach Boys # 57

58 ( 68 ) DANCING TO YOUR MUSIC - Archie Bell & The Drells # 58

59 ( 53 ) HEART OF STONE - Kenny # 25

60 ( 60 ) LEADER OF THE PACK - The Shangri-Las # 1

 

61 ( 56 ) REELIN’ IN THE YEARS - Steely Dan # 56

62 ( 67 ) THE TWELFTH OF NEVER - Donny Osmond # 62

63 ( 29 ) CINDY INCIDENTALLY - The Faces featuring Rod Stewart # 22

64 ( 62 ) I’LL BE AROUND - The Detroit Spinners # 1

65 ( NEW ) MAMA I GOTTA BRAND NEW THING (DON’T SAY NO) - The Undisputed Truth # 65

66 ( 61 ) PINBALL WIZARD - SEE ME FEEL ME - The New Seekers # 53

67 ( 72 ) ALL BECAUSE OF YOU - Geordie # 67

68 ( 39 ) PLASTIC MAN - The Real Thing # 39

69 ( 58 ) DRIFT AWAY - Dobie Gray # 58

70 ( 52 ) DO YOU WANNA TOUCH ME? (OH YEAH) - Gary Glitter & The Glitter Band # 2

 

71 ( NEW ) AND I LOVE YOU SO - Perry Como # 71

72 ( 73 ) GET DOWN - Gilbert O’Sullivan # 72

73 ( 75 ) HALLELUJAH DAY - The Jackson 5 # 73

74 ( NEW ) I DON’T KNOW WHY - Andy & David Williams # 74

75 ( NEW ) SOME KIND OF A SUMMER - David Cassidy # 75

 

 

11th March 1973, my chart that week then

 

In a total travesty of justice, bubblegum glam Heart Of Stone leaps up to the top spot to prevent the top-notch soul organ classic Why Can't We Live Together from getting any higher than 2. Kenny was a brief bit of fun, Timmy Thomas's shines on 50 years later, despite Drake's attempts to kill off the majesty by speeding it up and rambling semi-incoherently over the top of it. Sade did it justice though, on Diamond Life. Future Londonbeat hitmaker Jimmy Helms starts his chart career 15 years early as he climbs to 5, and T.Rex have a catastrophic climb to a mere 7 - for Marc Bolan records that's a relative disappointment at the time, 20th Century Boy not grabbing me the way it would in later years.

 

The Detroit Emeralds grab a soul classic top 10, and an even bigger soul classic enters at 21 for The O'Jays, as Love Train brings them a 3rd chart hit, even better than fab chart-topper Back Stabbers. Glam Rock future big stars Mud, get the Chinn-Chapman support, RAK label stars, but debut with the wacky tango glam of Crazy at 22. Strictly really needs to do this record one week, it's been criminally forgotten, as good as any of Mud's best records. That leaves Cliff's 2nd Eurovision UK entry to debut at 28 - Power To All Our Friends not quite as impactful or jolly as Congratulations, but his best record since Living In Harmony.

 

 

1 ( 21 ) HEART OF STONE Kenny

2 ( 22 ) WHY CAN'T WE LIVE TOGETHER Timmy Thomas

3 ( 2 ) BABY I LOVE YOU Dave Edmunds

4 ( 3 ) TAKE ME GIRL I'M READY Junior Walker & The Allstars

5 ( 27 ) GONNA MAKE YOU AN OFFER YOU CAN'T REFUSE Jimmy Helms

6 ( 1 ) CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE Slade

7 ( 29 ) 20th CENTURY BOY T.Rex

8 ( 7 ) BLOCKBUSTER The Sweet

9 ( 4 ) KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG Roberta Flack

10 ( 16 ) FEEL THE NEED IN ME The Detroit Emeralds

 

11 ( 6 ) SYLVIA Focus

12 ( 9 ) DOCTOR MY EYES The Jackson 5

13 ( 13 ) HOCUS POCUS Focus

14 ( 15 ) PART OF THE UNION The Strawbs

15 ( 14 ) DO YOU WANT TO TOUCH ME (OH YEAH)? Gary Glitter

16 ( 8 ) LOOKING THROUGH THE EYES OF LOVE The Partridge Family

17 ( 17 ) THAT'S WHEN THE MUSIC TAKES ME Neil Sedaka

18 ( 11 ) SUPERSTITION Stevie Wonder

19 ( 12 ) HELLO HURRAY Alice Cooper

20 ( 28 ) NICE ONE CYRIL Cockeral Chorus

 

21 ( NEW ) LOVE TRAIN The O'Jays

22 ( NEW ) CRAZY Mud

23 ( 5 ) IF IT WASN'T FOR THE REASON THAT I LOVED YOU Miki Anthony

24 ( 24 ) PINBALL WIZARD/SEE ME FEEL ME The New Seekers

25 ( 23 ) YOU ARE EVERYTHING The Pearls

26 ( 10 ) CINDY INCIDENTALLY The Faces

27 ( 30 ) I DON'T KNOW WHY Andy & David Williams

28 ( NEW ) POWER TO ALL OUR FRIENDS Cliff Richard

29 ( 18 ) WISHING WELL Free

30 ( 19 ) ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN Electric Light Orchestra

 

18th March 1973

 

It's up to the top spot for a second time for Barry White, after his stint talking on his wife's Love Unlimited 1972 topper (which he wrote and produced just like this equally long-titled sultry soul debut), as I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby shoves aside the equally bedroom-headed Pillow Talk, with Bloodstone's less bedroom-more-soul Natural High at 3. Argent get that 2nd top 10 with God gave Rock And Roll To You at 6, New York City do what they failed to do in my charts of the time - go top 10 with I'm Doing Fine Now - as time has been kind to it, and Abba get their first top 10, as Ring Ring hits 10 a year ahead of it's (remixed) falling short of the 10 in my 1974 charts of the time. Meanwhile Another Town Another Train is top 40.

 

Chicory Tip enter at 25 with Good Grief Christina, another Giorgio Moroder song, now hooked up with Pete Bellotte, who together they will change the face of music in 4 years time, meanwhile dabbling in synth pop to the benefit of Chicory Tip who get a 5th chart entry with their 2nd-best record. T.Rex drop Tanx, which gives me an excuse to chart Electric Slim & The Factory Hen, prob my fave track of the album, though I like quite a few of them - my mate Ian is 12 months in the future but as a Bolan freak he would play all of his albums for me more than once. Meanwhile B side to 20th Century Free Angel sneaks in at 75.

 

1 ( 2 ) I’M GONNA LOVE YOU JUST A LITTLE MORE BABY - Barry White # 1

2 ( 1 ) PILLOW TALK - Sylvia # 1

3 ( 13 ) NATURAL HIGH - Bloodstone # 3

4 ( 4 ) 20th CENTURY BOY - T.Rex # 1

5 ( 3 ) CRAZY - Mud # 1

6 ( 21 ) GOD GAVE ROCK AND ROLL TO YOU - Argent # 6

7 ( 6 ) ARMED AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS - First Choice # 1

8 ( 8 ) THE LOOK OF LOVE - Gladys Knight & The Pips # 2

9 ( 16 ) I’M DOIN’ FINE NOW - New York City # 9

10 ( 19 ) RING RING - Abba # 10

 

11 ( 5 ) PJYAMARAMA - Roxy Music # 4

12 ( 12 ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet # 1

13 ( 11 ) STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU - Stealer’s Wheel # 8

14 ( 10 ) FRANKENSTEIN - The Edgar Winter Group # 1

15 ( 9 ) A LETTER TO MYSELF - The Chi-Lites # 1

16 ( 7 ) MONEY - Pink Floyd # 5

17 ( 15 ) WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER - Timmy Thomas # 1

18 ( 14 ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE - The Detroit Spinners # 1

19 ( 24 ) STEP BY STEP - Joe Simon # 19

20 ( 22 ) ONE GIRL TOO LATE - Brenda & The Tabulations # 20

 

21 ( 31 ) ACROSS 110TH STREET - Bobby Womack # 21

22 ( 18 ) SYLVIA - Focus # 1

23 ( 34 ) YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE - Stevie Wonder featuring Jim Gilstrap & Lani Groves # 23

24 ( 17 ) DREAMS ARE TEN A PENNY - Kincade # 14

25 ( NEW ) GOOD GRIEF CHRISTINA - Chicory Tip # 25

26 ( 26 ) WISHING WELL - Free # 1

27 ( 39 ) YOU ARE EVERYTHING - The Pearls # 27

28 ( 25 ) IF IT WASN’T FOR THE REASON THAT I LOVE YOU - Miki Anthony # 8

29 ( 32 ) POWER TO ALL OUR FRIENDS - Cliff Richard # 29

30 ( 35 ) MAMA WAS A ROCK AND ROLL SINGER PAPA USED TO WRITE ALL HER SONGS - Sonny & Cher # 30

 

31 ( 49 ) ANOTHER TOWN ANOTHER TRAIN - Abba # 31

32 ( 48 ) AUBREY - Bread # 6

33 ( 33 ) SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION - T.Rex # 1

34 ( 30 ) BABY I LOVE YOU - Dave Edmunds # 1

35 ( 20 ) MAGIC WOMAN TOUCH - The Hollies # 20

36 ( 29 ) NEVER, NEVER, NEVER (GRANDE, GRANDE, GRANDE) - Shirley Bassey # 22

37 ( 27 ) I’M JUST A SINGER (IN A ROCK’N’ROLL BAND) - The Moody Blues # 9

38 ( 61 ) REELIN’ IN THE YEARS - Steely Dan # 38

39 ( 38 ) DANNY’S SONG - Anne Murray # 7

40 ( 36 ) TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - Dawn featuring Tony Orlando # 20

 

41 ( 23 ) CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE - Slade # 7

42 ( 45 ) KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG - Roberta Flack # 6

43 ( 53 ) SING - Carpenters # 32

44 ( 44 ) WALK ON THE WILD SIDE - Lou Reed featuring Thunderthighs # 1

45 ( 28 ) BY THE DEVIL (I WAS TEMPTED) - Blue Mink # 20

46 ( 46 ) SUPERSTITION - Stevie Wonder # 1

47 ( 47 ) LOVE TRAIN - The O’Jays # 1

48 ( 43 ) PART OF THE UNION - The Strawbs # 8

49 ( 56 ) I BELIEVE IN LOVE - The Pioneers # 9

50 ( 55 ) DANIEL - Elton John # 14

 

51 ( 51 ) ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH - John Denver # 8

52 ( 50 ) PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE - The Temptations # 1

53 ( 41 ) AIN’T NO WOMAN (LIKE THE ONE I’VE GOT) - The Four Tops # 5

54 ( 37 ) ONE MAN BAND (PLAYS ALL ALONE) - Ronnie Dyson # 22

55 ( 52 ) PAPER PLANE - Status Quo # 7

56 ( 58 ) DANCING TO YOUR MUSIC - Archie Bell & The Drells # 56

57 ( 42 ) WILL IT GO ROUND IN CIRCLES - Billy Preston # 16

58 ( 40 ) GONNA MAKE YOU AN OFFER YOU CAN’T REFUSE - Jimmy Helms # 25

59 ( 67 ) ALL BECAUSE OF YOU - Geordie # 59

60 ( 73 ) HALLELUJAH DAY - The Jackson 5 # 60

 

61 ( 60 ) LEADER OF THE PACK - The Shangri-Las # 1

62 ( NEW ) ELECTRIC SLIM & THE FACTORY HEN - T.Rex # 62

63 ( 65 ) MAMA I GOTTA BRAND NEW THING (DON’T SAY NO) - The Undisputed Truth # 63

64 ( 64 ) I’LL BE AROUND - The Detroit Spinners # 1

65 ( 54 ) THE RIGHT THING TO DO - Carly Simon # 6

66 ( 62 ) THE TWELFTH OF NEVER - Donny Osmond # 62

67 ( 59 ) HEART OF STONE - Kenny # 25

68 ( 74 ) I DON’T KNOW WHY - Andy & David Williams # 68

69 ( 72 ) GET DOWN - Gilbert O’Sullivan # 69

70 ( 71 ) AND I LOVE YOU SO - Perry Como # 70

 

71 ( 63 ) CINDY INCIDENTALLY - The Faces featuring Rod Stewart # 22

72 ( 66 ) PINBALL WIZARD - SEE ME FEEL ME - The New Seekers # 53

73 ( 57 ) CALIFORNIA SAGA - The Beach Boys # 57

74 ( 75 ) SOME KIND OF A SUMMER - David Cassidy # 74

75 ( NEW ) FREE ANGEL - T.Rex # 75

 

 

 

 

18th March 1973 My Chart of that week then age 15

 

It's up for a first week on top for Love Train, and a second number for The O'Jays, with one of the great soul Philly tracks of the era, I bought the single with my pocket money in Lincoln, and it was a forerunner of the forthcoming disco revolution. Talking of soul disco fore-runners, The Detroit Emeralds are up to 3 with Feel The Need In Me and it would return in the full-on disco era in 1977.

