13th October 1973

 

It's up to pole position for a 5th chart-topper for Elton John as Bennie & The Jets knocks his own Yellow Brick Road off the top spot. It originally topped my rule-changed charts in 1974 despite not being a UK single until 1976. Al Wilson jumps up to 5 with Show And Tell as highest new entry is at 7 for Mud, their 3rd top 10 in a row after 2 retro number ones. Dyna-Mite was a song rejected by The Sweet (who can't complain as they got Ballroom Blitz as a result) which gave Mud the opportunity to drop the Tango rhythms and go full-on Glam Rock and become one of my fave acts of 1974.

 

It's a big week for great new tracks, so the chart is expanded to 85 and a lot of records drop where they should be going up. New in at 12, a minor hit for me in 1974 for Redbone, but a huge chart-topper following Guardians Of The Galaxy's prime movie slot, these days it's unavoidable on adverts and so on, back in 1974 when it was a huge US hit it was unknown. Come And Get Your Love is the new name of the already charted Hail, newly revamped to the better and a 5th chart retro entry for the First Nation band.

 

Debuting at 14, and disguised on Lift Off With Ayshea, ITV's kids hour pop show, Alvin Stardust was clearly a piss-take of Gary Glitter's name and a Glamrocking anthem called My Coo Ch Choo (brainchild of future hitmaker Peter Shelley) was performed under a pseudo feather coat of many colours. sadly the footage is wiped but Alvin soon changed over to leathers a la Gene Vincent, opted for a back-handed microphone style with gloves, and outed himself as former 60's hitmaker Shane Fenton, and a local popstar to people living in Mansfield (where I was born and lived in between RAF camps and so on). A new career is born!

 

At 27, Genesis debut their Peter Gabriel-dominated quirky progrock I Know What I Like 6 months early, as Prog bands didn't usually bother with singles, and they'd dropped new album Selling England By The Pound. Barry White's new US single is out, one of his greats, Never Never Gonna Give Ya Up in at 31 and helping to push his current US single down my chart. Elton has a massive climb into the 40 with Harmony, and Leo Sayer gets a second track on the chart as his clown-faced fairground/circus-inspired UK chart debut The Show Must Go On is new at 53.

 

Lynsey De Paul gets a 5th chart track with the wistful ballad Won't Somebody Dance With Me, with Ed "Stewpot" Stewart guesting at the end of the song inviting her to dance. I was still listening to Junior's Choice in those days, so that was a nice touch. The Staple Singers are back 2 years of charting, with If You're Ready at 67, not entirely dissimilar to I'll Take You There, while Suzi Q is on track 4 in the chart, the rawer Daytona Demon, still Glamrock but slower. Ray Charles is on a new record label and drops a very classic-era strings ballad-sounding forgotten gem that's new to me - Come LIve With Me is really good.

 

Gallagher & Lyle debut at 8- with one that got airplay (but no sales) at the time, Shine A Light, the Scottish folk duo better known as part of McGuiness Flint up to that point, and the hit songwriters of the band - and future pop hits for themselves and others. Blackfoot Sue get a 3rd chart entry, Get It All To Me, and in bottom rung it's Babs Streisand with the theme to her new blockbuster movie The Way We Were. I love engaging comic Babs, What's Up Doc and others, not so keen on glum Babs m'self and not one of her greatest songs, but huge in the USA. Gladys Knight would do it better soon-ish.

 

 

1 ( 4 ) BENNIE AND THE JETS - Elton John # 1

2 ( 2 ) PHOTOGRAPH - Ringo Starr # 1

3 ( 3 ) SHOWDOWN - Electric Light Orchestra # 1

4 ( 5 ) THE BALLROOM BLITZ - The Sweet # 1

5 ( 25 ) SHOW AND TELL - Al Wilson # 5

6 ( 1 ) GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD - Elton John # 1

7 ( NEW ) DYNA-MITE - Mud # 7

8 ( 8 ) PEPPERBOX - The Peppers # 8

9 ( 6 ) THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL - Charlie Rich # 6

10 ( 7 ) DREAM ON - Aerosmith # 7

 

11 ( 11 ) THIS FLIGHT TONIGHT - Nazareth # 11

12 ( NEW ) COME AND GET YOUR LOVE - Redbone # 12

13 ( 9 ) NUTBUSH CITY LIMITS - Ike & Tina Turner # 1

14 ( NEW ) MY COO CA CHOO - Alvin Stardust # 14

15 ( 12 ) RADAR LOVE - Golden Earring # 12

16 ( 16 ) SPEED KILLS - 10CC # 1

17 ( 15 ) I’M FREE - Roger Daltry & The London Symphony Orchestra # 1

18 ( 13 ) JOYBRINGER - Manfred Mann’s Earthband # 1

19 ( 10 ) THE LOVE I LOST (PART 1) - Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes # 10

20 ( 18 ) THE DAY THAT CURLY BILLY SHOT DOWN CRAZY SAM MCGEE - The Hollies # 18

 

21 ( 20 ) MY FRIEND STAN - Slade # 20

22 ( 14 ) WHY IS EVERYBODY GOING HOME - Leo Sayer # 14

23 ( 17 ) A HARD RAIN’S A-GONNA FALL - Bryan Ferry # 17

24 ( 23 ) KNOCKING ON HEAVEN’S DOOR - Bob Dylan # 1

25 ( 21 ) KEEP ON TRUCKIN’ (PART 1) - Eddie Kendricks # 4

26 ( 26 ) LAW OF THE LAND - The Temptations # 26

27 ( NEW ) I KNOW WHAT I LIKE (IN YOUR WARDROBE) - Genesis # 27

28 ( 19 ) MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS - Maria Muldaur # 5

29 ( 36 ) SORROW - David Bowie # 29

30 ( 39 ) THE AIR THAT I BREATHE - Phil Everly # 30

31 ( NEW ) NEVER NEVER GONNA GIVE YA UP - Barry White # 31

32 ( 28 ) LOVE WILL KEEP US TOGETHER - Neil Sedaka # 28

33 ( 38 ) TAKE ME HIGH - Cliff Richard # 33

34 ( 44 ) ANOTHER ‘WITHOUT YOU’ DAY - Blue Mink # 34

35 ( 30 ) I GOT A NAME - Jim Croce # 30

36 ( 33 ) OH NO! NOT MY BABY - Rod Stewart # 10

37 ( 24 ) I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES - The Jackson Sisters # 10

38 ( 27 ) STONED OUT OF MY MIND - The Chi-Lites # 15

39 ( 72 ) HARMONY - Elton John # 39

40 ( 29 ) I’VE GOT SO MUCH TO GIVE - Barry White # 29

 

41 ( 31 ) GHETTO CHILD - The Detroit Spinners # 8

42 ( 22 ) SOLITAIRE - Andy Williams # 12

43 ( 67 ) DIRTY OL’ MAN - The Three Degrees # 43

44 ( 34 ) I DON’T KNOW HOW TO LOVE HIM - Yvonne Elliman # 1

45 ( 40 ) RISING SUN - Medicine Head # 6

46 ( 35 ) ANGEL FINGERS (A TEEN BALLAD) - Wizzard # 4

47 ( 32 ) FAREWELL ANDROMEDA (WELCOME TO MY MORNING) - John Denver # 26

48 ( 43 ) LONELY DAYS LONELY NIGHTS - Don Downing # 3

49 ( 61 ) DAYDREAMER - David Cassidy # 49

50 ( 46 ) CLOUDS - David Gates # 20

 

51 ( 49 ) HIGHER GROUND - Stevie Wonder # 6

52 ( 51 ) MIDNIGHT TRAIN TO GEORGIA - Gladys Knight & The Pips # 17

53 ( NEW ) THE SHOW MUST GO ON - Leo Sayer # 53

54 ( 41 ) I’VE BEEN HURT - Guy Darrell # 11

55 ( 52 ) SWEET UNDERSTANDING LOVE - The Four Tops # 52

56 ( 55 ) THE PUPPY SONG - David Cassidy # 55

57 ( 56 ) ERES TU - Mocedades # 1

58 ( 37 ) LET ME IN - The Osmonds # 2

59 ( 53 ) SEND IN THE CLOWNS - Glynis Johns # 5

60 ( 64 ) IT’S A GAME - String Driven Thing # 60

 

61 ( 57 ) SEE MY BABY JIVE - Wizzard # 1

62 ( 45 ) PICK UP THE PIECES - Hudson-Ford # 7

63 ( 48 ) CAROLINE - Status Quo # 17

64 ( 66 ) THE JOKER - The Steve Miller Band # 64

65 ( 70 ) PLAY AROUND - Linda Lewis # 65

66 ( NEW ) WON’T SOMEBODY DANCE WITH ME - Lynsey De Paul featuring Ed Stewart # 66

67 ( NEW ) IF YOU’RE READY (COME GO WITH ME) - The Staple Singers # 67

68 ( 68 ) SMOKIN’ IN THE BOYS ROOM - Brownsville Station # 68

69 ( NEW ) DAYTONA DEMON - Suzi Quatro # 69

70 ( NEW ) COME LIVE WITH ME - Ray Charles # 70

 

71 ( 75 ) FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND/LOVE LIES BLEEDING - Elton John # 71

72 ( 74 ) ROCKIN’ ROLL BABY - The Stylistics # 72

73 ( 73 ) SAIL AROUND THE WORLD - David Gates # 73

74 ( 50 ) THAT LADY - The Isley Brothers # 4

75 ( 60 ) RUMOURS - Hot Chocolate # 1

76 ( 54 ) ALL THE WAY FROM MEMPHIS - Mott The Hoople # 16

77 ( 59 ) SUMMER (THE FIRST TIME) - Bobby Goldsboro # 1

78 ( 80 ) TERMINAL EYES - Al Stewart # 78

79 ( 76 ) THESE FOOLISH THINGS - Bryan Ferry # 76

80 ( NEW ) SHINE A LIGHT - Gallagher & Lyle # 80

 

81 ( 79 ) DREAMBOAT - Limmie & The Family Cooking # 79

82 ( 77 ) JAM JAM - American Jam Band # 77

83 ( 78 ) DAN THE BANJO MAN - Dan The Banjo Man # 78

84 ( NEW ) GET IT ALL TO ME - Blackfoot Sue # 84

85 ( NEW ) THE WAY WE WERE - Barbra Streisand # 85

 

 

 

 

13th October 1973 My actual chart of that week way back then

 

It's a first chart-topper for Ike & Tina Turner, on the amazing autobiographical Nutbush City Limits, complete with fab synth break as add on to the aggressive rockfunk base. Joybringer, talking of synths, is up to 3 and The Detroit Spinners get 2 top 10's in a row. Nazareth get a 3rd of the year with Joni Mitchell's This Flight Tonight new at 17. Linda Lewis follows up her Rock A Doodle Doo with Play Around, which should have been a hit.