 

Shirley Bassey enters at 12 with her last charting single for over a decade, an English language cover of an Italian hit, Grande Grande Grande, which is why it sounds so cool for such an MOR act (this was pre-cool-reinventions for Ms. Bassey). Gladys Knight meanwhile bids Motown a fond adieu with a cover of the Bacharach/David classic song The Look Of Love, not quite up to Dusty Springfield quality, but not far behind.

 

Dawn are back with their career monster hit, Tie A Yellow Ribbon at 23 and their 6th chart entry in 3 years, and Roxy Music get a second with Pyjamarama at 24, Glam Quirky and following no prior song construction rules. Meanwhile at 26, future AC/DC global superstar Brian Johnson gets his gobsmacking Noddy Holder-volume-esque vocals into All Because Of You, as Geordie get a 2nd chart entry and a big UK hit with All Because Of You.

 

1 ( 21 ) LOVE TRAIN - The O'Jays

2 ( 1 ) HEART OF STONE - Kenny

3 ( 10 ) FEEL THE NEED IN ME - The Detroit Emeralds

4 ( 3 ) BABY I LOVE YOU - Dave Edmunds

5 ( 2 ) WHY CAN'T WE LIVE TOGETHER - Timmy Thomas

6 ( 8 ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet

7 ( 6 ) 20th CENTURY BOY - T.Rex

8 ( 5 ) GONNA MAKE YOU AN OFFER YOU CAN'T REFUSE - Jimmy Helms

9 ( 11 ) SYLVIA - Focus

10 ( 6 ) CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE - Slade

 

11 ( 9 ) KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG - Roberta Flack

12 ( NEW ) NEVER NEVER NEVER - Shirley Bassey

13 ( 12 ) DOCTOR MY EYES - The Jackson 5

14 ( NEW ) THE LOOK OF LOVE - Gladys Knight & The Pips

15 ( 28 ) POWER TO ALL OUR FRIENDS - Cliff Richard

16 ( 17 ) THAT'S WHEN THE MUSIC TAKES ME - Neil Sedaka

17 ( 18 ) SUPERSTITION - Stevie Wonder

18 ( 14 ) PART OF THE UNION - The Strawbs

19 ( 15 ) DO YOU WANT TO TOUCH ME (OH YEAH)? - Gary Glitter

20 ( 16 ) LOOKING THROUGH THE EYES OF LOVE - The Partridge Family

 

21 ( 22 ) CRAZY - Mud

22 ( 4 ) TAKE ME GIRL I'M READY - Junior Walker & The Allstars

23 ( NEW ) TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - Dawn

24 ( NEW ) PYJAMARAMA - Roxy Music

25 ( 23 ) IF IT WASN'T FOR THE REASON THAT I LOVED YOU - Miki Anthony

26 ( NEW ) ALL BECAUSE OF YOU - Geordie

27 ( 13 ) HOCUS POCUS - Focus

28 ( 19 ) HELLO HURRAY - Alice Cooper

29 ( 25 ) YOU ARE EVERYTHING - The Pearls

30 ( 20 ) NICE ONE CYRIL - Cockerel Chorus

25th March 1973

 

It's up to the top spot for Bloodstone and a 3rd classic soul chart-topper in a row with the lovely Natural High, as Argent get a 2nd top 5 with God Gave Rock And Roll To You at 4. The highest new entry is Middle Of The Road's flop future-single Union Silver from their new album, the UK opting belatedly for the European hit of over 6 months ago, Talk Of All The USA. Neither of them was ever going to get UK radio play, what with one being about fancying a Transwoman and the other a touching ballad about a difficult life in a mining community. As I was born in a coal mining community and 3 generations (at least) of my family were coal miners Union Silver speaks to me still, so they grab themselves a 5th top 10.

 

Stevie Wonder makes it 2 in a row top 10's as You Are The Sunshine Of My Life makes it 7 years of upper echelon records. In a bumper week for new records, Linda Lewis debuts with Rock A Doodle Doo, in her early singer-songwriter style, but with a soul element a few years ahead of Joan Armatrading. Linda's voice though has an amazing range, shown to great effect new at 24, and she's not given enough credit for her part in British music. Paul McCartney meanwhile is back in slushy love ballad vogue and is new at 27 with My Love as Wings morph into Paul McCartney & Wings.

 

Medicine Head's new single One And One Is One is out in the UK this week, a hit before long, it's still quirky and great and under-stated at 32. Bad Weather is Motown's final single for the great run of Supremes records, as after this they lost all interest in Mary Wilson and co. New at 36. At 42, The Glitter Band and that bloke debut with Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again, which was always a great way to start a rousing concert - rather ironic these days as he won't be back again.

 

The Intruders got a 1974 UK hit with this 1973 US hit, I'll Always Love My Mama in at 48, sweet smooth soul, a little sentimental, but the it still applies as true to me, while Roger Daltrey gets his first solo hit outside The Who after Leo Sayer has a hit song which he was indeed Giving It All Away new at 49 - but it got him set up for his own hit later in the year. The Handley Family have a jolly bit of ragtime pop at 51, Wam Bam, while The New Seekers credit Eve Graham on their slow ballad ragtime bigband-style ballad, nevertheless at 74.

 

Nazareth debut their raspy version of rousing uptempo rock, Brokendown Angel at 69, Roxy Music drop For Your Pleasure album and the top track on it is Do The Strand, new at 70, leaving a soul track I've never heard in my life to debut at 75 - The Independents' Leaving Me.

 

 

 

1 ( 3 ) NATURAL HIGH - Bloodstone # 1

2 ( 1 ) I’M GONNA LOVE YOU JUST A LITTLE MORE BABY - Barry White # 1

3 ( 2 ) PILLOW TALK - Sylvia # 1

4 ( 6 ) GOD GAVE ROCK AND ROLL TO YOU - Argent # 4

5 ( 4 ) 20th CENTURY BOY - T.Rex # 1

6 ( 5 ) CRAZY - Mud # 1

7 ( 8 ) THE LOOK OF LOVE - Gladys Knight & The Pips # 2

8 ( NEW ) UNION SILVER - Middle Of The Road # 8

9 ( 9 ) I’M DOIN’ FINE NOW - New York City # 9

10 ( 23 ) YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE - Stevie Wonder featuring Jim Gilstrap & Lani Groves # 10

11 ( 13 ) STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU - Stealer’s Wheel # 8

12 ( 7 ) ARMED AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS - First Choice # 1

13 ( 10 ) RING RING - Abba # 10

14 ( 12 ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet # 1

15 ( 11 ) PJYAMARAMA - Roxy Music # 4

16 ( 25 ) GOOD GRIEF CHRISTINA - Chicory Tip # 16

17 ( 17 ) WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER - Timmy Thomas # 1

18 ( 21 ) ACROSS 110TH STREET - Bobby Womack # 18

19 ( 18 ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE - The Detroit Spinners # 1

20 ( 15 ) A LETTER TO MYSELF - The Chi-Lites # 1

 

21 ( 16 ) MONEY - Pink Floyd # 5

22 ( 14 ) FRANKENSTEIN - The Edgar Winter Group # 1

23 ( 22 ) SYLVIA - Focus # 1

24 ( NEW ) ROCK A DOODLE DOO - Linda Lewis # 24

25 ( 62 ) ELECTRIC SLIM & THE FACTORY HEN - T.Rex # 25

26 ( 26 ) WISHING WELL - Free # 1

27 ( NEW ) MY LOVE - Paul McCartney & Wings # 27

28 ( 29 ) POWER TO ALL OUR FRIENDS - Cliff Richard # 28

29 ( 31 ) ANOTHER TOWN ANOTHER TRAIN - Abba # 29

30 ( 20 ) ONE GIRL TOO LATE - Brenda & The Tabulations # 20

 

31 ( 28 ) IF IT WASN’T FOR THE REASON THAT I LOVE YOU - Miki Anthony # 8

32 ( NEW ) ONE AND ONE IS ONE - Medicine Head # 32

33 ( 30 ) MAMA WAS A ROCK AND ROLL SINGER PAPA USED TO WRITE ALL HER SONGS - Sonny & Cher # 30

34 ( 32 ) AUBREY - Bread # 6

35 ( 33 ) SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION - T.Rex # 1

36 ( NEW ) BAD WEATHER - The Supremes # 36

37 ( 19 ) STEP BY STEP - Joe Simon # 19

38 ( 34 ) BABY I LOVE YOU - Dave Edmunds # 1

39 ( 24 ) DREAMS ARE TEN A PENNY - Kincade # 14

40 ( 63 ) MAMA I GOTTA BRAND NEW THING (DON’T SAY NO) - The Undisputed Truth # 40

 

41 ( 41 ) CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE - Slade # 7

42 ( NEW ) HELLO, HELLO, I’M BACK AGAIN - Gary Glitter & The Glitter Band # 42

43 ( 40 ) TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - Dawn featuring Tony Orlando # 20

44 ( 38 ) REELIN’ IN THE YEARS - Steely Dan # 38

45 ( 39 ) DANNY’S SONG - Anne Murray # 7

46 ( 37 ) I’M JUST A SINGER (IN A ROCK’N’ROLL BAND) - The Moody Blues # 9

47 ( 27 ) YOU ARE EVERYTHING - The Pearls # 27

48 ( NEW ) I’LL ALWAYS LOVE MY MAMA - The Intruders # 48

49 ( NEW ) GIVING IT ALL AWAY - Roger Daltrey # 49

50 ( 35 ) MAGIC WOMAN TOUCH - The Hollies # 20

51 ( NEW ) WAM BAM - The Handley Family # 51

52 ( 36 ) NEVER, NEVER, NEVER (GRANDE, GRANDE, GRANDE) - Shirley Bassey # 22

53 ( 44 ) WALK ON THE WILD SIDE - Lou Reed featuring Thunderthighs # 1

54 ( 46 ) SUPERSTITION - Stevie Wonder # 1

55 ( 47 ) LOVE TRAIN - The O’Jays # 1

56 ( 49 ) I BELIEVE IN LOVE - The Pioneers # 9

57 ( 52 ) PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE - The Temptations # 1

58 ( 48 ) PART OF THE UNION - The Strawbs # 8

59 ( 45 ) BY THE DEVIL (I WAS TEMPTED) - Blue Mink # 20

60 ( 42 ) KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG - Roberta Flack # 6

 

61 ( 56 ) DANCING TO YOUR MUSIC - Archie Bell & The Drells # 56

62 ( 50 ) DANIEL - Elton John # 14

63 ( 43 ) SING - Carpenters # 32

64 ( 59 ) ALL BECAUSE OF YOU - Geordie # 59

65 ( 68 ) I DON’T KNOW WHY - Andy & David Williams # 65

66 ( 51 ) ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH - John Denver # 8

67 ( 61 ) LEADER OF THE PACK - The Shangri-Las # 1

68 ( 64 ) I’LL BE AROUND - The Detroit Spinners # 1

69 ( NEW ) BROKEN DOWN ANGEL - Nazareth # 69

70 ( NEW ) DO THE STRAND - Roxy Music # 70

 

71 ( 75 ) FREE ANGEL - T.Rex # 71

72 ( 55 ) PAPER PLANE - Status Quo # 7

73 ( 60 ) HALLELUJAH DAY - The Jackson 5 # 60

74 ( NEW ) NEVERTHELESS (I’M IN LOVE WITH YOU) - The New Seekers featuring Eve Graham # 74

75 ( NEW ) LEAVING ME - The Independents # 75

 

 

 

 

25th March 1973 my chart of that week then

 

It's 2 weeks on top for Love Train as Dawn stage an attempt to overthrow The O'Jays, with Tie A Yellow Ribbon becoming their 5th top 10 at 2. Roxy Music as Pyjamarama outdoes Virginia Plain by peaking at 7, and there are only 2 new entries, Gilbert O'Sullivan's very over-rated Get Down at 25, and Little Jimmy Osmond's under-rated whimsy Tweedle Dee at 26. Gimme "bomp bomp bomp" over "you're a bad dog baby" anyday...

 

 

1 ( 1 ) LOVE TRAIN - The O'Jays

2 ( 23 ) TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - Dawn

3 ( 2 ) HEART OF STONE - Kenny

4 ( 3 ) FEEL THE NEED IN ME - The Detroit Emeralds

5 ( 4 ) BABY I LOVE YOU - Dave Edmunds

6 ( 6 ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet

7 ( 24 ) PYJAMARAMA - Roxy Music

8 ( 5 ) WHY CAN'T WE LIVE TOGETHER - Timmy Thomas

9 ( 9 ) SYLVIA - Focus

10 ( 7 ) 20th CENTURY BOY - T.Rex

 

11 ( 10 ) CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE - Slade

12 ( 11 ) KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG - Roberta Flack

13 ( 8 ) GONNA MAKE YOU AN OFFER YOU CAN'T REFUSE - Jimmy Helms

14 ( 12 ) NEVER NEVER NEVER - Shirley Bassey

15 ( 18 ) PART OF THE UNION - The Strawbs

16 ( 19 ) DO YOU WANT TO TOUCH ME (OH YEAH)? - Gary Glitter

17 ( 13 ) DOCTOR MY EYES - The Jackson 5

18 ( 14 ) THE LOOK OF LOVE - Gladys Knight & The Pips

19 ( 20 ) LOOKING THROUGH THE EYES OF LOVE - The Partridge Family

20 ( 15 ) POWER TO ALL OUR FRIENDS - Cliff Richard

 

21 ( 21 ) CRAZY - Mud

22 ( 26 ) ALL BECAUSE OF YOU - Geordie

23 ( 16 ) THAT'S WHEN THE MUSIC TAKES ME - Neil Sedaka

24 ( 22 ) TAKE ME GIRL I'M READY - Junior Walker & The Allstars

25 ( NEW ) GET DOWN - Gilbert O'Sullivan

26 ( NEW ) TWEEDLEDEE - Little Jimmy Osmond

27 ( 17 ) SUPERSTITION - Stevie Wonder

28 ( 25 ) IF IT WASN'T FOR THE REASON THAT I LOVED YOU - Miki Anthony

29 ( 27 ) HOCUS POCUS - Focus

30 ( RE ) PINBALL WIZARD/SEE ME FEEL ME - The New Seekers

1st April 1973

 

It's a 4th consecutive soul chart-topper, this time for British/Caribbean band Hot Chocolate, as the fabulous and forgotten Brother Louie gives them a 3rd Retro number one, just ahead of Bobby Womack's similarly social-conscience soul classic Across 110th Street - not one I knew at the time. So that's a soul top 5 followed by a glam batch as David Bowie gets the second-highest new entry with Drive-In Saturday making it 5 in a row official singles going top 10 or 9 in total including album tracks. Close behind it's a 4th in a row for The Convict and the fab Glitter Band.

 

ABBA drop their Ring Ring album, chocka full of singles past and future, none of them UK hits until the 1974 remix of Ring Ring itself which featured non-UK-single Rock 'N' Roll Band on the B side, so I charted both of them in 1974 when I bought the single. As it's out now, though, it's new at 25. It features some fabulous guitar work - sadly ABBA guitarist Lasse Wellander died this week, but his riffs are amongst the best in pop music: look no further than Voulez Vous, Eagle, Knowing Me Knowing You to hear his soaring work. Another future single, Nina, Pretty Ballerina enters at 72.

 

Alice Cooper makes it 4 in a row with No More Mr. Nice Guy new at 36, while Quo debut at 42 with 1970 track Mean Girl - one I forgot to chart in my retro charts, so it's here now instead. In at 62, Redbone are back with a 4th track - it's called Hail, but it flopped, got revamped, they upped the beats a bit, added some lyrics and got a huge 1974 hit with the new version, called Come And Get Your Love, which was in Guardians Of The Galaxy and has been in adverts on the telly ever since so everyone will know it now. I charted it in 1974, and will chart it again when the new version comes out, but this is pretty decent, albeit not as classic.

 

That leaves reggae-rock D'Yer Mak'er (Jamaica obv) from Zep's new album Houses Of The Holy new at 71, and Don McLean's odd decision to cover Buddy Holly's Everyday at 75. As an occasional marketing strategy, doing covers would pay dividends in 1980 for Don.

 

 

1 ( NEW ) BROTHER LOUIE - Hot Chocolate # 1

2 ( 18 ) ACROSS 110TH STREET - Bobby Womack # 2

3 ( 3 ) PILLOW TALK - Sylvia # 1

4 ( 1 ) NATURAL HIGH - Bloodstone # 1

5 ( 2 ) I’M GONNA LOVE YOU JUST A LITTLE MORE BABY - Barry White # 1

6 ( 5 ) 20th CENTURY BOY - T.Rex # 1

7 ( 6 ) CRAZY - Mud # 1

8 ( NEW ) DRIVE-IN SATURDAY - David Bowie # 8

9 ( 42 ) HELLO, HELLO, I’M BACK AGAIN - Gary Glitter & The Glitter Band # 9

10 ( 8 ) UNION SILVER - Middle Of The Road # 8

 

11 ( 32 ) ONE AND ONE IS ONE - Medicine Head # 11

12 ( 10 ) YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE - Stevie Wonder featuring Jim Gilstrap & Lani Groves # 10

13 ( 4 ) GOD GAVE ROCK AND ROLL TO YOU - Argent # 4

14 ( 7 ) THE LOOK OF LOVE - Gladys Knight & The Pips # 2

15 ( 9 ) I’M DOIN’ FINE NOW - New York City # 9

16 ( 11 ) STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU - Stealer’s Wheel # 8

17 ( 12 ) ARMED AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS - First Choice # 1

18 ( 17 ) WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER - Timmy Thomas # 1

19 ( 13 ) RING RING - Abba # 10

20 ( 14 ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet # 1

 

21 ( 16 ) GOOD GRIEF CHRISTINA - Chicory Tip # 16

22 ( 20 ) A LETTER TO MYSELF - The Chi-Lites # 1

23 ( 19 ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE - The Detroit Spinners # 1

24 ( 27 ) MY LOVE - Paul McCartney & Wings # 24

25 ( NEW ) ROCK ‘N ROLL BAND - Abba # 25

26 ( 15 ) PJYAMARAMA - Roxy Music # 4

27 ( 24 ) ROCK A DOODLE DOO - Linda Lewis # 24

28 ( 25 ) ELECTRIC SLIM & THE FACTORY HEN - T.Rex # 25

29 ( 36 ) BAD WEATHER - The Supremes # 29

30 ( 22 ) FRANKENSTEIN - The Edgar Winter Group # 1

 

31 ( 23 ) SYLVIA - Focus # 1

32 ( 26 ) WISHING WELL - Free # 1

33 ( 48 ) I’LL ALWAYS LOVE MY MAMA - The Intruders # 33

34 ( 21 ) MONEY - Pink Floyd # 5

35 ( 33 ) MAMA WAS A ROCK AND ROLL SINGER PAPA USED TO WRITE ALL HER SONGS - Sonny & Cher # 30

36 ( NEW ) NO MORE MR. NICE GUY - Alice Cooper # 36

37 ( 35 ) SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION - T.Rex # 1

38 ( 38 ) BABY I LOVE YOU - Dave Edmunds # 1

39 ( 41 ) CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE - Slade # 7

40 ( 39 ) DREAMS ARE TEN A PENNY - Kincade # 14

 

41 ( 31 ) IF IT WASN’T FOR THE REASON THAT I LOVE YOU - Miki Anthony # 8

42 ( NEW ) MEAN GIRL - Status Quo # 42

43 ( 43 ) TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - Dawn featuring Tony Orlando # 20

44 ( 44 ) REELIN’ IN THE YEARS - Steely Dan # 38

45 ( 45 ) DANNY’S SONG - Anne Murray # 7

46 ( 29 ) ANOTHER TOWN ANOTHER TRAIN - Abba # 29

47 ( 49 ) GIVING IT ALL AWAY - Roger Daltrey # 47

48 ( 51 ) WAM BAM - The Handley Family # 48

49 ( 30 ) ONE GIRL TOO LATE - Brenda & The Tabulations # 20

50 ( 34 ) AUBREY - Bread # 6

 

51 ( 46 ) I’M JUST A SINGER (IN A ROCK’N’ROLL BAND) - The Moody Blues # 9

52 ( 37 ) STEP BY STEP - Joe Simon # 19

53 ( 70 ) DO THE STRAND - Roxy Music # 53

54 ( 69 ) BROKEN DOWN ANGEL - Nazareth # 54

55 ( 40 ) MAMA I GOTTA BRAND NEW THING (DON’T SAY NO) - The Undisputed Truth # 40

56 ( 56 ) I BELIEVE IN LOVE - The Pioneers # 9

57 ( 50 ) MAGIC WOMAN TOUCH - The Hollies # 20

58 ( 58 ) PART OF THE UNION - The Strawbs # 8

59 ( 54 ) SUPERSTITION - Stevie Wonder # 1

60 ( 28 ) POWER TO ALL OUR FRIENDS - Cliff Richard # 28

 

61 ( 52 ) NEVER, NEVER, NEVER (GRANDE, GRANDE, GRANDE) - Shirley Bassey # 22

62 ( NEW ) HAIL - Redbone # 62

63 ( 53 ) WALK ON THE WILD SIDE - Lou Reed featuring Thunderthighs # 1

64 ( 55 ) LOVE TRAIN - The O’Jays # 1

65 ( 57 ) PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE - The Temptations # 1

66 ( 75 ) LEAVING ME - The Independents # 66

67 ( 47 ) YOU ARE EVERYTHING - The Pearls # 27

68 ( 68 ) I’LL BE AROUND - The Detroit Spinners # 1

69 ( 67 ) LEADER OF THE PACK - The Shangri-Las # 1

70 ( 71 ) FREE ANGEL - T.Rex # 70

 

71 ( NEW ) D’YER MAK’ER - Led Zeppelin # 71

72 ( NEW ) NINA PRETTY BALLERINA - Abba # 72

73 ( 65 ) I DON’T KNOW WHY - Andy & David Williams # 65

74 ( 74 ) NEVERTHELESS (I’M IN LOVE WITH YOU) - The New Seekers featuring Eve Graham # 74

75 ( NEW ) EVERYDAY - Don McLean # 75

 

 

 

1st April 1973 Wot I Liked That Week Then

 

It's LOve Train steaming ahead still 50 years ago, as The O'Jays hold off the fab Mud, who's Tango-Glam Crazy leaps to 2, with future AC/DC star Brian Johnson at 5, All Because Of You. Neil Sedaka finally gets his new single into the top 10 after faffing about a few weeks in the 20's, his 2nd Retro top 10, as the highest new entry is David Cassidy's one-year-old album track I'm A Clown which was and is massively better than the drippy other A side off his new album. Still one of his best recordings and new at 22, just ahead of Gary Glitter's announcement Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again. A little premature, 50 years later, as he wasn't back for long.

 

Argent get a 3rd hit with the fabulous Russ Ballard song, God Gave Rock And Roll To You, so good that Kiss were moved to try and ruin it in the 90's. New at 26 while Donny Osmond scrapes in for the last time as a solo artist in my charts until he tried a bit of disco in 1976, covering The Four Seasons. Finally, Blue Mink get a 6th hit with By The Devil (I Was Tempted), with one more hit to come.

 

1 ( 1 ) LOVE TRAIN - The O'Jays

2 ( 21 ) CRAZY - Mud

3 ( 2 ) TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - Dawn

4 ( 5 ) BABY I LOVE YOU - Dave Edmunds

5 ( 22 ) ALL BECAUSE OF YOU - Geordie

6 ( 4 ) FEEL THE NEED IN ME - The Detroit Emeralds

7 ( 7 ) PYJAMARAMA - Roxy Music

8 ( 10 ) 20th CENTURY BOY - T.Rex

9 ( 23 ) THAT'S WHEN THE MUSIC TAKES ME - Neil Sedaka

10 ( 3 ) HEART OF STONE - Kenny

11 ( 13 ) GONNA MAKE YOU AN OFFER YOU CAN'T REFUSE - Jimmy Helms

12 ( 8 ) WHY CAN'T WE LIVE TOGETHER - Timmy Thomas

13 ( 26 ) TWEEDLEDEE - Little Jimmy Osmond

14 ( 20 ) POWER TO ALL OUR FRIENDS - Cliff Richard

15 ( 11 ) CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE - Slade

16 ( 30 ) PINBALL WIZARD/SEE ME FEEL ME - The New Seekers

17 ( 19 ) LOOKING THROUGH THE EYES OF LOVE - The Partridge Family

18 ( 17 ) DOCTOR MY EYES - The Jackson 5

19 ( 25 ) GET DOWN - Gilbert O'Sullivan

20 ( 14 ) NEVER NEVER NEVER - Shirley Bassey

 

21 ( 12 ) KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG - Roberta Flack

22 ( NEW ) I AM A CLOWN - David Cassidy

23 ( NEW ) HELLO HELLO I’M BACK AGAIN - Gary Glitter

24 ( 18 ) THE LOOK OF LOVE - Gladys Knight & The Pips

25 ( 6 ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet

26 ( NEW ) GOD GAVE ROCK AND ROLL TO YOU - Argent

27 ( 9 ) SYLVIA - Focus

28 ( NEW ) THE TWELFTH OF NEVER - Donny Osmond

29 ( 24 ) TAKE ME GIRL I'M READY - Junior Walker & The Allstars

30 ( NEW ) BY THE DEVIL (I WAS TEMPTED) - Blue Mink

8th April 1973

 

It's straight in at 1, for my new fave pop band 50 years ago, Wizzard, and Roy Wood, and See My Baby Jive. It topped my charts of the time for 10 weeks, I had posters of Roy Wood on my bedroom wall and I was glam mad on the Wall Of Sound production. 50n years on, still love it, and it gives Roy his second retro chart-topper after 10538 Overture with ELO. Bowie is up to 3 with Drive-In Saturday on the 50th anniversary of Aladdin Sane, now back in the UK album charts this week, and 3 tracks from it debuting here: Cracked Actor (title of his 1973 TV special) at 38, The Prettiest Star remake at 55, and Panic In Detroit at 67. That's not the biggest chart haul here though, that's Abba, with 6 following new entries I Am Just A Girl and Love Isn't Easy.