 

Lynsey De Paul makes it 4 in a row with an abrupt change in direction, the lush ballad Won;t Somebody Dance With Me, with bonus dance invitation from DJ Ed "Stewpot" Stewart, Junior's Choice presenter. David Cassidy has been a big fave over the last 3 years both with and without The Partridge Family, but his hyped new double A side struggles in at 29 despite zooming to the top of the UK charts. Oops!

 

1 ( 4 ) NUTBUSH CITY LIMITS - Ike & Tina Turner

2 ( 1 ) SHOWDOWN - Electric Light Orchestra

3 ( 8 ) JOYBRINGER - Manfred Mann’s Earthband

4 ( 6 ) A HARD RAIN'S A GONNA FALL - Bryan Ferry

5 ( 2 ) SKYWRITER - The Jackson 5

6 ( 3 ) GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD - Elton John

7 ( 5 ) MY FRIEND STAN - Slade

8 ( 10 ) BALLROOM BLITZ - The Sweet

9 ( 11 ) GHETTO CHILD - The Detroit Spinners

10 ( 7 ) LOVES ME LIKE A ROCK - Paul Simon

 

11 ( 14 ) THAT LADY - The Isley Brothers

12 ( 17 ) ALL THE WAY FROM MEMPHIS - Mott The Hoople

13 ( 12 ) ANGEL FINGERS - Wizzard

14 ( 16 ) THE DAY THAT CURLY BILLY SHOT DOWN CRAZY SAM MCGEE - The Hollies

15 ( 9 ) CAROLINE - Status Quo

16 ( 22 ) HIGHER GROUND - Stevie Wonder

17 ( NEW ) THIS FLIGHT TONIGHT - Nazareth

18 ( 15 ) OH NO NOT MY BABY - Rod Stewart

19 ( 26 ) KNOCKIN’ ON HEAVEN’S DOOR - Bob Dylan

20 ( 20 ) ROCK ON - David Essex

 

21 ( RE ) OOH BABY - Gilbert O'Sullivan

22 ( 24 ) TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - Dawn

23 ( 27 ) EYE LEVEL - The Simon Park Orchestra

24 ( NEW ) PLAY AROUND - Linda Lewis

25 ( 19 ) HOLLY HOLY - Junior Walker & The All Stars

26 ( NEW ) WON'T SOMEBODY DANCE WITH ME - Lynsey De Paul

27 ( 23 ) THE LAUGHING GNOME - David Bowie

28 ( 30 ) LAW OF THE LAND - The Temptations

29 ( NEW ) DAYDREAMER/ THE PUPPY SONG - David Cassidy

30 ( 21 ) ROCK AND ROLL PEOPLE - Bobby McGee

 

 

 

20th October 1973

 

It's a manic chart week yet again as any of the top 5 could have been number one, but it was Barry Blue's 3rd single that won out, debuting Do You Wanna Dance at 1. It's a complete Gary Glitter rip-off, but you can play this one on the radio and it sounds fab. I preferred it to any of Glitter's 1973 hits at the time, and turns out I still do. That's bad news for Alvin's Coo Ca Choo up to 2, and still sounding Glamtastic, while Redbone make it 2 top 10's as Come And Get Your Love climbs to 3 despite being everywhere for the last 8 years or so.

 

The Ray Charles track shoots up to 12, so classy, so obscure, sounds like it could have come from 1962. Barry White is on his 2nd top 20 as Never Never climbs to 13, Genesis climb their wardrobe to 15, and Elton makes it 3 top 20's simultaneously as Harmony hits 20. Kiki Dee gets signed to Elton's Rocket label and covers Amoureuse beautifully, new at 34 and her 3rd retro chart track. Macca's back, as Wings' Helen Wheels drives in 37, sounding like it could have come right off Paul's most-classic post-Beatles forthcoming album Band On The Run - if only it had been on it!

 

Kevin Johnson was a UK one-hit wonder (if top 30 is a hit) thanks to Jonathan King picking it up for his UK label in early 1975 after flopping in 1973, but his touching story of Rock'n'Roll (I Gave You The Best Years Of My Life), and the struggling wannabe who never made it, still resonates. Glen Campbell is back yet again with another good track that flopped and I never got to hear. Bizarre how suddenly out-of-fashion he was after 1971 until his 1975 comeback hit. Wherefore And Why is pretty good at 55.

 

The Wombles kiddie TV show is on the air, and The Wombling Song is out, Mike Batt on creative duties musically and soon to bring us many a pop-gem genre-varied series of kiddie hits. Yes really, calypso, classical, progrock, 40's big band, and xmas will all be explored over the next 18 months. Bernard Cribbins narrated the kid show, soon to be seen in his final role in Doctor Who, tail-ending 60 iconic years from Right Said Fred to sci-fi fandom. Also on TV in 1973, New Faces, a talent show which pushed out lots of soon-to-be-famous acts, and the theme tune was sung by Carl Wayne, not seen since he left The Move in 1969 - sadly You're A Star didn't bring him back to the chart success enjoyed by Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne (his replacement in The Move).

 

Bob Marley's back again, as The Wailers chart I Shot The Sheriff off the new album, 12 months ahead of Eric Clapton's hit version, at 80. Just behind Helen Reddy makes it 4 with Ruby Red Dress, The Chi-Lites keep their run going with I Found Sunshine off the new album before single 1 has left the stage. Oddly the biggest tracks in the UK were not US singles, and they will follow in 1974, but I Found Sunshine did come out in the summer of '74 - I remember Elton John liking it as guest new singles reviewer the same week My Girl Bill came out. I'll save his comments for that one, but it's funny and makes sense of all that came later!

 

The Persuaders are also back with Some Guys Have All The Luck - one I totally missed at the time, but came to be the inspiration for 3 80's hit covers, all of which I liked, and all of which are different from the original and each other. I prefer Robert Palmer's, Rod Stewart's and especially Maxi Priest's tbh. Hudson-Ford get a second single Take It back, just ahead of Marmalade sneaking in with a change of direction to rock - didn't really work for them though, but I think I saw them on Lift Off With Ayshea or some other TV spot at the time.

 

 

1 ( NEW ) DO YOU WANNA DANCE - Barry Blue # 1

2 ( 14 ) MY COO CA CHOO - Alvin Stardust # 2

3 ( 12 ) COME AND GET YOUR LOVE - Redbone # 3

4 ( 1 ) BENNIE AND THE JETS - Elton John # 1

5 ( 7 ) DYNA-MITE - Mud # 5

6 ( 2 ) PHOTOGRAPH - Ringo Starr # 1

7 ( 5 ) SHOW AND TELL - Al Wilson # 5

8 ( 3 ) SHOWDOWN - Electric Light Orchestra # 1

9 ( 4 ) THE BALLROOM BLITZ - The Sweet # 1

10 ( 6 ) GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD - Elton John # 1

 

11 ( 9 ) THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL - Charlie Rich # 6

12 ( 70 ) COME LIVE WITH ME - Ray Charles # 12

13 ( 31 ) NEVER NEVER GONNA GIVE YA UP - Barry White # 13

14 ( 8 ) PEPPERBOX - The Peppers # 8

15 ( 27 ) I KNOW WHAT I LIKE (IN YOUR WARDROBE) - Genesis # 15

16 ( 11 ) THIS FLIGHT TONIGHT - Nazareth # 11

17 ( 13 ) NUTBUSH CITY LIMITS - Ike & Tina Turner # 1

18 ( 10 ) DREAM ON - Aerosmith # 7

19 ( 26 ) LAW OF THE LAND - The Temptations # 19

20 ( 39 ) HARMONY - Elton John # 20

 

21 ( 17 ) I’M FREE - Roger Daltry & The London Symphony Orchestra # 1

22 ( 15 ) RADAR LOVE - Golden Earring # 12

23 ( 18 ) JOYBRINGER - Manfred Mann’s Earthband # 1

24 ( 20 ) THE DAY THAT CURLY BILLY SHOT DOWN CRAZY SAM MCGEE - The Hollies # 18

25 ( 30 ) THE AIR THAT I BREATHE - Phil Everly # 25

26 ( 34 ) ANOTHER ‘WITHOUT YOU’ DAY - Blue Mink # 26

27 ( 16 ) SPEED KILLS - 10CC # 1

28 ( 24 ) KNOCKING ON HEAVEN’S DOOR - Bob Dylan # 1

29 ( 25 ) KEEP ON TRUCKIN’ (PART 1) - Eddie Kendricks # 4

30 ( 19 ) THE LOVE I LOST (PART 1) - Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes # 10

 

31 ( 33 ) TAKE ME HIGH - Cliff Richard # 31

32 ( 66 ) WON’T SOMEBODY DANCE WITH ME - Lynsey De Paul featuring Ed Stewart # 32

33 ( 21 ) MY FRIEND STAN - Slade # 20

34 ( NEW ) AMOUREUSE - Kiki Dee # 34

35 ( 28 ) MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS - Maria Muldaur # 5

36 ( 29 ) SORROW - David Bowie # 29

37 ( NEW ) HELEN WHEELS - Paul McCartney & Wings # 37

38 ( NEW ) ROCK’N’ROLL (I GAVE YOU THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE) - Kevin Johnson # 38

39 ( 67 ) IF YOU’RE READY (COME GO WITH ME) - The Staple Singers # 39

40 ( 43 ) DIRTY OL’ MAN - The Three Degrees # 40

 

41 ( 36 ) OH NO! NOT MY BABY - Rod Stewart # 10

42 ( 23 ) A HARD RAIN’S A-GONNA FALL - Bryan Ferry # 17

43 ( 35 ) I GOT A NAME - Jim Croce # 30

44 ( 41 ) GHETTO CHILD - The Detroit Spinners # 8

45 ( 38 ) STONED OUT OF MY MIND - The Chi-Lites # 15

46 ( 64 ) THE JOKER - The Steve Miller Band # 46

47 ( 53 ) THE SHOW MUST GO ON - Leo Sayer # 47

48 ( 48 ) LONELY DAYS LONELY NIGHTS - Don Downing # 3

49 ( 44 ) I DON’T KNOW HOW TO LOVE HIM - Yvonne Elliman # 1

50 ( 56 ) THE PUPPY SONG - David Cassidy # 50

 

51 ( 51 ) HIGHER GROUND - Stevie Wonder # 6

52 ( 69 ) DAYTONA DEMON - Suzi Quatro # 52

53 ( 60 ) IT’S A GAME - String Driven Thing # 53

54 ( 40 ) I’VE GOT SO MUCH TO GIVE - Barry White # 29

55 ( NEW ) WHEREFORE AND WHY - Glen Campbell # 55

56 ( 22 ) WHY IS EVERYBODY GOING HOME - Leo Sayer # 14

57 ( 32 ) LOVE WILL KEEP US TOGETHER - Neil Sedaka # 28

58 ( 46 ) ANGEL FINGERS (A TEEN BALLAD) - Wizzard # 4

59 ( 73 ) SAIL AROUND THE WORLD - David Gates # 59

60 ( 45 ) RISING SUN - Medicine Head # 6

 

61 ( 57 ) ERES TU - Mocedades # 1

62 ( 37 ) I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES - The Jackson Sisters # 10

63 ( 42 ) SOLITAIRE - Andy Williams # 12

64 ( 49 ) DAYDREAMER - David Cassidy # 49

65 ( 65 ) PLAY AROUND - Linda Lewis # 65

66 ( 59 ) SEND IN THE CLOWNS - Glynis Johns # 5

67 ( 61 ) SEE MY BABY JIVE - Wizzard # 1

68 ( NEW ) THE WOMBLING SONG - The Wombles # 68

69 ( 50 ) CLOUDS - David Gates # 20

70 ( 55 ) SWEET UNDERSTANDING LOVE - The Four Tops # 52

 

71 ( 71 ) FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND/LOVE LIES BLEEDING - Elton John # 71

72 ( 47 ) FAREWELL ANDROMEDA (WELCOME TO MY MORNING) - John Denver # 26

73 ( 52 ) MIDNIGHT TRAIN TO GEORGIA - Gladys Knight & The Pips # 17

74 ( 85 ) THE WAY WE WERE - Barbra Streisand # 74

75 ( 72 ) ROCKIN’ ROLL BABY - The Stylistics # 72

76 ( 84 ) GET IT ALL TO ME - Blackfoot Sue # 76

77 ( NEW ) YOU’RE A STAR - Carl Wayne # 77

78 ( 80 ) SHINE A LIGHT - Gallagher & Lyle # 78

79 ( 68 ) SMOKIN’ IN THE BOYS ROOM - Brownsville Station # 68

80 ( NEW ) I SHOT THE SHERIFF - Bob Marley & The Wailers # 80

 

81 ( NEW ) LEAVE ME ALONE (RUBY RED DRESS) - Helen Reddy # 81

82 ( NEW ) I FOUND SUNSHINE - The Chi-Lites # 82

83 ( NEW ) SOME GUYS HAVE ALL THE LUCK - The Persuaders # 83

84 ( NEW ) TAKE IT BACK - Hudson-Ford # 84

85 ( NEW ) OUR HOUSE IS ROCKIN’ - Marmalade # 85

 

 

 

20th October 1973 My chart that week then

 

It's 2 weeks on top for Ike & Tina Turner 50 years ago this week, in a chart full of faves, not least Ringo Starr new at 6 with his best record, a George harrison co-write with Phil Spector-styled wall-of-sound production. I saw Ringo do it on his last UK tour - the venue wasn't full which probably explains why he hasn't been back and sticks to the USA. Poor Ringo, an icon with an all-star band doing their stuff too!

 

Nazareth get a 2nd top 10 hit in a row and Bowie is back yet again, with his version of The Merseys' Sorrow, taken from his Pin-Ups covers album. Talk about prolific! These days the production sounds a bit basic and rushed compared to, say, Life On Mars - or even The laughing Gnome! The Carpenters' old track Top Of The World pops in at 26, and The Strawbs' make it 3 in a row at 30.

 

 

1 ( 1 ) NUTBUSH CITY LIMITS - Ike & Tina Turner

2 ( 3 ) JOYBRINGER - Manfred Mann’s Earthband

3 ( 2 ) SHOWDOWN - Electric Light Orchestra

4 ( 4 ) A HARD RAIN'S A GONNA FALL - Bryan Ferry

5 ( 6 ) GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD - Elton John

6 ( NEW ) PHOTOGRAPH - Ringo Starr

7 ( 9 ) GHETTO CHILD - The Detroit Spinners

8 ( 8 ) BALLROOM BLITZ - The Sweet

9 ( 7 ) MY FRIEND STAN - Slade

10 ( 17 ) THIS FLIGHT TONIGHT - Nazareth

 

11 ( NEW ) SORROW - David Bowie

12 ( 19 ) KNOCKIN’ ON HEAVEN’S DOOR - Bob Dylan

13 ( 16 ) HIGHER GROUND - Stevie Wonder

14 ( 14 ) THE DAY THAT CURLY BILLY SHOT DOWN CRAZY SAM MCGEE - The Hollies

15 ( 13 ) ANGEL FINGERS - Wizzard

16 ( 12 ) ALL THE WAY FROM MEMPHIS - Mott The Hoople

17 ( 11 ) THAT LADY - The Isley Brothers

18 ( 15 ) CAROLINE - Status Quo

19 ( 22 ) TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - Dawn

20 ( 10 ) LOVES ME LIKE A ROCK - Paul Simon

 

21 ( 26 ) WON'T SOMEBODY DANCE WITH ME - Lynsey De Paul

22 ( 24 ) PLAY AROUND - Linda Lewis

23 ( 5 ) SKYWRITER - The Jackson 5

24 ( 18 ) OH NO NOT MY BABY - Rod Stewart

25 ( 29 ) DAYDREAMER/ THE PUPPY SONG - David Cassidy

26 ( NEW ) TOP OF THE WORLD - The Carpenters

27 ( 20 ) ROCK ON - David Essex

28 ( 23 ) EYE LEVEL - The Simon Park Orchestra

29 ( 27 ) THE LAUGHING GNOME - David Bowie

30 ( NEW ) SHINE ON SILVER SUN - The Strawbs

27th October 1973

 

It's another chart invasion of big discs as the continuing manic top end of the chart is suddenly dominated by Cockney Rebel, no Stave Harley-billing on their strange, but wonderful Sebastian. Almost 8 minutes of radio-unfriendly, orchestral, auto-tuned vocal (obviously 26 years before that became a thing), semi-Progrock, Glam referencing, Gay anthem. Never a hit, criminally, and just beating out the criminally under-rated Mind Games new track from John Lennon, still fab 50 years later. That means a Fab Four top 20 as John, Ringo (plus George), and Paul are solo as they 50-years-later collectively anticipate a UK number one and my new personal chart number one. I really wouldn't have believed it even if you'd played me the song. It's almost 2 years since Happy Xmas and Imagine were in my Retro charts.

 

New in at 7 Stevie Wonder's back for a 5th chart belter of 1973, a little early for the UK, but Living For The City is charting in the US and it's one of Stevie's finest moments, social deprivation ever relevant. Dolly Parton is back with her signature tune, the wondrous Jolene at 18 and 3 years early for the UK charts, who were so often late (see Midnight Train To Georgia just dropped out, and War's Me And Baby Brother entering lower down, all 1976 UK hits, and Sister Sledge debuting with the very Jackson 5-sounding Mama Never Told Me, 2 years ahead of charting in the UK - but flopping in the US!).

 

David Essex gets his 2nd biggie as Lamplight enters at 50, Jim Stafford's playful Spiders & Snakes is new at 71 6 months early for the UK, Fleetwood Mac get a classy Hypnotised into the chart 5 years on from Albatross, the Bob Welch song probably being their best since Peter Green departed. Charles Aznavour dances in his charmingly French Old Fashioned Way, Donny Osmond keeps the covers churned out as diminishing returns will start cropping up now on a fairly pedestrian cover of the great Nat 'King' Cole's When I fall In Love - so good that would be a bigger hit than Donny's cover 22 years after Nat had died.

 

Tony Orlando & Dawn are back with another jolly ragtime romp - really not sure why they thought that was a career-making move, as Who's In The Strawberry Patch With Sally flopped in the UK, but gave them 3 years of non-stop retro entries for me. Gilbert meanwhile gets even more dreary with latest ballad Why Oh Why Oh Why which I really didn't like much at the time, ditto Donny. That leaves Mungo Jerry also on the 3-year-run ride, as Wild Love sneaks in on bottom rung.