 

Another album slipping out this week is The Jackson 5's Skywriter, containing the essential title track and rather stupidly not the first single. It's still synthtastic, was ahead of the game, and should have been a big hit. It was their last great record under the Jackson 5 logo, and gives them 5 consecutive years of top 10 retro hits. New at 13, The Doobie Brothers get a 2nd chart entry with the fabulous Long Train Running, one that mostly passed me by at the time, but which I came to love by the Bananarama version which topped my charts in 1991, followed by remixed Doobies. The original is still best.

 

Demis Roussos is top of the belgian chart this week with Forever And Ever. It took 3 years to top the UK chart as part of an EP but I liked it when it was out in the UK in 1973-ish, buying it in a Gloucester record shop bargain bin for 5 pence. I felt pretty smart when it topped the UK charts 2 years later, saved 45p. New at 20, and his second solo top 20 here. The Faces album track is new at 31 - not one I knew well at the time, and not sung by Rod, though eventually covered by him in the 90's, Ooh La la was an indication of some good solo stuff not far for Ronnie Lane. America debut with a 4th retro track, Only In Your Heart is quite nice and not one I knew, The Likely Lads 70's TV theme pops in, still the best thing about it, Jim Croce makes it a hat-trick, and Dusty drops different singles in the US and the UK, and both enter.

 

1 ( NEW ) SEE MY BABY JIVE - Wizzard # 1

2 ( 1 ) BROTHER LOUIE - Hot Chocolate # 1

3 ( 8 ) DRIVE-IN SATURDAY - David Bowie # 3

4 ( NEW ) SKYWRITER - The Jackson 5 # 4

5 ( 2 ) ACROSS 110TH STREET - Bobby Womack # 2

6 ( 4 ) NATURAL HIGH - Bloodstone # 1

7 ( 3 ) PILLOW TALK - Sylvia # 1

8 ( 6 ) 20th CENTURY BOY - T.Rex # 1

9 ( 5 ) I’M GONNA LOVE YOU JUST A LITTLE MORE BABY - Barry White # 1

10 ( 11 ) ONE AND ONE IS ONE - Medicine Head # 10

 

11 ( 10 ) UNION SILVER - Middle Of The Road # 8

12 ( 13 ) GOD GAVE ROCK AND ROLL TO YOU - Argent # 4

13 ( NEW ) LONG TRAIN RUNNIN’ - The Doobie Brothers # 13

14 ( 7 ) CRAZY - Mud # 1

15 ( 9 ) HELLO, HELLO, I’M BACK AGAIN - Gary Glitter & The Glitter Band # 9

16 ( 25 ) ROCK ‘N ROLL BAND - Abba # 16

17 ( 17 ) ARMED AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS - First Choice # 1

18 ( 18 ) WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER - Timmy Thomas # 1

19 ( 29 ) BAD WEATHER - The Supremes # 19

20 ( NEW ) FOREVER AND EVER - Demis Roussos # 20

 

21 ( 36 ) NO MORE MR. NICE GUY - Alice Cooper # 21

22 ( 12 ) YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE - Stevie Wonder featuring Jim Gilstrap & Lani Groves # 10

23 ( 22 ) A LETTER TO MYSELF - The Chi-Lites # 1

24 ( 15 ) I’M DOIN’ FINE NOW - New York City # 9

25 ( 27 ) ROCK A DOODLE DOO - Linda Lewis # 24

26 ( 14 ) THE LOOK OF LOVE - Gladys Knight & The Pips # 2

27 ( 21 ) GOOD GRIEF CHRISTINA - Chicory Tip # 16

28 ( 20 ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet # 1

29 ( 33 ) I’LL ALWAYS LOVE MY MAMA - The Intruders # 29

30 ( 16 ) STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU - Stealer’s Wheel # 8

 

31 ( NEW ) OOH LA LA - The Faces # 31

32 ( 24 ) MY LOVE - Paul McCartney & Wings # 24

33 ( 23 ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE - The Detroit Spinners # 1

34 ( 32 ) WISHING WELL - Free # 1

35 ( 31 ) SYLVIA - Focus # 1

36 ( 53 ) DO THE STRAND - Roxy Music # 36

37 ( 37 ) SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION - T.Rex # 1

38 ( NEW ) CRACKED ACTOR - David Bowie # 38

39 ( 26 ) PJYAMARAMA - Roxy Music # 4

40 ( 19 ) RING RING - Abba # 10

 

41 ( 30 ) FRANKENSTEIN - The Edgar Winter Group # 1

42 ( 42 ) MEAN GIRL - Status Quo # 42

43 ( 38 ) BABY I LOVE YOU - Dave Edmunds # 1

44 ( 28 ) ELECTRIC SLIM & THE FACTORY HEN - T.Rex # 25

45 ( 47 ) GIVING IT ALL AWAY - Roger Daltrey # 45

46 ( 45 ) DANNY’S SONG - Anne Murray # 7

47 ( 39 ) CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE - Slade # 7

48 ( 48 ) WAM BAM - The Handley Family # 48

49 ( 40 ) DREAMS ARE TEN A PENNY - Kincade # 14

50 ( 50 ) AUBREY - Bread # 6

 

51 ( 34 ) MONEY - Pink Floyd # 5

52 ( 46 ) ANOTHER TOWN ANOTHER TRAIN - Abba # 29

53 ( 35 ) MAMA WAS A ROCK AND ROLL SINGER PAPA USED TO WRITE ALL HER SONGS - Sonny & Cher # 30

54 ( 72 ) NINA PRETTY BALLERINA - Abba # 54

55 ( NEW ) THE PRETTIEST STAR (’73) - David Bowie # 55

56 ( 62 ) HAIL - Redbone # 56

57 ( 54 ) BROKEN DOWN ANGEL - Nazareth # 54

58 ( 71 ) D’YER MAK’ER - Led Zeppelin # 58

59 ( 49 ) ONE GIRL TOO LATE - Brenda & The Tabulations # 20

60 ( 66 ) LEAVING ME - The Independents # 60

 

61 ( 59 ) SUPERSTITION - Stevie Wonder # 1

62 ( 41 ) IF IT WASN’T FOR THE REASON THAT I LOVE YOU - Miki Anthony # 8

63 ( 74 ) NEVERTHELESS (I’M IN LOVE WITH YOU) - The New Seekers featuring Eve Graham # 63

64 ( 51 ) I’M JUST A SINGER (IN A ROCK’N’ROLL BAND) - The Moody Blues # 9

65 ( 44 ) REELIN’ IN THE YEARS - Steely Dan # 38

66 ( NEW ) ONLY IN YOUR HEART - America # 66

67 ( NEW ) PANIC IN DETROIT - David Bowie # 67

68 ( NEW ) WHATEVER HAPPENED TO YOU? - Highly Likely # 68

69 ( NEW ) MAMA’S LITTLE GIRL - Dusty Springfield # 69

70 ( 43 ) TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - Dawn featuring Tony Orlando # 20

71 ( NEW ) LOVE ISN’T EASY (BUT IT SURE IS HARD ENOUGH) - Abba # 71

72 ( NEW ) I AM JUST A GIRL - Abba # 72

73 ( 75 ) EVERYDAY - Don McLean # 73

74 ( NEW ) BAD BAD LEROY BROWN - Jim Croce # 74

75 ( NEW ) WHO GETS YOUR LOVE - Dusty Springfield # 75

 

 

 

 

8th April 1973 My chart that week then wot I actually liked then

 

It's 4 weeks on top for Love Train as the only new top 10 track is Gary Glitter grabbing a 4th top 5 in a row. Carly Simon is new at 23 with the lovely Right Thing To Do, her second chart hit, and Bowie is back with Drive-In Saturday, another futuristic song for his new persona Aladdin Sane, in at 24, but he was now at the stage where he didn't feel the need to turn up on Top Of The Pops - he was that big! 1973 was the year of Bowie, singles and albums.

 

The Supremes bring some Bad Weather as their Motown classic run draws to an end at 26, while Duelling Banjos drop out of the movie Deliverance for a bit of folk music twangy instrumentalism. Burt Reynolds had made the leap into movies after a few years on TV. In at 29, Wizzard get an early start with radio plays ahead of release, for the fabulous Phil Spector-ish wall of sound that is See My Baby Jive, and Roy Wood was my new top popstar poster boy - not Bowie! Finally Lynsey De Paul sneaks in with a flop single, All Night, which I liked even if no-one else did much.

 

At the cinema I'd been to see Lost Horizon, the Burt Bacharach musical, these days derided as a terrible film (but fun to watch) but I liked the songs, so I was happy. On TV THe Wombles gave kids and the fab Bernard Bresslaw something to enjoy, and Top Of The Pops was glamtastic.

 

1 ( 1 ) LOVE TRAIN - The O'Jays

2 ( 2 ) CRAZY - Mud

3 ( 23 ) HELLO HELLO I’M BACK AGAIN - Gary Glitter

4 ( 3 ) TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - Dawn

5 ( 4 ) BABY I LOVE YOU - Dave Edmunds

6 ( 5 ) ALL BECAUSE OF YOU - Geordie

7 ( 6 ) FEEL THE NEED IN ME - The Detroit Emeralds

8 ( 7 ) PYJAMARAMA - Roxy Music

9 ( 8 ) 20th CENTURY BOY - T.Rex

10 ( 9 ) THAT'S WHEN THE MUSIC TAKES ME - Neil Sedaka

 

11 ( 10 ) HEART OF STONE - Kenny

12 ( 11 ) GONNA MAKE YOU AN OFFER YOU CAN'T REFUSE - Jimmy Helms

13 ( 12 ) WHY CAN'T WE LIVE TOGETHER - Timmy Thomas

14 ( 26 ) GOD GAVE ROCK AND ROLL TO YOU - Argent

15 ( 13 ) TWEEDLEDEE - Little Jimmy Osmond

16 ( 15 ) CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE - Slade

17 ( 14 ) POWER TO ALL OUR FRIENDS - Cliff Richard

18 ( 18 ) DOCTOR MY EYES - The Jackson 5

19 ( 22 ) I AM A CLOWN - David Cassidy

20 ( 19 ) GET DOWN - Gilbert O'Sullivan

 

21 ( 21 ) KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG - Roberta Flack

22 ( 16 ) PINBALL WIZARD/SEE ME FEEL ME - The New Seekers

23 ( NEW ) THE RIGHT THING TO DO - Carly Simon

24 ( NEW ) DRIVE-IN SATURDAY - David Bowie

25 ( 20 ) NEVER NEVER NEVER - Shirley Bassey

26 ( NEW ) BAD WEATHER - The Supremes

27 ( NEW ) DUELING BANJOS - Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell

28 ( 17 ) LOOKING THROUGH THE EYES OF LOVE - The Partridge Family

29 ( NEW ) SEE MY BABY JIVE - Wizzard

30 ( NEW ) ALL NIGHT - Lynsey De Paul

 

'Forever and Ever' I heard in a film last night. Very diverse sounding artist!

'Forever and Ever' I heard in a film last night. Very diverse sounding artist!

 

Hi Rob :) I didn't even know it was used in a film! Though they could make a film about Demis being held captive in real life on a plane hijack later in his career :o

22nd April 1973

 

It's straight in at 1 for a 2nd Retro chart-topper from The Sweet, the explodingly Glam fabness of Hell Raiser, the first single a young George Michael bought. That holds off the equally fab Gene Pitney at 2 for his biggest retro hit to date - but his greatest records predate 1967, and I hope to do 1960 to 1966 one day. New in at 4 the best record from the Eurovision Song Contest - Luxembourg won (see Anne-Marie David at 16), the UK came 4th, but the winner should have been Spain's Mocedades with the soaring fabness of Eres Tu, a huge hit in the USA and much of the Spanish-speaking world. The Doobie Brothers get a 2nd top 10 at 8 and the only reason it's not higher is the sheer volume of classic records around, ditto Roxy Music's 3rd top 10 with Do The Strand at 10.

 

Broadway's musical sensation is A Little Night Music, and from the album of the show, the wonderful British actress Glynis Johns, of many a film and TV show - see Mary Poppins - gives an amazing rendition of Send In The Clowns. Judy Collins would get the UK hit version in 2 years time, and she's a flawless singer, but Glynis has the emotion for me. She's not a singer so much as living the words. New at 17, while David Cassidy at 18 has a final Partridge Family chart moment with his good cover of The Ronettes' fab Walking In The Rain, also covered beautifully by The Walker Brothers.

 

Barry Blue has been writing songs with Lynsey De Paul under their aliases Green & Ruben (see Lynsey at 72) but he starts his oen pop chart career doing his own version of the Greek-flavoured Dancin' (On A Saturday Night) - Mardi Gras unwisely turned it down, it would have been an enormous hit for them, as it was written in their style. Back at 50, and back for a 3rd run in the US charts ahead of it's UK debut, it's Monster Mash, still the best Halloween record bar none, and still regularly popping into the UK charts at the end of October 50 years later.