 

 

1 ( NEW ) SEBASTIAN - Cockney Rebel # 1

2 ( NEW ) MIND GAMES - John Lennon # 2

3 ( 1 ) DO YOU WANNA DANCE - Barry Blue # 1

4 ( 3 ) COME AND GET YOUR LOVE - Redbone # 3

5 ( 2 ) MY COO CA CHOO - Alvin Stardust # 2

6 ( 5 ) DYNA-MITE - Mud # 5

7 ( NEW ) LIVING FOR THE CITY - Stevie Wonder # 7

8 ( 6 ) PHOTOGRAPH - Ringo Starr # 1

9 ( 4 ) BENNIE AND THE JETS - Elton John # 1

10 ( 7 ) SHOW AND TELL - Al Wilson # 5

 

11 ( 8 ) SHOWDOWN - Electric Light Orchestra # 1

12 ( 15 ) I KNOW WHAT I LIKE (IN YOUR WARDROBE) - Genesis # 12

13 ( 13 ) NEVER NEVER GONNA GIVE YA UP - Barry White # 13

14 ( 9 ) THE BALLROOM BLITZ - The Sweet # 1

15 ( 10 ) GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD - Elton John # 1

16 ( 11 ) THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL - Charlie Rich # 6

17 ( 37 ) HELEN WHEELS - Paul McCartney & Wings # 17

18 ( NEW ) JOLENE - Dolly Parton # 18

19 ( 20 ) HARMONY - Elton John # 19

20 ( 12 ) COME LIVE WITH ME - Ray Charles # 12

 

21 ( 26 ) ANOTHER ‘WITHOUT YOU’ DAY - Blue Mink # 21

22 ( 38 ) ROCK’N’ROLL (I GAVE YOU THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE) - Kevin Johnson # 22

23 ( 14 ) PEPPERBOX - The Peppers # 8

24 ( 32 ) WON’T SOMEBODY DANCE WITH ME - Lynsey De Paul featuring Ed Stewart # 24

25 ( 34 ) AMOUREUSE - Kiki Dee # 25

26 ( 17 ) NUTBUSH CITY LIMITS - Ike & Tina Turner # 1

27 ( 25 ) THE AIR THAT I BREATHE - Phil Everly # 25

28 ( 31 ) TAKE ME HIGH - Cliff Richard # 28

29 ( 21 ) I’M FREE - Roger Daltry & The London Symphony Orchestra # 1

30 ( 18 ) DREAM ON - Aerosmith # 7

 

31 ( 27 ) SPEED KILLS - 10CC # 1

32 ( 28 ) KNOCKING ON HEAVEN’S DOOR - Bob Dylan # 1

33 ( 29 ) KEEP ON TRUCKIN’ (PART 1) - Eddie Kendricks # 4

34 ( 16 ) THIS FLIGHT TONIGHT - Nazareth # 11

35 ( 52 ) DAYTONA DEMON - Suzi Quatro # 35

36 ( 39 ) IF YOU’RE READY (COME GO WITH ME) - The Staple Singers # 36

37 ( 23 ) JOYBRINGER - Manfred Mann’s Earthband # 1

38 ( 22 ) RADAR LOVE - Golden Earring # 12

39 ( 24 ) THE DAY THAT CURLY BILLY SHOT DOWN CRAZY SAM MCGEE - The Hollies # 18

40 ( 30 ) THE LOVE I LOST (PART 1) - Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes # 10

 

41 ( 35 ) MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS - Maria Muldaur # 5

42 ( 19 ) LAW OF THE LAND - The Temptations # 19

43 ( 55 ) WHEREFORE AND WHY - Glen Campbell # 43

44 ( 47 ) THE SHOW MUST GO ON - Leo Sayer # 44

45 ( 40 ) DIRTY OL’ MAN - The Three Degrees # 40

46 ( 71 ) FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND/LOVE LIES BLEEDING - Elton John # 46

47 ( 53 ) IT’S A GAME - String Driven Thing # 47

48 ( 33 ) MY FRIEND STAN - Slade # 20

49 ( 36 ) SORROW - David Bowie # 29

50 ( NEW ) LAMPLIGHT - David Essex # 50

 

51 ( 50 ) THE PUPPY SONG - David Cassidy # 50

52 ( 46 ) THE JOKER - The Steve Miller Band # 46

53 ( 43 ) I GOT A NAME - Jim Croce # 30

54 ( 48 ) LONELY DAYS LONELY NIGHTS - Don Downing # 3

55 ( 49 ) I DON’T KNOW HOW TO LOVE HIM - Yvonne Elliman # 1

56 ( 68 ) THE WOMBLING SONG - The Wombles # 56

57 ( 44 ) GHETTO CHILD - The Detroit Spinners # 8

58 ( 59 ) SAIL AROUND THE WORLD - David Gates # 58

59 ( 42 ) A HARD RAIN’S A-GONNA FALL - Bryan Ferry # 17

60 ( 51 ) HIGHER GROUND - Stevie Wonder # 6

 

61 ( 61 ) ERES TU - Mocedades # 1

62 ( NEW ) MAMA NEVER TOLD ME - Sister Sledge # 62

63 ( 65 ) PLAY AROUND - Linda Lewis # 63

64 ( 45 ) STONED OUT OF MY MIND - The Chi-Lites # 15

65 ( 74 ) THE WAY WE WERE - Barbra Streisand # 65

66 ( 58 ) ANGEL FINGERS (A TEEN BALLAD) - Wizzard # 4

67 ( 41 ) OH NO! NOT MY BABY - Rod Stewart # 10

68 ( 60 ) RISING SUN - Medicine Head # 6

69 ( 63 ) SOLITAIRE - Andy Williams # 12

70 ( 64 ) DAYDREAMER - David Cassidy # 49

 

71 ( NEW ) SPIDERS AND SNAKES - Jim Stafford # 71

72 ( 75 ) ROCKIN’ ROLL BABY - The Stylistics # 72

73 ( 76 ) GET IT ALL TO ME - Blackfoot Sue # 73

74 ( NEW ) HYPNOTISED - Fleetwood Mac # 74

75 ( 81 ) LEAVE ME ALONE (RUBY RED DRESS) - Helen Reddy # 75

76 ( 80 ) I SHOT THE SHERIFF - Bob Marley & The Wailers # 76

77 ( 78 ) SHINE A LIGHT - Gallagher & Lyle # 77

78 ( NEW ) THE OLD FASHIONED WAY - Charles Aznavour # 78

79 ( 82 ) I FOUND SUNSHINE - The Chi-Lites # 79

80 ( NEW ) ME AND BABY BROTHER - War # 80

 

81 ( 77 ) YOU’RE A STAR - Carl Wayne # 77

82 ( NEW ) WHEN I FALL IN LOVE - Donny Osmond # 82

83 ( NEW ) WHO’S IN THE STRAWBERRY PATCH WITH SALLY? - Dawn featuring Tony Orlando # 83

84 ( NEW ) WHY, OH WHY, OH WHY - Gilbert O’Sullivan # 84

85 ( NEW ) WILD LOVE - Mungo Jerry # 85

 

 

 

 

27th Oct 1973 my chart of the time Gloucester

 

It's a first week on top for Ringo Starr, Photograph taking him higher than he's ever been post-Beatles, thanks in good part to George Harrison, on the record and co-writer. That makes Ringo the third Beatle to get a chart-topper in my original weekly charts, and George too, albeit uncredited. George would have to wait till 1981 for his own solo topper, then My Sweet Lord in 2002. David Bowie grabs his 3rd top 10 of '73, and Stevie Wonder his 3rd too. Mud get a Sweet cast-off with Dyna-mite in at 11, full-on Glam Rock and a 3rd hit, Barry Blue is on his 3rd too as he outdoes Gary Glitter on Do You Wanna Dance at 16. Ditto Suzi's on 3 too, with Daytona Demon a Glam spot behind.

 

Don Downing is new at 18 with the still-wonderful Lonely Days Lonely Nights, a soul gem bordering on disco, Hudson-Ford follow-up with Take It Back, their 3rd chart song of the year including Strawbs. It's a debut for Alvin Stardust, former 60's pop star Bernard Jewry, former resident of Mansfield Woodhouse (a few miles from where I was born), aka Shane Fenton. Alvin was in heavy disguise on Peter Shelley's My Coo Ca Choo creation on Lift Off With Ayshea, I seem to recall a coat of feathers prior to his Top Of The Pops revamp as Gene Vincent lookalike. That leaves Limmie & The Family Cooking simmering with Dreamboat, at 29, not quite doing The Magic this time.

 

 

1 ( 6 ) PHOTOGRAPH - Ringo Starr

2 ( 4 ) A HARD RAIN'S A GONNA FALL - Bryan Ferry

3 ( 1 ) NUTBUSH CITY LIMITS - Ike & Tina Turner

4 ( 2 ) JOYBRINGER - Manfred Mann’s Earthband

5 ( 10 ) THIS FLIGHT TONIGHT - Nazareth

6 ( 5 ) GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD - Elton John

7 ( 11 ) SORROW - David Bowie

8 ( 3 ) SHOWDOWN - Electric Light Orchestra

9 ( 13 ) HIGHER GROUND - Stevie Wonder

10 ( 8 ) BALLROOM BLITZ - The Sweet

 

11 ( NEW ) DYNAMITE - Mud

12 ( 12 ) KNOCKIN’ ON HEAVEN’S DOOR - Bob Dylan

13 ( 14 ) THE DAY THAT CURLY BILLY SHOT DOWN CRAZY SAM MCGEE - The Hollies

14 ( 7 ) GHETTO CHILD - The Detroit Spinners

15 ( 9 ) MY FRIEND STAN - Slade

16 ( NEW ) DO YOU WANNA DANCE - Barry Blue

17 ( NEW ) DAYTONA DEMON - Suzi Quatro

18 ( NEW ) LONELY DAYS LONELY NIGHTS - Don Downing

19 ( 18 ) CAROLINE - Status Quo

20 ( 21 ) WON'T SOMEBODY DANCE WITH ME - Lynsey De Paul

 

21 ( 28 ) EYE LEVEL - The Simon Park Orchestra

22 ( 26 ) TOP OF THE WORLD - The Carpenters

23 ( 25 ) DAYDREAMER/ THE PUPPY SONG - David Cassidy

24 ( 17 ) THAT LADY - The Isley Brothers

25 ( 19 ) TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - Dawn

26 ( NEW ) TAKE IT BACK - Hudson-Ford

27 ( 22 ) PLAY AROUND - Linda Lewis

28 ( NEW ) MY COO CA CHOO - Alvin Stardust

29 ( NEW ) DREAMBOAT - Limmie & The Family Cooking

30 ( 15 ) ANGEL FINGERS - Wizzard

3rd November 1973

 

It's 2 weeks on top of my retro remake chart as I become obsessed with one that I discovered long after 1973, but haven't heard in 30 years, Steve Harley's magnificent Sebastian just holding off John Lennon's equally magnificent Mind Games, one of his best solo tracks. The inrush of classics continues at the top end with Jim Croce's heartbreaking posthumous single Time In A Bottle, it's so poignant in any case, but it had a massive revival in 2014's fabulous X-Men: Days Of Future Past movie with a key sequence starring Quicksilver in slow motion. If 15-year-old me could have been shown that clip I would have been hyperactive for weeks, and frustrated that it would take 40 years for the movie-technology to catch up with superhero comics.

 

Dolly Parton has new rock-pop stuff out in 2023, at the age of 77, all fab, but it's Jolene up to 5 in my retro charts of 1973, while Roxy Music make it 3 top 10's as Street Life debuts at 10, with a frantic, and unique, song construction that I still love. I bought the single and the B side is quirky too, Hula Kula, Hawaiian-style instrumental. New at 21, that Glitter man is back with his biggest record in the UK, million-seller I Love You Love Me Love, his 7th entry, as Prelude do an acapella cover of Neil Young's After The Goldrush on their new album, though the single won't hit until spring '74. New at 29, and so good it was a hit again in 1982.

 

Elton John has 3 tracks in the top 20, 4 in the 40, as another Piano Man is back at 53, Billy Joel's signature tune not getting any UK success until 1975 (and then only very minor). At 54, Lou Christie returns after 4 years away on a flop track I've never heard before, but Beyond The Blue Horizon is both old-fashioned for 1973, and enormously catchy in a fabulous cheesy way. Another 60's popster is also back at 63, as Peter Noone has another pop tune that's new to me, but is rather catchy too, I Think I'm Over keeping the ex-Herman's Hermits singer having a run of 7 consecutive retro chart years. Peter was Tweeting (X-ing?) only today about The Kinks and his version of Dandy.

 

That leaves the sadly late Olivia Newton-John back again with a country ditty that was big in the USA, and Edwin Starr having another funky stab at chart success (in vain).

 

 

 

1 ( 1 ) SEBASTIAN - Cockney Rebel # 1

2 ( 2 ) MIND GAMES - John Lennon # 2

3 ( NEW ) TIME IN A BOTTLE - Jim Croce # 3

4 ( 7 ) LIVING FOR THE CITY - Stevie Wonder # 4

5 ( 18 ) JOLENE - Dolly Parton # 5

6 ( 3 ) DO YOU WANNA DANCE - Barry Blue # 1

7 ( 5 ) MY COO CA CHOO - Alvin Stardust # 2

8 ( 8 ) PHOTOGRAPH - Ringo Starr # 1

9 ( 9 ) BENNIE AND THE JETS - Elton John # 1

10 ( NEW ) STREET LIFE - Roxy Music # 10

 

11 ( 4 ) COME AND GET YOUR LOVE - Redbone # 3

12 ( 6 ) DYNA-MITE - Mud # 5

13 ( 11 ) SHOWDOWN - Electric Light Orchestra # 1

14 ( 19 ) HARMONY - Elton John # 14

15 ( 15 ) GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD - Elton John # 1

16 ( 16 ) THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL - Charlie Rich # 6

17 ( 22 ) ROCK’N’ROLL (I GAVE YOU THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE) - Kevin Johnson # 17

18 ( 10 ) SHOW AND TELL - Al Wilson # 5

19 ( 17 ) HELEN WHEELS - Paul McCartney & Wings # 17

20 ( 13 ) NEVER NEVER GONNA GIVE YA UP - Barry White # 13

 

21 ( NEW ) I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE - Gary Glitter & The Glitter Band # 21

22 ( 24 ) WON’T SOMEBODY DANCE WITH ME - Lynsey De Paul featuring Ed Stewart # 22

23 ( 12 ) I KNOW WHAT I LIKE (IN YOUR WARDROBE) - Genesis # 12

24 ( 25 ) AMOUREUSE - Kiki Dee # 24

25 ( 20 ) COME LIVE WITH ME - Ray Charles # 12

26 ( 14 ) THE BALLROOM BLITZ - The Sweet # 1

27 ( 35 ) DAYTONA DEMON - Suzi Quatro # 27

28 ( 23 ) PEPPERBOX - The Peppers # 8

29 ( NEW ) AFTER THE GOLDRUSH - Prelude # 29

30 ( 36 ) IF YOU’RE READY (COME GO WITH ME) - The Staple Singers # 30

 

31 ( 27 ) THE AIR THAT I BREATHE - Phil Everly # 25

32 ( 28 ) TAKE ME HIGH - Cliff Richard # 28

33 ( 21 ) ANOTHER ‘WITHOUT YOU’ DAY - Blue Mink # 21

34 ( 30 ) DREAM ON - Aerosmith # 7

35 ( 46 ) FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND/LOVE LIES BLEEDING - Elton John # 35

36 ( 32 ) KNOCKING ON HEAVEN’S DOOR - Bob Dylan # 1

37 ( 44 ) THE SHOW MUST GO ON - Leo Sayer # 37

38 ( 31 ) SPEED KILLS - 10CC # 1

39 ( 26 ) NUTBUSH CITY LIMITS - Ike & Tina Turner # 1

40 ( 29 ) I’M FREE - Roger Daltry & The London Symphony Orchestra # 1

 

41 ( 38 ) RADAR LOVE - Golden Earring # 12

42 ( 43 ) WHEREFORE AND WHY - Glen Campbell # 42

43 ( 41 ) MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS - Maria Muldaur # 5

44 ( 37 ) JOYBRINGER - Manfred Mann’s Earthband # 1

45 ( 45 ) DIRTY OL’ MAN - The Three Degrees # 40

46 ( 40 ) THE LOVE I LOST (PART 1) - Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes # 10

47 ( 50 ) LAMPLIGHT - David Essex # 47

48 ( 33 ) KEEP ON TRUCKIN’ (PART 1) - Eddie Kendricks # 4

49 ( 62 ) MAMA NEVER TOLD ME - Sister Sledge # 49

50 ( 71 ) SPIDERS AND SNAKES - Jim Stafford # 50

 

51 ( 34 ) THIS FLIGHT TONIGHT - Nazareth # 11

52 ( 58 ) SAIL AROUND THE WORLD - David Gates # 52

53 ( NEW ) PIANO MAN - Billy Joel # 53

54 ( NEW ) BEYOND THE BLUE HORIZON - Lou Christie # 54

55 ( 56 ) THE WOMBLING SONG - The Wombles # 55

56 ( 55 ) I DON’T KNOW HOW TO LOVE HIM - Yvonne Elliman # 1

57 ( 42 ) LAW OF THE LAND - The Temptations # 19

58 ( 52 ) THE JOKER - The Steve Miller Band # 46

59 ( 39 ) THE DAY THAT CURLY BILLY SHOT DOWN CRAZY SAM MCGEE - The Hollies # 18

60 ( 48 ) MY FRIEND STAN - Slade # 20

 

61 ( 49 ) SORROW - David Bowie # 29

62 ( 47 ) IT’S A GAME - String Driven Thing # 47

63 ( 74 ) HYPNOTISED - Fleetwood Mac # 63

64 ( 54 ) LONELY DAYS LONELY NIGHTS - Don Downing # 3

65 ( 61 ) ERES TU - Mocedades # 1

66 ( 59 ) A HARD RAIN’S A-GONNA FALL - Bryan Ferry # 17

67 ( NEW ) I THINK I’M OVER (GETTING OVER YOU) - Peter Noone # 67

68 ( 63 ) PLAY AROUND - Linda Lewis # 63

69 ( 65 ) THE WAY WE WERE - Barbra Streisand # 65

70 ( 57 ) GHETTO CHILD - The Detroit Spinners # 8

 

71 ( 76 ) I SHOT THE SHERIFF - Bob Marley & The Wailers # 71

72 ( 83 ) WHO’S IN THE STRAWBERRY PATCH WITH SALLY? - Dawn featuring Tony Orlando # 72

73 ( 73 ) GET IT ALL TO ME - Blackfoot Sue # 73

74 ( 82 ) WHEN I FALL IN LOVE - Donny Osmond # 74

75 ( 81 ) YOU’RE A STAR - Carl Wayne # 75

76 ( 51 ) THE PUPPY SONG - David Cassidy # 50

77 ( 78 ) THE OLD FASHIONED WAY - Charles Aznavour # 77

78 ( 84 ) WHY, OH WHY, OH WHY - Gilbert O’Sullivan # 78

79 ( 85 ) WILD LOVE - Mungo Jerry # 79

80 ( NEW ) LET ME BE THERE - Olivia Newton-John # 80

 

81 ( 75 ) LEAVE ME ALONE (RUBY RED DRESS) - Helen Reddy # 75

82 ( 80 ) ME AND BABY BROTHER - War # 80

83 ( 79 ) I FOUND SUNSHINE - The Chi-Lites # 79

84 ( 72 ) ROCKIN’ ROLL BABY - The Stylistics # 72

85 ( NEW ) YOU’VE GOT MY SOUL ON FIRE - Edwin Starr # 85

 

 

 

 

 

3rd November 1973 Wot I Liked That Actual Week Then

 

It's 2 weeks on top for Ringo in my chart of the time, 15 years old and all, while ex-mucca Paul is new in with his missus and Denny Laine & co at 22 with the rocking Helen Wheels, named after the McCartney's actual car, and the single not on the imminent classic album dropping soon. Mud are up to 2 for a hat-trick of top 2's, and The Hollies grab a first top 10 since 1970 with the CCR-ish cowboy story song with the long title, at 7, one ahead of Bob Dylan getting his first top 10 in 4 years, and an actual cowboy song from the Pat McGarett & Billy The Kid film.