 

Finally The James Boys were one of the very many pre-voice-breaking teen wannabees around in the UK after Michael Jackson and Donny Osmond set the trend, and Over And Over was a decent tune that got played on Junior's Choice at the time, and Desmond Dekker had a flop with the jolly Sing A Little Song, but hey, re-record, wait 2 years, and it'll be the follow-up to the re-recorded Israelites chart hit in 1975 and charting too.

 

 

1 ( NEW ) HELL RAISER - The Sweet # 1

2 ( 3 ) 24 SYCAMORE - Gene Pitney # 2

3 ( 2 ) SEE MY BABY JIVE - Wizzard # 1

4 ( NEW ) ERES TU - Mocedades # 4

5 ( 1 ) SKYWRITER - The Jackson 5 # 1

6 ( 4 ) BROTHER LOUIE - Hot Chocolate # 1

7 ( 5 ) ACROSS 110TH STREET - Bobby Womack and Peace # 2

8 ( 11 ) LONG TRAIN RUNNIN’ - The Doobie Brothers # 8

9 ( 8 ) I’M GONNA LOVE YOU JUST A LITTLE MORE BABY - Barry White # 1

10 ( 24 ) DO THE STRAND - Roxy Music # 10

 

11 ( 16 ) FOREVER AND EVER - Demis Roussos # 11

12 ( 7 ) PILLOW TALK - Sylvia # 1

13 ( 6 ) DRIVE-IN SATURDAY - David Bowie # 3

14 ( 10 ) 20th CENTURY BOY - T.Rex # 1

15 ( 9 ) NATURAL HIGH - Bloodstone # 1

16 ( 20 ) WONDERFUL DREAM - Anne-Marie David # 16

17 ( NEW ) SEND IN THE CLOWNS - Glynis Johns # 17

18 ( NEW ) WALKING IN THE RAIN - The Partridge Family featuring David Cassidy & Starring Shirley Jones # 18

19 ( 41 ) ELECTRIC SLIM & THE FACTORY HEN - T.Rex # 19

20 ( 23 ) CRACKED ACTOR - David Bowie # 20

 

21 ( 31 ) THE WORLD IS A CIRCLE - Lost Horizon Original Soundtrack # 21

22 ( 14 ) BAD WEATHER - The Supremes # 14

23 ( 26 ) I’LL ALWAYS LOVE MY MAMA - The Intruders # 23

24 ( 12 ) HELLO, HELLO, I’M BACK AGAIN - Gary Glitter & The Glitter Band # 9

25 ( 21 ) NO MORE MR. NICE GUY - Alice Cooper # 21

26 ( 13 ) ONE AND ONE IS ONE - Medicine Head # 10

27 ( 27 ) UNION SILVER - Middle Of The Road # 8

28 ( 18 ) WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER - Timmy Thomas # 1

29 ( 22 ) ARMED AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS - First Choice # 1

30 ( 15 ) GOD GAVE ROCK AND ROLL TO YOU - Argent # 4

 

31 ( 19 ) CRAZY - Mud # 1

32 ( 32 ) MEAN GIRL - Status Quo # 32

33 ( 33 ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE - The Detroit Spinners # 1

34 ( 25 ) ROCK A DOODLE DOO - Linda Lewis # 24

35 ( 28 ) OOH LA LA - The Faces # 28

36 ( 29 ) I’M DOIN’ FINE NOW - New York City # 9

37 ( 46 ) PANIC IN DETROIT - David Bowie # 37

38 ( 49 ) ONLY IN YOUR HEART - America # 38

39 ( 30 ) A LETTER TO MYSELF - The Chi-Lites # 1

40 ( 17 ) ROCK ‘N ROLL BAND - Abba # 16

 

41 ( 53 ) THE PRETTIEST STAR (’73) - David Bowie # 41

42 ( 75 ) I LIKE YOU - Donovan # 42

43 ( 34 ) WISHING WELL - Free # 1

44 ( NEW ) DANCIN’ (ON A SATURDAY NIGHT) - Barry Blue # 44

45 ( 37 ) THE LOOK OF LOVE - Gladys Knight & The Pips # 2

46 ( 40 ) SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION - T.Rex # 1

47 ( 74 ) ISN’T IT ABOUT TIME - Stephen Stills & Manassas # 47

48 ( 38 ) YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE - Stevie Wonder featuring Jim Gilstrap & Lani Groves # 10

49 ( 45 ) GIVING IT ALL AWAY - Roger Daltrey # 45

50 ( NEW ) MONSTER MASH - Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett & The Crypt Kickers # 50

 

51 ( 70 ) NEVERTHELESS (I’M IN LOVE WITH YOU) - The New Seekers featuring Eve Graham # 51

52 ( 52 ) NINA PRETTY BALLERINA - Abba # 52

53 ( 56 ) HAIL - Redbone # 53

54 ( 58 ) MAMA’S LITTLE GIRL - Dusty Springfield # 54

55 ( 47 ) WAM BAM - The Handley Family # 47

56 ( 79 ) THE FREE ELECTRIC BAND - Albert Hammond # 56

57 ( 57 ) D’YER MAK’ER - Led Zeppelin # 57

58 ( 60 ) WHATEVER HAPPENED TO YOU? - Highly Likely # 58

59 ( 69 ) BAD BAD LEROY BROWN - Jim Croce # 59

60 ( 44 ) SYLVIA - Focus # 1

 

61 ( 43 ) FRANKENSTEIN - The Edgar Winter Group # 1

62 ( 42 ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet # 1

63 ( 55 ) DANNY’S SONG - Anne Murray # 7

64 ( 36 ) GOOD GRIEF CHRISTINA - Chicory Tip # 16

65 ( 48 ) BABY I LOVE YOU - Dave Edmunds # 1

66 ( 51 ) PJYAMARAMA - Roxy Music # 4

67 ( 50 ) RING RING - Abba # 10

68 ( 54 ) CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE - Slade # 7

69 ( 35 ) MY LOVE - Paul McCartney & Wings # 24

70 ( 64 ) WHO GETS YOUR LOVE - Dusty Springfield # 64

 

71 ( 39 ) STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU - Stealer’s Wheel # 8

72 ( 78 ) ALL NIGHT - Lynsey De Paul # 72

73 ( 76 ) ONE OF A KIND (LOVE AFFAIR) - The Detroit Spinners # 73

74 ( 77 ) THE MORNING AFTER - Maureen McGovern # 74

75 ( 68 ) EVERYDAY - Don McLean # 68

76 ( 72 ) I AM JUST A GIRL - Abba # 72

77 ( 71 ) LOVE ISN’T EASY (BUT IT SURE IS HARD ENOUGH) - Abba # 71

78 ( 80 ) DESPERADO - The Eagles # 78

79 ( NEW ) OVER AND OVER - The James Boys # 79

80 ( NEW ) SING A LITTLE SONG - Desmond Dekker # 80

 

 

22nd April 1973 My Charts of The time

 

It's 6 weeks on top for The O'Jays' Love Train and 4 weeks at 2 for Mud's Crazy, but Wizzard's See My Baby Jive is about to become my fave record for the next 10 weeks, up to 3. Chicory Tip get a 3rd synthrockpop top 10 with Good Grief Christina, and highest new entry is a 6th chart hit for Hot Chocolate as they go full-on soul with the marvellous Brother Louie, an American-sounding track except for the English accents, new at 21.

 

The Handley Family have a fun bit of old-time Ragtime pop at 25, Wam Bam, totally forgotten these days even by folk who were around at the time, and fresh from winning Eurovision Anne-Marie David does a very good English-language version of the French-language Luxembourg entry, Tu Te Reconnaitras, but Wonderful Dream is easier to type. Spain should have won though, with Eres Tu from Mocedades, a future US and Spanish-speaking nations hit.

 

The New Seekers feature Eve Graham on a smooth soul-styled MOR ballad, nevertheless at 28, and proper Philly soul continues to make chart inroads as The Spinners debut at 30 - not the Irish folk band, so they had to put Detroit in front of their name to make that plain in the UK market, and the marvellous Could It Be I'm falling In Love is at 30.

 

 

1 ( 1 ) LOVE TRAIN - The O'Jays

2 ( 2 ) CRAZY - Mud

3 ( 22 ) SEE MY BABY JIVE - Wizzard

4 ( 3 ) HELLO HELLO I’M BACK AGAIN - Gary Glitter

5 ( 4 ) TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - Dawn

6 ( 5 ) ALL BECAUSE OF YOU - Geordie

7 ( 7 ) THE RIGHT THING TO DO - Carly Simon

8 ( 8 ) DRIVE-IN SATURDAY - David Bowie

9 ( 6 ) FEEL THE NEED IN ME - The Detroit Emeralds

10 ( 20 ) GOOD GRIEF CHRISTINA - Chicory Tip

 

11 ( 9 ) PYJAMARAMA - Roxy Music

12 ( 10 ) 20th CENTURY BOY - T.Rex

13 ( 11 ) HEART OF STONE - Kenny

14 ( 14 ) GOD GAVE ROCK AND ROLL TO YOU - Argent

15 ( 13 ) WHY CAN'T WE LIVE TOGETHER - Timmy Thomas

16 ( 15 ) TWEEDLEDEE - Little Jimmy Osmond

17 ( 16 ) CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE - Slade

18 ( 18 ) I AM A CLOWN - David Cassidy

19 ( 17 ) POWER TO ALL OUR FRIENDS - Cliff Richard

20 ( 19 ) GET DOWN - Gilbert O'Sullivan

 

21 ( NEW ) BROTHER LOUIE - Hot Chocolate

22 ( 21 ) KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG - Roberta Flack

23 ( 23 ) BAD WEATHER - The Supremes

24 ( 27 ) MY LOVE - Paul McCartney & Wings

25 ( NEW ) WAM BAM - The Handley Family

26 ( 30 ) SING - The Carpenters

27 ( NEW ) WONDERFUL DREAM - Anne-Marie David

28 ( NEW ) NEVERTHELESS (I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU) - The New Seekers/ Eve Graham

29 ( 12 ) GONNA MAKE YOU AN OFFER YOU CAN'T REFUSE - Jimmy Helms

30 ( NEW ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE - The Detroit Spinners

29th April 1973

 

It's a first Gene Pitney Retro number one with 24 Sycamore, though once I've done 1960 to 1966 retro charts he's guaranteed at least another 2, possibly more. David Cassidy & 'family' go top 10 for the 5th and final time, giving David 7 in total including solo hits, and Glynis Johns gets a massive showtune into my top 10, ahead of highest new entry Rubber Bullets, 10CC's 3rd top 10 in a row, and a step up in sophistication and change of genre. They will be unstoppable for the next 3 years, until the classic 4 split into two 2's - that's Godley & Creme, and Gouldman & Stewart. Too much talent for one band for long!

 

Back in at 13, 5 years on, and it's Albatross from Fleetwood Mac, keeping their memory going as they faff about in the doldrums waiting for Buckingham & Nicks to turn up. Still a haunting classic instrumental. New in at 70 Johnny Nash gets a 7th Retro reggae entry with Guava Jelly - a Bob Marley song not entirely unlike his Stir It Up hit version of the Bob Marley song, as Bob Marley enters with his own version off his new album Catch A Fire, and Reggae moves into becoming a serious album venture with Bob doing live gigs across the UK for the next year or two which will culminate in one of the greatest live recordings of all time to become a hit single.

 

New World, manage one more Chinn-Chapman jollity before they part company and the producers start giving all their best ballads to Mud and Smokie, Rooftop Singing hasn't been heard by me in 50 years - and it's much more fun than I remembered it to be! Bette Midler was also making inroads into the US charts and was biding her time for a slot on huge chatshow Parkinson before she became big in the UK too, what with being a major personality and a clip of her singing Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, the old 40's song. Finally, that leaves a new entry for another Eurovision song - we've had Abba's Ring Ring failing to get the nomination in the Swedish run-offs, and Cliff had 6 songs fail to get voted by the UK public, beaten by Power To All Our Friends. Two of them - the rather dull Help It Along, and the more anthemic Tomorrow Rising, got bundeld together as a double A side as the follow-up to the winner. Tomorrow Rising was the 2nd best song to Power. So that makes 6 songs from Eurovision 1973 making my retro charts, That's going to remain a record I think, though 1974 has def got 5 on the way and that's the most from a final, for the 20th century.