 

Don Downing gets a fab soul top 10, and Eddie Kendricks grabs a fab funk stomper, Keep On Truckin', outdoing his old bandmates at 24, The Temptations having dropped out. The Osmonds are back with their first-ever singles ballad, Let Me In being better than Donny's efforts. New at 25 while Dan The Banjo Man slips his eponymous instrumental in at 27 2 years on from his previous pseudonym Springwater. His real name is Phil Cordell. The Four Tops also return at 29, with Sweet Understanding Love, a UK hit where the way better Ain't No Woman wasn't, and Colin Blunstone gets a 6th solo entry, which is Wonderful for him.

 

Around this time, my obsessive-comics heroes The Legion Of Super-Heroes were having a revamp, as new artist Dave Cockrum proved hugely popular with me and other fans as he updated costumes and showcased his amazing art on the cover of what was the Superboy comic, as the 30th century-super-hero-team outdid Superboy in popularity. See comments above about X-Men, as life proves circular with Dave Cockrum falling out with DC Comics in 1974 over them not keep his own artwork, and leaving to Marvel and spear-heading X-Men into the top-selling comic using all of his Legion-styles and new heroes he'd created for the team, and took with him for the X-Men. I was about as excited about a new Legion comic as I was a fab new record.

 

 

1 ( 1 ) PHOTOGRAPH - Ringo Starr

2 ( 11 ) DYNAMITE - Mud

3 ( 8 ) SHOWDOWN - Electric Light Orchestra

4 ( 7 ) SORROW - David Bowie

5 ( 2 ) A HARD RAIN'S A GONNA FALL - Bryan Ferry

6 ( 6 ) GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD - Elton John

7 ( 13 ) THE DAY THAT CURLY BILLY SHOT DOWN CRAZY SAM MCGEE - The Hollies

8 ( 12 ) KNOCKIN’ ON HEAVEN’S DOOR - Bob Dylan

9 ( 3 ) NUTBUSH CITY LIMITS - Ike & Tina Turner

10 ( 18 ) LONELY DAYS LONELY NIGHTS - Don Downing

 

11 ( 5 ) THIS FLIGHT TONIGHT - Nazareth

12 ( 17 ) DAYTONA DEMON - Suzi Quatro

13 ( 10 ) BALLROOM BLITZ - The Sweet

14 ( 16 ) DO YOU WANNA DANCE - Barry Blue

15 ( 21 ) EYE LEVEL - The Simon Park Orchestra

16 ( 28 ) MY COO CA CHOO - Alvin Stardust

17 ( 15 ) MY FRIEND STAN - Slade

18 ( 20 ) WON'T SOMEBODY DANCE WITH ME - Lynsey De Paul

19 ( 22 ) TOP OF THE WORLD - The Carpenters

20 ( 23 ) DAYDREAMER/ THE PUPPY SONG - David Cassidy

 

21 ( 4 ) JOYBRINGER - Manfred Mann’s Earthband

22 ( NEW ) HELEN WHEELS - Paul McCartney & Wings

23 ( 26 ) TAKE IT BACK - Hudson-Ford

24 ( NEW ) KEEP ON TRUCKING - Eddie Kendricks

25 ( NEW ) LET ME IN - The Osmonds

26 ( 9 ) HIGHER GROUND - Stevie Wonder

27 ( NEW ) DAN THE BANJO MAN - Dan The Banjo Man

28 ( 14 ) GHETTO CHILD - The Detroit Spinners

29 ( NEW ) SWEET UNDERSTANDING LOVE - The Four Tops

30 ( NEW ) WONDERFUL - Colin Blunstone

 

 

10th November 1973 Retro Revamp Charts

 

It's 3 weeks on top for the epic immovable Cockney Rebel, this time forcing the fabulous late Jim Croce to 2, while the marvellous Mind Games drops to 3 for John Lennon even as two tracks from the album of the same name debut at 61 and 77. Ringo's also got an album out and the next single off it, has an early start, with his cover of the 50's biggie You're Sixteen debuting at 41. It's looked on as a bit dodgy these days given he was early 30's at the time, but in those less cynical times we just saw it as a big star covering an old favourite song, full stop.

 

Highest new entry is the fabulous Aretha, with a gifted Stevie Wonder song, as the sublime Until You Come Back To me enters at 4 - replacing Stevie's Living For The City, oops! New at 8, Mott The Hoople grab a 5th chart entry and 3rd top 10, with their hugely catchy Roll Away The Stone at 8. I should credit Thunderthighs for the "Sha La la La push push's" and back-up assist too, they were fun on Top Of The Pops. Terry Jacks massive 1974 global smash Seasons In The Sun is charting in Canada, so that gets an early start here too (those are my chart rules! First release date, not first UK release date) at 26, after a 3-year gap since The Poppy Family last troubled my retro countdowns.

 

The New Seekers are back with a 5th chart entry of 1973, and over 3 years of non-stop hits here, with the Lyn Paul credited You Won't Find Another Fool joining the ragtime/singsong trends of styles of yesteryear charting at 60. Robert Knight already went top 20 with his Northern Soul biggie, Love On A Mountain Top, in my 1968 retro charts, but it's very much a nostalgic part of Xmas 1973 for me, so it's back. If ever a record needed a serious sound quality remix it's this one, there's no decent version I've ever found sound-wise, which is a shame. It sounds best on single vinyl on a record player, and CD/download/streaming versions not so much.

 

T.Rex are back with a shock - only in at 72 with a new single! Truck On (Tyke) was the one that killed T.Rex's hit-making days, really, it just wasn't up to par, though I still like it - there were better album tracks and B sides Marc could have gone with - or maybe just wait for the next album - Zinc Alloy had a good next single and a potential single that never was. Here's an oddity - I never knew anyone covered Abba's Ring Ring! They did though. It's not bad, and I'm not sure who The Vernons are - I wondered if they were linked to The Vernon Girls, a hot of British 60's girl singers sang with them over the years, but there's nothing on t'internet to suggest it was.

 

There's a bunch of soul singers returning to the chart with UK flops, some I know (Gladys Knight's charted for me in 1974), some are new to me (Sly Stone, Holland-Dozier, O'Jays, Jackie Wilson) and there's also Elvis with Raised On Rock, one I didn't like much at the time, but it's actually not too bad and means Elvis keeps his record with a new entry each retro year since 1967.

 

 

1 ( 1 ) SEBASTIAN - Cockney Rebel # 1

2 ( 3 ) TIME IN A BOTTLE - Jim Croce # 2

3 ( 2 ) MIND GAMES - John Lennon # 2

4 ( NEW ) UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME (THAT’S WHAT I’M GONNA DO) - Aretha Franklin # 4

5 ( 5 ) JOLENE - Dolly Parton # 5

6 ( 4 ) LIVING FOR THE CITY - Stevie Wonder # 4

7 ( 10 ) STREET LIFE - Roxy Music # 7

8 ( NEW ) ROLL AWAY THE STONE - Mott The Hoople featuring Thunderthighs# 8

9 ( 21 ) I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE - Gary Glitter & The Glitter Band # 9

10 ( 6 ) DO YOU WANNA DANCE - Barry Blue # 1

 

11 ( 7 ) MY COO CA CHOO - Alvin Stardust # 2

12 ( 12 ) DYNA-MITE - Mud # 5

13 ( 8 ) PHOTOGRAPH - Ringo Starr # 1

14 ( 19 ) HELEN WHEELS - Paul McCartney & Wings # 14

15 ( 14 ) HARMONY - Elton John # 14

16 ( 13 ) SHOWDOWN - Electric Light Orchestra # 1

17 ( 17 ) ROCK’N’ROLL (I GAVE YOU THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE) - Kevin Johnson # 17

18 ( 18 ) SHOW AND TELL - Al Wilson # 5

19 ( 29 ) AFTER THE GOLDRUSH - Prelude # 19

20 ( 9 ) BENNIE AND THE JETS - Elton John # 1

 

21 ( 22 ) WON’T SOMEBODY DANCE WITH ME - Lynsey De Paul featuring Ed Stewart # 21

22 ( 15 ) GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD - Elton John # 1

23 ( 11 ) COME AND GET YOUR LOVE - Redbone # 3

24 ( 24 ) AMOUREUSE - Kiki Dee # 24

25 ( 16 ) THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL - Charlie Rich # 6

26 ( NEW ) SEASON IN THE SUN - Terry Jacks # 26

27 ( 23 ) I KNOW WHAT I LIKE (IN YOUR WARDROBE) - Genesis # 12

28 ( 30 ) IF YOU’RE READY (COME GO WITH ME) - The Staple Singers # 28

29 ( 42 ) WHEREFORE AND WHY - Glen Campbell # 29

30 ( 27 ) DAYTONA DEMON - Suzi Quatro # 27

 