 

1 ( 2 ) 24 SYCAMORE - Gene Pitney # 1

2 ( 1 ) HELL RAISER - The Sweet # 1

3 ( 4 ) ERES TU - Mocedades # 3

4 ( 3 ) SEE MY BABY JIVE - Wizzard # 1

5 ( 5 ) SKYWRITER - The Jackson 5 # 1

6 ( 6 ) BROTHER LOUIE - Hot Chocolate # 1

7 ( 18 ) WALKING IN THE RAIN - The Partridge Family featuring David Cassidy & Starring Shirley Jones # 7

8 ( 8 ) LONG TRAIN RUNNIN’ - The Doobie Brothers # 8

9 ( 17 ) SEND IN THE CLOWNS - Glynis Johns # 9

10 ( NEW ) RUBBER BULLETS - 10CC # 10

 

11 ( 11 ) FOREVER AND EVER - Demis Roussos # 11

12 ( 7 ) ACROSS 110TH STREET - Bobby Womack and Peace # 2

13 ( NEW ) ALBATROSS - Fleetwood Mac # 13

14 ( 9 ) I’M GONNA LOVE YOU JUST A LITTLE MORE BABY - Barry White # 1

15 ( 12 ) PILLOW TALK - Sylvia # 1

16 ( 16 ) WONDERFUL DREAM - Anne-Marie David # 16

17 ( 20 ) CRACKED ACTOR - David Bowie # 17

18 ( 14 ) 20th CENTURY BOY - T.Rex # 1

19 ( 34 ) ROCK A DOODLE DOO - Linda Lewis # 19

20 ( 21 ) THE WORLD IS A CIRCLE - Lost Horizon Original Soundtrack # 20

 

21 ( 10 ) DO THE STRAND - Roxy Music # 10

22 ( 19 ) ELECTRIC SLIM & THE FACTORY HEN - T.Rex # 19

23 ( 23 ) I’LL ALWAYS LOVE MY MAMA - The Intruders # 23

24 ( 24 ) HELLO, HELLO, I’M BACK AGAIN - Gary Glitter & The Glitter Band # 9

25 ( 13 ) DRIVE-IN SATURDAY - David Bowie # 3

26 ( 15 ) NATURAL HIGH - Bloodstone # 1

27 ( 22 ) BAD WEATHER - The Supremes # 14

28 ( 26 ) ONE AND ONE IS ONE - Medicine Head # 10

29 ( 27 ) UNION SILVER - Middle Of The Road # 8

30 ( 28 ) WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER - Timmy Thomas # 1

 

31 ( 50 ) MONSTER MASH - Bobb ‘Boris’ Pickett & The Crypt Kickers # 31

32 ( 25 ) NO MORE MR. NICE GUY - Alice Cooper # 21

33 ( 33 ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE - The Detroit Spinners # 1

34 ( 47 ) ISN’T IT ABOUT TIME - Stephen Stills & Manassas # 34

35 ( 32 ) MEAN GIRL - Status Quo # 32

36 ( 29 ) ARMED AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS - First Choice # 1

37 ( 41 ) THE PRETTIEST STAR (’73) - David Bowie # 37

38 ( 44 ) DANCIN’ (ON A SATURDAY NIGHT) - Barry Blue # 38

39 ( 52 ) NINA PRETTY BALLERINA - Abba # 39

40 ( 30 ) GOD GAVE ROCK AND ROLL TO YOU - Argent # 4

 

41 ( 36 ) I’M DOIN’ FINE NOW - New York City # 9

42 ( 42 ) I LIKE YOU - Donovan # 42

43 ( 31 ) CRAZY - Mud # 1

44 ( 35 ) OOH LA LA - The Faces # 28

45 ( 54 ) MAMA’S LITTLE GIRL - Dusty Springfield # 45

46 ( 38 ) ONLY IN YOUR HEART - America # 38

47 ( 43 ) WISHING WELL - Free # 1

48 ( 45 ) THE LOOK OF LOVE - Gladys Knight & The Pips # 2

49 ( 37 ) PANIC IN DETROIT - David Bowie # 37

50 ( 46 ) SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION - T.Rex # 1

 

51 ( 53 ) HAIL - Redbone # 51

52 ( 57 ) D’YER MAK’ER - Led Zeppelin # 52

53 ( 55 ) WAM BAM - The Handley Family # 47

54 ( 39 ) A LETTER TO MYSELF - The Chi-Lites # 1

55 ( 56 ) THE FREE ELECTRIC BAND - Albert Hammond # 55

56 ( 48 ) YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE - Stevie Wonder featuring Jim Gilstrap & Lani Groves # 10

57 ( 58 ) WHATEVER HAPPENED TO YOU? - Highly Likely # 57

58 ( 59 ) BAD BAD LEROY BROWN - Jim Croce # 58

59 ( 51 ) NEVERTHELESS (I’M IN LOVE WITH YOU) - The New Seekers featuring Eve Graham # 51

60 ( 73 ) ONE OF A KIND (LOVE AFFAIR) - The Detroit Spinners # 60

 

61 ( 60 ) SYLVIA - Focus # 1

62 ( 61 ) FRANKENSTEIN - The Edgar Winter Group # 1

63 ( 62 ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet # 1

64 ( 40 ) ROCK ‘N ROLL BAND - Abba # 16

65 ( 72 ) ALL NIGHT - Lynsey De Paul # 65

66 ( 74 ) THE MORNING AFTER - Maureen McGovern # 66

67 ( 49 ) GIVING IT ALL AWAY - Roger Daltrey # 45

68 ( 79 ) OVER AND OVER - The James Boys # 68

69 ( 65 ) BABY I LOVE YOU - Dave Edmunds # 1

70 ( NEW ) GUAVA JELLY - Johnny Nash # 70

 

71 ( 80 ) SING A LITTLE SONG - Desmond Dekker # 71

72 ( NEW ) ROOF TOP SINGING - New World # 72

73 ( NEW ) BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY - Bette Midler # 73

74 ( NEW ) STIR IT UP - Bob Marley & The Wailers # 74

75 ( NEW ) TOMORROW RISING - Cliff Richard # 75

 

 

 

My charts of the time 29th April 1973

 

It's Wizzard with the top record of 1973 in my charts, See My Baby Jive getting a first week on top, and a hat trick of number ones for Roy Wood, Blackberry Way in 1969, 10538 Overture in 1972 and now the 3rd band he's in. Chicory Tip get a 3rd top 3 without getting a number one, and David Cassidy his 2nd solo top 5, plus another 5 with The Partridge Family. Highest new entry is The Sweet with Hell Raiser at 21, probably their 2nd best record of all-time, and best to date.

 

Alice Cooper gets a 4th in a row with No More Mr Nice Guy at 24, Medicine Head debut with the catchy One And One Is One at 27, and Roger Daltrey sneaks in with Giving It All Away, as indeed Leo Sayer did - and The Who frontman gets his first solo chart entry 4 years after Pinball Wizard went top 10.

 

1 ( 3 ) SEE MY BABY JIVE - Wizzard

2 ( 10 ) GOOD GRIEF CHRISTINA - Chicory Tip

3 ( 2 ) CRAZY - Mud

4 ( 1 ) LOVE TRAIN - The O'Jays

5 ( 18 ) I AM A CLOWN - David Cassidy

6 ( 25 ) WAM BAM - The Handley Family

7 ( 5 ) TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - Dawn

8 ( 14 ) GOD GAVE ROCK AND ROLL TO YOU - Argent

9 ( 9 ) FEEL THE NEED IN ME - The Detroit Emeralds

10 ( 8 ) DRIVE-IN SATURDAY - David Bowie

 

11 ( 7 ) THE RIGHT THING TO DO - Carly Simon

12 ( 6 ) ALL BECAUSE OF YOU - Geordie

13 ( 21 ) BROTHER LOUIE - Hot Chocolate

14 ( 27 ) WONDERFUL DREAM - Anne-Marie David

15 ( 4 ) HELLO HELLO I’M BACK AGAIN - Gary Glitter

16 ( 13 ) HEART OF STONE - Kenny

17 ( 11 ) PYJAMARAMA - Roxy Music

18 ( 24 ) MY LOVE - Paul McCartney & Wings

19 ( 17 ) CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE - Slade

20 ( 16 ) TWEEDLEDEE - Little Jimmy Osmond

 

21 ( NEW ) HELL RAISER - The Sweet

22 ( 30 ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE - The Detroit Spinners

23 ( 28 ) NEVERTHELESS (I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU) - The New Seekers/ Eve Graham

24 ( NEW ) NO MORE MR NICE GUY - Alice Cooper

25 ( 12 ) 20th CENTURY BOY - T.Rex

26 ( 23 ) BAD WEATHER - The Supremes

27 ( NEW ) ONE AND ONE IS ONE - Medicine Head

28 ( 15 ) WHY CAN'T WE LIVE TOGETHER - Timmy Thomas

29 ( 26 ) SING - The Carpenters

30 ( NEW ) GIVING IT ALL AWAY - Roger Daltrey

 

 

 

 

 

5th May 1973

 

It's straight in at 1 for Suzi Quatro's 2nd retro track as she goes full leather glam icon. Number one in a field of one. Can The Can keeps Chinn- Chapman as hit machines of 1973 with 10CC going top 5 with Rubber Bullets.

 

New at 18 Junior Campbell drops his 2nd soul goodie Sweet Illusions, and George Harrison is back after 2 years working on the next album and lead single Give Me Love at 23. The Stylistics head a US soul mini invasion with their Bacharach cover at 56 and O'Jays Chi-Lites and Eddie Kendricks all adding to their growing list of tracks. That leaves a decent cover of Hello Stranger at 65 the fab Barbara Lewis original predating the retro charts

1 ( NEW ) CAN THE CAN - Suzi Quatro # 1

2 ( 1 ) 24 SYCAMORE - Gene Pitney # 1

3 ( 2 ) HELL RAISER - The Sweet # 1

4 ( 3 ) ERES TU - Mocedades # 3

5 ( 10 ) RUBBER BULLETS - 10CC # 5

6 ( 4 ) SEE MY BABY JIVE - Wizzard # 1

7 ( 5 ) SKYWRITER - The Jackson 5 # 1

8 ( 8 ) LONG TRAIN RUNNIN’ - The Doobie Brothers # 8

9 ( 9 ) SEND IN THE CLOWNS - Glynis Johns # 9

10 ( 13 ) ALBATROSS - Fleetwood Mac # 10

 

11 ( 6 ) BROTHER LOUIE - Hot Chocolate # 1

12 ( 7 ) WALKING IN THE RAIN - The Partridge Family featuring David Cassidy & Starring Shirley Jones # 7

13 ( 16 ) WONDERFUL DREAM - Anne-Marie David # 13

14 ( 12 ) ACROSS 110TH STREET - Bobby Womack and Peace # 2

15 ( 14 ) I’M GONNA LOVE YOU JUST A LITTLE MORE BABY - Barry White # 1

16 ( 15 ) PILLOW TALK - Sylvia # 1

17 ( 17 ) CRACKED ACTOR - David Bowie # 17

18 ( NEW ) SWEET ILLUSION - Junior Campbell # 18

19 ( 11 ) FOREVER AND EVER - Demis Roussos # 11

20 ( 23 ) I’LL ALWAYS LOVE MY MAMA - The Intruders # 20

 

21 ( 31 ) MONSTER MASH - Bobb ‘Boris’ Pickett & The Crypt Kickers # 21

22 ( 18 ) 20th CENTURY BOY - T.Rex # 1

23 ( NEW ) GIVE ME LOVE (GIVE ME PEACE ON EARTH) - George Harrison # 23

24 ( 21 ) DO THE STRAND - Roxy Music # 10

25 ( 20 ) THE WORLD IS A CIRCLE - Lost Horizon Original Soundtrack # 20

26 ( 38 ) DANCIN’ (ON A SATURDAY NIGHT) - Barry Blue # 26

27 ( 37 ) THE PRETTIEST STAR (’73) - David Bowie # 27

28 ( 24 ) HELLO, HELLO, I’M BACK AGAIN - Gary Glitter & The Glitter Band # 9

29 ( 25 ) DRIVE-IN SATURDAY - David Bowie # 3

30 ( 42 ) I LIKE YOU - Donovan # 30

 

31 ( 26 ) NATURAL HIGH - Bloodstone # 1

32 ( 19 ) ROCK A DOODLE DOO - Linda Lewis # 19

33 ( 22 ) ELECTRIC SLIM & THE FACTORY HEN - T.Rex # 19

34 ( 34 ) ISN’T IT ABOUT TIME - Stephen Stills & Manassas # 34

35 ( 27 ) BAD WEATHER - The Supremes # 14

36 ( 30 ) WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER - Timmy Thomas # 1

37 ( 39 ) NINA PRETTY BALLERINA - Abba # 37

38 ( 28 ) ONE AND ONE IS ONE - Medicine Head # 10

39 ( 29 ) UNION SILVER - Middle Of The Road # 8

40 ( 33 ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE - The Detroit Spinners # 1

 

41 ( 36 ) ARMED AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS - First Choice # 1

42 ( 32 ) NO MORE MR. NICE GUY - Alice Cooper # 21

43 ( 35 ) MEAN GIRL - Status Quo # 32

44 ( 40 ) GOD GAVE ROCK AND ROLL TO YOU - Argent # 4

45 ( 41 ) I’M DOIN’ FINE NOW - New York City # 9

46 ( 43 ) CRAZY - Mud # 1

47 ( 66 ) THE MORNING AFTER - Maureen McGovern # 47

48 ( 51 ) HAIL - Redbone # 48

49 ( 55 ) THE FREE ELECTRIC BAND - Albert Hammond # 49

50 ( 65 ) ALL NIGHT - Lynsey De Paul # 50

 

51 ( 47 ) WISHING WELL - Free # 1

52 ( 48 ) THE LOOK OF LOVE - Gladys Knight & The Pips # 2

53 ( 50 ) SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION - T.Rex # 1

54 ( 44 ) OOH LA LA - The Faces # 28

55 ( 58 ) BAD BAD LEROY BROWN - Jim Croce # 55

56 ( NEW ) YOU’LL NEVER GET TO HEAVEN (IF YOU BREAK MY HEART) - The Stylistics # 56

57 ( 57 ) WHATEVER HAPPENED TO YOU? - Highly Likely # 57

58 ( 46 ) ONLY IN YOUR HEART - America # 38

59 ( 60 ) ONE OF A KIND (LOVE AFFAIR) - The Detroit Spinners # 59

60 ( 70 ) GUAVA JELLY - Johnny Nash # 60

 

61 ( 45 ) MAMA’S LITTLE GIRL - Dusty Springfield # 45

62 ( 49 ) PANIC IN DETROIT - David Bowie # 37

63 ( 52 ) D’YER MAK’ER - Led Zeppelin # 52

64 ( 53 ) WAM BAM - The Handley Family # 47

65 ( NEW ) HELLO STRANGER - Fire and Rain # 65

66 ( 61 ) SYLVIA - Focus # 1

67 ( 62 ) FRANKENSTEIN - The Edgar Winter Group # 1

68 ( 63 ) BLOCKBUSTER - The Sweet # 1

69 ( 72 ) ROOF TOP SINGING - New World # 69

70 ( 75 ) TOMORROW RISING - Cliff Richard # 70

 

71 ( 74 ) STIR IT UP - Bob Marley & The Wailers # 71

72 ( 73 ) BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY - Bette Midler # 72

73 ( NEW ) TIME TO GET DOWN - The O’Jays # 73

74 ( NEW ) MY HEART KEEPS BREAKING - The Chi-Lites # 74

75 ( NEW ) DARLING COME BACK HOME - Eddie Kendricks # 75

 

 

 

5th May 1973 my chart that week then

 

Its a 3rd number 1 for The Sweet as Hell Raiser moves Wizzard aside briefly. The Detroit Spinners go top 10 for the first time and Quo chart an old track from 1970 as Mean Girl debuts at 20. Deodata jazzes up the 2001: A Space Odyssey classical Also Sprach Zarathustra at 24.

 

The old tune Bessame Mucho gets an upgrade from Apollo 100 - a flop track that i rated its a great tune lyrics not included. Nazereth enter at 28 with Brokendown Angel and Perry Como sneaks in with Don McLean's And I Love You So.

 

1 ( 21 ) HELL RAISER The Sweet

2 ( 1 ) SEE MY BABY JIVE Wizzard

3 ( 2 ) GOOD GRIEF CHRISTINA Chicory Tip

4 ( 3 ) CRAZY Mud

5 ( 4 ) LOVE TRAIN The O'Jays

6 ( 5 ) I AM A CLOWN David Cassidy

7 ( 7 ) TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE Dawn

8 ( 8 ) GOD GAVE ROCK AND ROLL TO YOU Argent

9 ( 22 ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE The Detroit Spinners

10 ( 10 ) DRIVE-IN SATURDAY David Bowie

 

11 ( 11 ) THE RIGHT THING TO DO Carly Simon

12 ( 12 ) ALL BECAUSE OF YOU Geordie

13 ( 13 ) BROTHER LOUIE Hot Chocolate

14 ( 14 ) WONDERFUL DREAM Anne-Marie David

15 ( 15 ) HELLO HELLO I’M BACK AGAIN Gary Glitter

16 ( 16 ) HEART OF STONE Kenny

17 ( 17 ) PYJAMARAMA Roxy Music

18 ( 20 ) TWEEDLEDEE Little Jimmy Osmond

19 ( 18 ) MY LOVE Paul McCartney & Wings

20 ( NEW ) MEAN GIRL Status Quo

 

21 ( 6 ) WAM BAM The Handley Family

22 ( 24 ) NO MORE MR NICE GUY Alice Cooper

23 ( 27 ) ONE AND ONE IS ONE Medicine Head

24 ( NEW ) 2001 (ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA) Deodata

25 ( 23 ) NEVERTHELESS (I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU) The New Seekers/ Eve Graham

26 ( NEW ) BESSAME MUCHO Apollo 100

27 ( 9 ) FEEL THE NEED IN ME The Detroit Emeralds

28 ( NEW ) BROKENDOWN ANGEL Nazereth

29 ( 19 ) CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE Slade

30 ( NEW ) AND I LOVE YOU SO Perry Como

12th May 1973

 

It's a first retro chart-topper for 10CC but Rubber Bullets won't be the last one to turn the trick, as their style of witty, inventive poprock still impresses me as much as it did in the 70's. Junior Campbell, meanwhile, gets a 2nd joyous gospel pop track into the top 10, Sweet Illusion making it 5 years of hits if we include Marmalade records. In at 18, Chairmen Of The Board return one last time with a great swansong track Finders Keepers, funktastic uptempo and under-rated.

 

At 26, Miki Anthony follows up his minor hit with another sweet pop song, but this one stiffed in the UK charts sadly, cos Another Without You Day is just as good. And it still sounds like an Anne Murray track. In at 41, Apollo 100 chart with their definitive quirky cover of the standard Bessame Mucho - it's instrumental, catchy and deserved to be a hit. Apllo 100 had a lot of success in Europe but not in the UK. Neil Sedaka changes labels, and quickly gets to business with Standing On The Inside, his best new 70's single to date (Solitaire would be hits for others, but not Neil), new at 62, and an MOR monster drops in at 65 for Peters & Lee - Welcome Home. Diana Ross gets all maudlin-sounding with Touch Me In The Morning at 71 as her first classic period ends abruptly in favour of dreary ballads. Junior Walker manages another new entry to add to his long list, I Don't Need No Heaven not sung by him, and not familiar to me before today.

 

1 ( 5 ) RUBBER BULLETS - 10CC # 1

2 ( 2 ) 24 SYCAMORE - Gene Pitney # 1

3 ( 1 ) CAN THE CAN - Suzi Quatro # 1

4 ( 3 ) HELL RAISER - The Sweet # 1

5 ( 6 ) SEE MY BABY JIVE - Wizzard # 1

6 ( 4 ) ERES TU - Mocedades # 3

7 ( 10 ) ALBATROSS - Fleetwood Mac # 7

8 ( 8 ) LONG TRAIN RUNNIN’ - The Doobie Brothers # 8

9 ( 9 ) SEND IN THE CLOWNS - Glynis Johns # 9

10 ( 18 ) SWEET ILLUSION - Junior Campbell # 10

 

11 ( 7 ) SKYWRITER - The Jackson 5 # 1

12 ( 13 ) WONDERFUL DREAM - Anne-Marie David # 12

13 ( 11 ) BROTHER LOUIE - Hot Chocolate # 1

14 ( 21 ) MONSTER MASH - Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett & The Crypt Kickers # 14

15 ( 17 ) CRACKED ACTOR - David Bowie # 15

16 ( 16 ) PILLOW TALK - Sylvia # 1

17 ( 15 ) I’M GONNA LOVE YOU JUST A LITTLE MORE BABY - Barry White # 1

18 ( NEW ) FINDERS KEEPERS - Chairmen Of The Board # 18

19 ( 12 ) WALKING IN THE RAIN - The Partridge Family featuring David Cassidy & Starring Shirley Jones # 7

20 ( 23 ) GIVE ME LOVE (GIVE ME PEACE ON EARTH) - George Harrison # 20

 

21 ( 20 ) I’LL ALWAYS LOVE MY MAMA - The Intruders # 20

22 ( 19 ) FOREVER AND EVER - Demis Roussos # 11

23 ( 14 ) ACROSS 110TH STREET - Bobby Womack and Peace # 2

24 ( 22 ) 20th CENTURY BOY - T.Rex # 1

25 ( 25 ) THE WORLD IS A CIRCLE - Lost Horizon Original Soundtrack # 20

26 ( NEW ) ANOTHER WITHOUT YOU DAY - Miki Anthony # 26

27 ( 47 ) THE MORNING AFTER - Maureen McGovern # 27

28 ( 26 ) DANCIN’ (ON A SATURDAY NIGHT) - Barry Blue # 26

29 ( 27 ) THE PRETTIEST STAR (’73) - David Bowie # 27

30 ( 30 ) I LIKE YOU - Donovan # 30

 

31 ( 34 ) ISN’T IT ABOUT TIME - Stephen Stills & Manassas # 31

32 ( 33 ) ELECTRIC SLIM & THE FACTORY HEN - T.Rex # 19

33 ( 29 ) DRIVE-IN SATURDAY - David Bowie # 3

34 ( 36 ) WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER - Timmy Thomas # 1

35 ( 31 ) NATURAL HIGH - Bloodstone # 1

36 ( 35 ) BAD WEATHER - The Supremes # 14

37 ( 48 ) HAIL - Redbone # 37

38 ( 28 ) HELLO, HELLO, I’M BACK AGAIN - Gary Glitter & The Glitter Band # 9

39 ( 37 ) NINA PRETTY BALLERINA - Abba # 37

40 ( 40 ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE - The Detroit Spinners # 1

 

41 ( NEW ) BESSAME MUCHO - Apollo 100 # 41

42 ( 24 ) DO THE STRAND - Roxy Music # 10

43 ( 38 ) ONE AND ONE IS ONE - Medicine Head # 10

44 ( 32 ) ROCK A DOODLE DOO - Linda Lewis # 19

45 ( 41 ) ARMED AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS - First Choice # 1

46 ( 46 ) CRAZY - Mud # 1

47 ( 51 ) WISHING WELL - Free # 1

48 ( 43 ) MEAN GIRL - Status Quo # 32

49 ( 45 ) I’M DOIN’ FINE NOW - New York City # 9

50 ( 60 ) GUAVA JELLY - Johnny Nash # 50

 

51 ( 53 ) SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION - T.Rex # 1

52 ( 52 ) THE LOOK OF LOVE - Gladys Knight & The Pips # 2

53 ( 56 ) YOU’LL NEVER GET TO HEAVEN (IF YOU BREAK MY HEART) - The Stylistics # 53

54 ( 39 ) UNION SILVER - Middle Of The Road # 8

55 ( 54 ) OOH LA LA - The Faces # 28

56 ( 42 ) NO MORE MR. NICE GUY - Alice Cooper # 21

57 ( 44 ) GOD GAVE ROCK AND ROLL TO YOU - Argent # 4

58 ( 57 ) WHATEVER HAPPENED TO YOU? - Highly Likely # 57

59 ( 59 ) ONE OF A KIND (LOVE AFFAIR) - The Detroit Spinners # 59

60 ( 50 ) ALL NIGHT - Lynsey De Paul # 50

 

61 ( 58 ) ONLY IN YOUR HEART - America # 38

62 ( NEW ) STANDING ON THE INSIDE - Neil Sedaka # 62

63 ( 72 ) BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY - Bette Midler # 63

64 ( 65 ) HELLO STRANGER - Fire and Rain # 64

65 ( NEW ) WELCOME HOME - Peters & Lee # 65

66 ( 55 ) BAD BAD LEROY BROWN - Jim Croce # 55

67 ( 69 ) ROOF TOP SINGING - New World # 67

68 ( 71 ) STIR IT UP - Bob Marley & The Wailers # 68

69 ( 49 ) THE FREE ELECTRIC BAND - Albert Hammond # 49

70 ( 70 ) TOMORROW RISING - Cliff Richard # 70

71 ( NEW ) TOUCH ME IN THE MORNING - Diana Ross # 71

72 ( 73 ) TIME TO GET DOWN - The O’Jays # 72

73 ( 74 ) MY HEART KEEPS BREAKING - The Chi-Lites # 73

74 ( 75 ) DARLING COME BACK HOME - Eddie Kendricks # 74

75 ( NEW ) I DON’T NEED NO HEAVEN - Junior Walker & The All Stars # 75

 

 

 

 

12th May 1973 My Charts of that week back then

 

It's back up on top for a 2nd week as See My Baby Jive knocks off The Sweet, and big climbs for Medicine Head grabbing a first top 5 just ahead of Alice Cooper getting a 3rd (and 4th top 10). Nazereth also go big up to 8 with Brokendown Angel being the first of a few to go top 10, and many to chart over the next 8 years or so. Alice will beat that span, though, right through to the 90's.

 

New at 21, it's a 6th charting track for Middle Of The Road, Talk Of The U.S.A. coming out in the UK a year late from the rest of Europe, and arguably their best record flopped in the UK - the lyrics a trifle risque for the time. Suzi Quatro debuts the leather-clad female pop star image with the glam Chinn-Chapman classic Can The Can, striking a real blow to the rock boys club at 24, and The Detroit Emeralds also drop a track that came out over a year before - in the USA this time, You Want It You Got It at 25 and their 2nd charting track.