31 ( 20 ) NEVER NEVER GONNA GIVE YA UP - Barry White # 13

32 ( 37 ) THE SHOW MUST GO ON - Leo Sayer # 32

33 ( 26 ) THE BALLROOM BLITZ - The Sweet # 1

34 ( 54 ) BEYOND THE BLUE HORIZON - Lou Christie # 34

35 ( 34 ) DREAM ON - Aerosmith # 7

36 ( 36 ) KNOCKING ON HEAVEN’S DOOR - Bob Dylan # 1

37 ( 25 ) COME LIVE WITH ME - Ray Charles # 12

38 ( 49 ) MAMA NEVER TOLD ME - Sister Sledge # 38

39 ( 50 ) SPIDERS AND SNAKES - Jim Stafford # 39

40 ( 28 ) PEPPERBOX - The Peppers # 8

 

41 ( NEW ) YOU’RE SIXTEEN - Ringo Starr # 41

42 ( 40 ) I’M FREE - Roger Daltry & The London Symphony Orchestra # 1

43 ( 38 ) SPEED KILLS - 10CC # 1

44 ( 43 ) MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS - Maria Muldaur # 5

45 ( 32 ) TAKE ME HIGH - Cliff Richard # 28

46 ( 47 ) LAMPLIGHT - David Essex # 46

47 ( 41 ) RADAR LOVE - Golden Earring # 12

48 ( 45 ) DIRTY OL’ MAN - The Three Degrees # 40

49 ( 55 ) THE WOMBLING SONG - The Wombles # 49

50 ( 53 ) PIANO MAN - Billy Joel # 50

 

51 ( 31 ) THE AIR THAT I BREATHE - Phil Everly # 25

52 ( 39 ) NUTBUSH CITY LIMITS - Ike & Tina Turner # 1

53 ( 48 ) KEEP ON TRUCKIN’ (PART 1) - Eddie Kendricks # 4

54 ( 44 ) JOYBRINGER - Manfred Mann’s Earthband # 1

55 ( 46 ) THE LOVE I LOST (PART 1) - Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes # 10

56 ( 63 ) HYPNOTISED - Fleetwood Mac # 56

57 ( 33 ) ANOTHER ‘WITHOUT YOU’ DAY - Blue Mink # 21

58 ( 56 ) I DON’T KNOW HOW TO LOVE HIM - Yvonne Elliman # 1

59 ( 67 ) I THINK I’M OVER (GETTING OVER YOU) - Peter Noone # 59

60 ( NEW ) YOU WON’T FIND ANOTHER FOOL LIKE ME - The New Seekers featuring Lyn Paul # 60

 

61 ( NEW ) BRING ON THE LUCIE (FREDA PEEPLE) - John Lennon # 61

62 ( 35 ) FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND/LOVE LIES BLEEDING - Elton John # 35

63 ( NEW ) LOVE ON A MOUNTAIN TOP - Robert Knight # 63

64 ( 52 ) SAIL AROUND THE WORLD - David Gates # 52

65 ( 75 ) YOU’RE A STAR - Carl Wayne # 65

66 ( 71 ) I SHOT THE SHERIFF - Bob Marley & The Wailers # 66

67 ( 72 ) WHO’S IN THE STRAWBERRY PATCH WITH SALLY? - Dawn featuring Tony Orlando # 67

68 ( 77 ) THE OLD FASHIONED WAY - Charles Aznavour # 68

69 ( 51 ) THIS FLIGHT TONIGHT - Nazareth # 11

70 ( 79 ) WILD LOVE - Mungo Jerry # 70

 

71 ( 58 ) THE JOKER - The Steve Miller Band # 46

72 ( NEW ) TRUCK ON (TYKE) - T.Rex # 72

73 ( 80 ) LET ME BE THERE - Olivia Newton-John # 73

74 ( 78 ) WHY, OH WHY, OH WHY - Gilbert O’Sullivan # 74

75 ( NEW ) RING RING - The Vernons # 75

76 ( 74 ) WHEN I FALL IN LOVE - Donny Osmond # 74

77 ( NEW ) INTUITION - John Lennon # 77

78 ( 85 ) YOU’VE GOT MY SOUL ON FIRE - Edwin Starr # 78

79 ( NEW ) I’VE GOT TO USE MY IMAGINATION - Gladys Knight & The Pips # 79

80 ( 82 ) ME AND BABY BROTHER - War # 80

 

81 ( NEW ) IT’S ALL OVER - Jackie Wilson # 81

82 ( NEW ) NEW BREED KINDA WOMAN - Holland-Dozier # 82

83 ( NEW ) PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER - The O’Jays # 83

84 ( NEW ) RAISED ON ROCK - Elvis Presley # 84

85 ( NEW ) FRISKY - Sly & The Family Stone # 85

 

 

 

 

 

10th November 1973 My actual chart of that week way back then

 

It's a Dynamite chart-topper as Mud grab a 2nd number one in a row, and a third top 2, while Barry Blue's Glitter stomp is up to 3 as the Glitter bloke is back for a 6th top 5 in a row with his monster ballad, and a change of pace, I Love You Love Me Love new at 5. Suzi Q gets 3 top 10's in a row, Macca joins mucka Ringo in the top 10 for his 5th post-Beatles top 10, and it's a chart debut for String Driven Thing's radio-play track It's A Game, which I was a fan of, despite it flopping. It took the Bay City Rollers to turn it into a hit in 1977.

 

David Essex follows up with some quirky Lamplight at 21, Kiki Dee joins Elton's Rocket label and gets a first hit record with Amoureuse, a few years after signing with Motown (and not getting a hit), and in at 27. That leaves Mungo Jerry extending the run of top 30 hit singles to 3 years, as Wild Love becomes their 7th.

 

Starting this week on BBC1 classic sitcom Last Of The Summer Wine, a story about 3 retired old codgers having larks in the Yorkshire rural village that somehow managed to run for 37 years, and outlived 2of the 3 original stars due to a host of well-known British character actors. It's still quite fun on re-runs. Of course, The Simpsons is eyeing up that record these days...

 

Tommy Cooper was also back on telly, on ITV, just like that on the Tommy Cooper Hour, magic trick failures and all, a man who could get a laugh just looking at the audience and going "what?....what?...." From the States, Karl Malden and future movie star Michael Douglas starred in The Streets Of San Francisco, joining the invasion of US cop and PI shows of the 70's. Movie-wise, the fabulous Westworld, starring Yul Brynner as a robot cowboy, was out in the USA, and in the UK That'll Be The Day, a gritty 50's rock idol movie starring new hit singer David Essex, and 50's/60's hit singer Adam Faith, was doing well.

 

Disney-wise, animated Robin Hood, with a great cast of voices, was underwhelming as I took our neighbour-friend's daughter Joanne to see it in Gloucester, she was ooh, 7 or 8 I guess, and it gave me a great excuse to go and see the film without feeling so ridiculous aged 16 (by the time it came out in the UK, with the usual annoying delays for promo and anticipation build-up). Anything with Terry-Thomas and Peter Ustinov in is worthy to some extent though!

 

1 ( 2 ) DYNAMITE - Mud

2 ( 1 ) PHOTOGRAPH - Ringo Starr

3 ( 14 ) DO YOU WANNA DANCE - Barry Blue

4 ( 3 ) SHOWDOWN - Electric Light Orchestra

5 ( NEW ) I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE - Gary Glitter

6 ( 4 ) SORROW - David Bowie

7 ( 10 ) LONELY DAYS LONELY NIGHTS - Don Downing

8 ( 22 ) HELEN WHEELS - Paul McCartney & Wings

9 ( 12 ) DAYTONA DEMON - Suzi Quatro

10 ( 5 ) A HARD RAIN'S A GONNA FALL - Bryan Ferry

 

11 ( 16 ) MY COO CA CHOO - Alvin Stardust

12 ( 7 ) THE DAY THAT CURLY BILLY SHOT DOWN CRAZY SAM MCGEE - The Hollies

13 ( 6 ) GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD - Elton John

14 ( 25 ) LET ME IN - The Osmonds

15 ( 8 ) KNOCKIN’ ON HEAVEN’S DOOR - Bob Dylan

16 ( NEW ) IT’S A GAME - String Driven Thing

17 ( 20 ) DAYDREAMER/ THE PUPPY SONG - David Cassidy

18 ( 9 ) NUTBUSH CITY LIMITS - Ike & Tina Turner

19 ( 11 ) THIS FLIGHT TONIGHT - Nazareth

20 ( 24 ) KEEP ON TRUCKING - Eddie Kendricks

 

21 ( NEW ) LAMPLIGHT - David Essex

22 ( 27 ) DAN THE BANJO MAN - Dan The Banjo Man

23 ( 17 ) MY FRIEND STAN - Slade

24 ( 13 ) BALLROOM BLITZ - The Sweet

25 ( 18 ) WON'T SOMEBODY DANCE WITH ME - Lynsey De Paul

26 ( 30 ) WONDERFUL - Colin Blunstone

27 ( NEW ) AMOUREUSE - Kiki Dee

28 ( NEW ) WILD LOVE - Mungo Jerry

29 ( 29 ) SWEET UNDERSTANDING LOVE - The Four Tops

30 ( 21 ) JOYBRINGER - Manfred Mann’s Earthband

17th November 1973 Retro Revamp Charts

 

It's 4 weeks on top for the majestic Sebastian, no shifting Steve Harley & co, despite the brilliance of Time In A Bottle hanging in at 2, and Roxy Music climbing to 3 with the fabulous Street Life, still exciting. It's a quiet top 10 for a change, with only 5 new entries and a chance to chop the chart down to 80, which means Cozy Powell debuts his instrumental stomper Dance With The Devil at 11 - this was one I was to rhythmically drum out on my desk at school, just lacked the guitars a bit.

 

New at 15, Roy Wood's back with his 7th solo chart entry Forever, as usual all instruments and voices from Roy, and this is one I bought just before Xmas, the first new single since Mud's Hypnosis in the summer. As it says on the label, a bit of a tribute to Brian Wilson & Neil Sedaka in retro style. Most of my pocket money at this time went on blank reel-to-reel tapes, DC Comics, K-Tel albums, more DC Comics, cinema tickets, and even more DC Comics. DC was undergoing a revival, especially Legion Of Super-Heroes comics. Roy thus makes it the original line-up of The Move all featuring on the chart, with Bev Bevan in ELO and Carl Wayne lower down.