 

At 27, Stevie Wonder makes it almost 5 years of chart hits in my actual personal charts of the time, For Once In My Life started the ball rolling and the latest is You Are The Sunshine Of My Life, and Stevie was still only celebrating his 23rd birthday the day after the chart date. 10CC make it 3 in a row (and 4 in total counting Hotlegs) as Rubber Bullets shoot in at 29, as they change their music style to rock, albeit whimsical, inventive poprock, while sticking with the Americana-based themes. That leaves a stone classic at 30, as Lou Reed debuts Walk On The Wild Side, assisted by David Bowie, Tony Visconti, future hitmakers Thunderthighs on backing vocals, and Blue Mink's Herbie Flowers on that classic bassline. Pretty far away from Herbie's Grandad smash song then!

 

1 ( 2 ) SEE MY BABY JIVE - Wizzard

2 ( 1 ) HELL RAISER - The Sweet

3 ( 3 ) GOOD GRIEF CHRISTINA - Chicory Tip

4 ( 23 ) ONE AND ONE IS ONE - Medicine Head

5 ( 22 ) NO MORE MR NICE GUY - Alice Cooper

6 ( 9 ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE - The Detroit Spinners

7 ( 4 ) CRAZY - Mud

8 ( 28 ) BROKENDOWN ANGEL - Nazereth

9 ( 5 ) LOVE TRAIN - The O'Jays

10 ( 6 ) I AM A CLOWN - David Cassidy

 

 

11 ( 11 ) THE RIGHT THING TO DO - Carly Simon

12 ( 7 ) TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - Dawn

13 ( 20 ) MEAN GIRL - Status Quo

14 ( 10 ) DRIVE-IN SATURDAY - David Bowie

15 ( 12 ) ALL BECAUSE OF YOU - Geordie

16 ( 14 ) WONDERFUL DREAM - Anne-Marie David

17 ( 13 ) BROTHER LOUIE - Hot Chocolate

18 ( 15 ) HELLO HELLO I’M BACK AGAIN - Gary Glitter

19 ( 18 ) TWEEDLEDEE - Little Jimmy Osmond

20 ( 17 ) PYJAMARAMA - Roxy Music

 

 

21 ( NEW ) TALK OF THE U.S.A. - Middle Of The Road

22 ( 24 ) 2001 (ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA) - Deodata

23 ( 26 ) BESSAME MUCHO - Apollo 100

24 ( NEW ) CAN THE CAN - Suzi Quatro

25 ( NEW ) YOU WANT IT YOU GOT IT - The Detroit Emeralds

26 ( 8 ) GOD GAVE ROCK AND ROLL TO YOU - Argent

27 ( NEW ) YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE - Stevie Wonder

28 ( 21 ) WAM BAM - The Handley Family

29 ( NEW ) RUBBER BULLETS - 10CC

30 ( NEW ) WALK ON THE WILD SIDE - Lou Reed

19th May 1973

 

It's up to 1 for the first-ever Eurovision Retro chart-topper - and Mocedades didn;t even win in 1973, Anne-Marie David did and she climbs to 10, Eres Tu joust sounding better 50 years on. It's also the first Spanish language chart-topper in my retro charts. Junior Campbell makes it 2 top 10's in a row, and biggest climbers are Apollo 100 up to 13 - yet another Spanish-language song - albeit mostly instrumental banger, and Welcome Home gives Peters & Lee much more love than I gave them when I was 15 years old, rocketing to 28.

 

It's a quiet week for new entries, Carpenters at 66 with the ballad Yesterday Once More, one I loved back then, not so much these days, Michjael jackson's flop Music & Me, which is quite sweet at 62, the Hotshots reggae cover of Snoopy vs The Red Baron, which sounded better at the time than the original version, but 50 years on it doesn't, while Albert Hammond charts with his own version of his own song that Cass Elliot wen top 10 with in the 1972 Retro chart. Billy Paul sneaks in with a follow-up, and The Tremeloes have a more T.Rex/rock'n'roll effort to try and get a hit with - Ride On still flopped.

 

 

1 ( 6 ) ERES TU - Mocedades # 1

2 ( 7 ) ALBATROSS - Fleetwood Mac # 2

3 ( 1 ) RUBBER BULLETS - 10CC # 1

4 ( 10 ) SWEET ILLUSION - Junior Campbell # 4

5 ( 9 ) SEND IN THE CLOWNS - Glynis Johns # 5

6 ( 5 ) SEE MY BABY JIVE - Wizzard # 1

7 ( 2 ) 24 SYCAMORE - Gene Pitney # 1

8 ( 4 ) HELL RAISER - The Sweet # 1

9 ( 3 ) CAN THE CAN - Suzi Quatro # 1

10 ( 12 ) WONDERFUL DREAM - Anne-Marie David # 10

 

11 ( 18 ) FINDERS KEEPERS - Chairmen Of The Board # 11

12 ( 26 ) ANOTHER WITHOUT YOU DAY - Miki Anthony # 12

13 ( 41 ) BESAME MUCHO - Apollo 100 # 13

14 ( 11 ) SKYWRITER - The Jackson 5 # 1

15 ( 13 ) BROTHER LOUIE - Hot Chocolate # 1

16 ( 8 ) LONG TRAIN RUNNIN’ - The Doobie Brothers # 8

17 ( 16 ) PILLOW TALK - Sylvia # 1

18 ( 20 ) GIVE ME LOVE (GIVE ME PEACE ON EARTH) - George Harrison # 18

19 ( 25 ) THE WORLD IS A CIRCLE - Lost Horizon Original Soundtrack # 19

20 ( 27 ) THE MORNING AFTER - Maureen McGovern # 20

 

21 ( 14 ) MONSTER MASH - Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett & The Crypt Kickers # 14

22 ( 17 ) I’M GONNA LOVE YOU JUST A LITTLE MORE BABY - Barry White # 1

23 ( 19 ) WALKING IN THE RAIN - The Partridge Family featuring David Cassidy & Starring Shirley Jones # 7

24 ( 15 ) CRACKED ACTOR - David Bowie # 15

25 ( 24 ) 20th CENTURY BOY - T.Rex # 1

26 ( 28 ) DANCIN’ (ON A SATURDAY NIGHT) - Barry Blue # 26

27 ( 29 ) THE PRETTIEST STAR (’73) - David Bowie # 27

28 ( 65 ) WELCOME HOME - Peters & Lee # 28

29 ( 31 ) ISN’T IT ABOUT TIME - Stephen Stills & Manassas # 29

30 ( 21 ) I’LL ALWAYS LOVE MY MAMA - The Intruders # 20

 

31 ( 22 ) FOREVER AND EVER - Demis Roussos # 11

32 ( 36 ) BAD WEATHER - The Supremes # 14

33 ( 33 ) DRIVE-IN SATURDAY - David Bowie # 3

34 ( 34 ) WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER - Timmy Thomas # 1

35 ( 35 ) NATURAL HIGH - Bloodstone # 1

36 ( 43 ) ONE AND ONE IS ONE - Medicine Head # 10

37 ( 32 ) ELECTRIC SLIM & THE FACTORY HEN - T.Rex # 19

38 ( 30 ) I LIKE YOU - Donovan # 30

39 ( 37 ) HAIL - Redbone # 37

40 ( 40 ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE - The Detroit Spinners # 1

 

41 ( 38 ) HELLO, HELLO, I’M BACK AGAIN - Gary Glitter & The Glitter Band # 9

42 ( 23 ) ACROSS 110TH STREET - Bobby Womack and Peace # 2

43 ( 50 ) GUAVA JELLY - Johnny Nash # 43

44 ( 42 ) DO THE STRAND - Roxy Music # 10

45 ( 45 ) ARMED AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS - First Choice # 1

46 ( 46 ) CRAZY - Mud # 1

47 ( 47 ) WISHING WELL - Free # 1

48 ( 44 ) ROCK A DOODLE DOO - Linda Lewis # 19

49 ( 62 ) STANDING ON THE INSIDE - Neil Sedaka # 49

50 ( 53 ) YOU’LL NEVER GET TO HEAVEN (IF YOU BREAK MY HEART) - The Stylistics # 50

 

51 ( 51 ) SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION - T.Rex # 1

52 ( 73 ) MY HEART KEEPS BREAKING - The Chi-Lites # 52

53 ( 49 ) I’M DOIN’ FINE NOW - New York City # 9

54 ( 54 ) UNION SILVER - Middle Of The Road # 8

55 ( 64 ) HELLO STRANGER - Fire and Rain # 55

56 ( 59 ) ONE OF A KIND (LOVE AFFAIR) - The Detroit Spinners # 56

57 ( 71 ) TOUCH ME IN THE MORNING - Diana Ross # 57

58 ( 58 ) WHATEVER HAPPENED TO YOU? - Highly Likely # 57

59 ( 48 ) MEAN GIRL - Status Quo # 32

60 ( 67 ) ROOF TOP SINGING - New World # 60

 

61 ( 52 ) THE LOOK OF LOVE - Gladys Knight & The Pips # 2

62 ( NEW ) MUSIC AND ME - Michael Jackson # 62

63 ( 63 ) BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY - Bette Midler # 63

64 ( 39 ) NINA PRETTY BALLERINA - Abba # 37

65 ( 57 ) GOD GAVE ROCK AND ROLL TO YOU - Argent # 4

66 ( NEW ) YESTERDAY ONCE MORE - Carpenters # 66

67 ( 75 ) I DON’T NEED NO REASON - Junior Walker & The All Stars # 67

68 ( 68 ) STIR IT UP - Bob Marley & The Wailers # 68

69 ( NEW ) SNOOPY VS THE RED BARON - The HotShots # 69

70 ( 70 ) TOMORROW RISING - Cliff Richard # 70

 

71 ( NEW ) IF YOU GOTTA BREAK ANOTHER HEART - Albert Hammond # 71

72 ( 72 ) TIME TO GET DOWN - The O’Jays # 72

73 ( 74 ) DARLING COME BACK HOME - Eddie Kendricks # 73

74 ( NEW ) BROWN BABY - Billy Paul # 74

75 ( NEW ) RIDE ON - The Tremeloes # 75

 

 

 

19th May 1973 My weekly chart of that week back then

 

It's week 3 on top for See My Baby Jive as Roy Wood-mania grips me for the next 2 years or so. The highest new entry is The Detroit Emeralds' 2nd hit, You Want It You Got It at at 13 as Quo make it 2 top 10's in a row. There's a bunch of biggies pending outside the top 20 as they hadn't yet made the UK top 30, with some new ones added to the list from The Partridge Family's final single Walking In The Rain, a pretty good version of The Ronettes' classic at 26, and Albatross (Albatross! Get Your Albatross!) back 5 years on for Fleetwood Mac and the first example of a song making my chart twice on a reissue. This is the start of a deluge starting as I get big on old faves and the UK charts starts re-charting stuff from 1968 onwards. Finally First Choice bring a Philly classic (an underrated one) in at 29 and the fabulous Armed And Extremely Dangerous.

 

1 ( 1 ) SEE MY BABY JIVE - Wizzard

2 ( 2 ) HELL RAISER - The Sweet

3 ( 4 ) ONE AND ONE IS ONE - Medicine Head

4 ( 3 ) GOOD GRIEF CHRISTINA - Chicory Tip

5 ( 8 ) BROKENDOWN ANGEL - Nazereth

6 ( 7 ) CRAZY - Mud

7 ( 10 ) I AM A CLOWN - David Cassidy

8 ( 6 ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE - The Detroit Spinners

9 ( 5 ) NO MORE MR NICE GUY - Alice Cooper

10 ( 13 ) MEAN GIRL - Status Quo

 

11 ( 12 ) TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - Dawn

12 ( 14 ) DRIVE-IN SATURDAY - David Bowie

13 ( NEW ) YOU WANT IT YOU GOT - The Detroit Emeralds

14 ( 15 ) ALL BECAUSE OF YOU - Geordie

15 ( 20 ) PYJAMARAMA - Roxy Music

16 ( 17 ) BROTHER LOUIE - Hot Chocolate

17 ( 16 ) WONDERFUL DREAM - Anne-Marie David

18 ( 22 ) 2001 (ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA) - Deodata

19 ( 18 ) HELLO HELLO I’M BACK AGAIN - Gary Glitter

20 ( 19 ) TWEEDLEDEE - Little Jimmy Osmond

 

 

21 ( 21 ) TALK OF THE U.S.A. - Middle Of The Road

22 ( 24 ) CAN THE CAN - Suzi Quatro

23 ( 27 ) YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE - Stevie Wonder

24 ( 29 ) RUBBER BULLETS - 10CC

25 ( 30 ) WALK ON THE WILD SIDE - Lou Reed

26 ( NEW ) WALKING IN THE RAIN - The Partridge Family

27 ( NEW ) ALBATROSS - Fleetwood Mac

28 ( 9 ) LOVE TRAIN - The O'Jays

29 ( NEW ) ARMED AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS - First Choice

30 ( 23 ) BESAME MUCHO - Apollo 100