 

Talking of line-up's Buckingham Nicks debut at 54 with the very very future-Fleetwood Mac-sounding Don't Let Me Down Again, Lindsay & Stevie then boyfriend-girlfriend as well as a new act. Current Fleetwood Mac are just ahead at 53, but that line-up will change shortly leaving a gap and Rock immortality for Buckingham Nicks signing up. Kool & The gang get a 2nd entry with their first proper US hit, Jungle Boogie, future inclusion on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack album that sold in zillions, I think. That leaves Ronnie Lane debuting with How Come at 79, as The Faces prepare to drop a new Lane-free single any day now in 1973.

 

 

 

1 ( 1 ) SEBASTIAN - Cockney Rebel # 1

2 ( 2 ) TIME IN A BOTTLE - Jim Croce # 2

3 ( 7 ) STREET LIFE - Roxy Music # 3

4 ( 4 ) UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME (THAT’S WHAT I’M GONNA DO) - Aretha Franklin # 4

5 ( 3 ) MIND GAMES - John Lennon # 2

6 ( 6 ) LIVING FOR THE CITY - Stevie Wonder # 4

7 ( 8 ) ROLL AWAY THE STONE - Mott The Hoople featuring Thunderthighs # 7

8 ( 5 ) JOLENE - Dolly Parton # 5

9 ( 9 ) I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE - Gary Glitter & The Glitter Band # 9

10 ( 10 ) DO YOU WANNA DANCE - Barry Blue # 1

 

11 ( NEW ) DANCE WITH THE DEVIL - Cozy Powell # 11

12 ( 11 ) MY COO CA CHOO - Alvin Stardust # 2

13 ( 26 ) SEASONS IN THE SUN - Terry Jacks # 13

14 ( 12 ) DYNA-MITE - Mud # 5

15 ( NEW ) FOREVER - Roy Wood # 15

16 ( 17 ) ROCK’N’ROLL (I GAVE YOU THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE) - Kevin Johnson # 16

17 ( 13 ) PHOTOGRAPH - Ringo Starr # 1

18 ( 14 ) HELEN WHEELS - Paul McCartney & Wings # 14

19 ( 19 ) AFTER THE GOLDRUSH - Prelude # 19

20 ( 34 ) BEYOND THE BLUE HORIZON - Lou Christie # 20

 

21 ( 29 ) WHEREFORE AND WHY - Glen Campbell # 21

22 ( 30 ) DAYTONA DEMON - Suzi Quatro # 22

23 ( 16 ) SHOWDOWN - Electric Light Orchestra # 1

24 ( 21 ) WON’T SOMEBODY DANCE WITH ME - Lynsey De Paul featuring Ed Stewart # 21

25 ( 22 ) GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD - Elton John # 1

26 ( 25 ) THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL - Charlie Rich # 6

27 ( 41 ) YOU’RE SIXTEEN - Ringo Starr # 27

28 ( 23 ) COME AND GET YOUR LOVE - Redbone # 3

29 ( 15 ) HARMONY - Elton John # 14

30 ( 20 ) BENNIE AND THE JETS - Elton John # 1

 

31 ( 18 ) SHOW AND TELL - Al Wilson # 5

32 ( 39 ) SPIDERS AND SNAKES - Jim Stafford # 32

33 ( 38 ) MAMA NEVER TOLD ME - Sister Sledge # 33

34 ( 46 ) LAMPLIGHT - David Essex # 34

35 ( 37 ) COME LIVE WITH ME - Ray Charles # 12

36 ( 36 ) KNOCKING ON HEAVEN’S DOOR - Bob Dylan # 1

37 ( 50 ) PIANO MAN - Billy Joel # 37

38 ( 27 ) I KNOW WHAT I LIKE (IN YOUR WARDROBE) - Genesis # 12

39 ( 49 ) THE WOMBLING SONG - The Wombles # 39

40 ( 28 ) IF YOU’RE READY (COME GO WITH ME) - The Staple Singers # 28

 

41 ( 33 ) THE BALLROOM BLITZ - The Sweet # 1

42 ( 40 ) PEPPERBOX - The Peppers # 8

43 ( 31 ) NEVER NEVER GONNA GIVE YA UP - Barry White # 13

44 ( 44 ) MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS - Maria Muldaur # 5

45 ( 43 ) SPEED KILLS - 10CC # 1

46 ( 35 ) DREAM ON - Aerosmith # 7

47 ( 42 ) I’M FREE - Roger Daltry & The London Symphony Orchestra # 1

48 ( 47 ) RADAR LOVE - Golden Earring # 12

49 ( 32 ) THE SHOW MUST GO ON - Leo Sayer # 32

50 ( 61 ) BRING ON THE LUCIE (FREDA PEEPLE) - John Lennon # 50

 

51 ( 63 ) LOVE ON A MOUNTAIN TOP - Robert Knight # 51

52 ( 81 ) IT’S ALL OVER - Jackie Wilson # 52

53 ( 56 ) HYPNOTISED - Fleetwood Mac # 53

54 ( NEW ) DON’T LET ME DOWN AGAIN - Buckingham Nicks # 54

55 ( 59 ) I THINK I’M OVER (GETTING OVER YOU) - Peter Noone # 55

56 ( 24 ) AMOUREUSE - Kiki Dee # 24

57 ( 60 ) YOU WON’T FIND ANOTHER FOOL LIKE ME - The New Seekers featuring Lyn Paul # 57

58 ( 45 ) TAKE ME HIGH - Cliff Richard # 28

59 ( 55 ) THE LOVE I LOST (PART 1) - Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes # 10

60 ( 54 ) JOYBRINGER - Manfred Mann’s Earthband # 1

 

61 ( 52 ) NUTBUSH CITY LIMITS - Ike & Tina Turner # 1

62 ( 53 ) KEEP ON TRUCKIN’ (PART 1) - Eddie Kendricks # 4

63 ( 72 ) TRUCK ON (TYKE) - T.Rex # 63

64 ( 58 ) I DON’T KNOW HOW TO LOVE HIM - Yvonne Elliman # 1

65 ( 68 ) THE OLD FASHIONED WAY - Charles Aznavour # 65

66 ( 82 ) NEW BREED KINDA WOMAN - Holland-Dozier # 66

67 ( 78 ) YOU’VE GOT MY SOUL ON FIRE - Edwin Starr # 67

68 ( 67 ) WHO’S IN THE STRAWBERRY PATCH WITH SALLY? - Dawn featuring Tony Orlando # 67

69 ( 74 ) WHY, OH WHY, OH WHY - Gilbert O’Sullivan # 69

70 ( 73 ) LET ME BE THERE - Olivia Newton-John # 70

 

71 ( 75 ) RING RING - The Vernons # 71

72 ( 79 ) I’VE GOT TO USE MY IMAGINATION - Gladys Knight & The Pips # 72

73 ( 65 ) YOU’RE A STAR - Carl Wayne # 65

74 ( NEW ) JUNGLE BOOGIE - Kool & The Gang # 74

75 ( 70 ) WILD LOVE - Mungo Jerry # 70

76 ( 77 ) INTUITION - John Lennon # 76

77 ( 83 ) PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER - The O’Jays # 77

78 ( 76 ) WHEN I FALL IN LOVE - Donny Osmond # 74

79 ( NEW ) HOW COME? - Ronnie Lane & Slim Chance # 79

80 ( 84 ) RAISED ON ROCK - Elvis Presley # 80

 

 

 

 

 

17th November 1973 My chart that week then

 

It's 2 weeks on top for Mud in my chart of 50 years ago, but 2 Glitter Rock tracks are challenging at 2 and 3 from Barry Blue & Gary Glitter, with an ex-Beatle at 4, and a new Glam Rock star at 6, Coo Ca Choo going up. Not in the UK charts, but up to 10 for me, It's A Game from String Driven Thing. Highest new entry comes from Mott The Hoople on single 4, Roll Away The Stone with added Thunderthighs on Top Of The Pops, and a hand push-push routine that the girls at school loved miming, new in at 17.

 

Marie makes a 4th Osmonds act to chart, as the country-styled Paper Roses is new at 19, and Roxy Music drive right on in with Street Life at 27, a sort of Virginia Plain + exciting Glam track with unusual song construction and sounds. The Jackson 5 got a flop in the UK with Get It Together, but it pops in here at 28, and Gilbert sneaks in with his dull-sounding then Why Oh Why Oh Why, but which sounds more sweet than dull these days.

 

 

1 ( 1 ) DYNAMITE - Mud

2 ( 3 ) DO YOU WANNA DANCE - Barry Blue

3 ( 5 ) I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE - Gary Glitter

4 ( 8 ) HELEN WHEELS - Paul McCartney & Wings

5 ( 2 ) PHOTOGRAPH - Ringo Starr

6 ( 11 ) MY COO CA CHOO - Alvin Stardust

7 ( 7 ) LONELY DAYS LONELY NIGHTS - Don Downing

8 ( 9 ) DAYTONA DEMON - Suzi Quatro

9 ( 4 ) SHOWDOWN - Electric Light Orchestra

10 ( 16 ) IT’S A GAME - String Driven Thing

 

11 ( 6 ) SORROW - David Bowie

12 ( 21 ) LAMPLIGHT - David Essex

13 ( 14 ) LET ME IN - The Osmonds

14 ( 17 ) DAYDREAMER/ THE PUPPY SONG - David Cassidy

15 ( 20 ) KEEP ON TRUCKING - Eddie Kendricks

16 ( 13 ) GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD - Elton John

17 ( NEW ) ROLL AWAY THE STONE - Mott The Hoople

18 ( 28 ) WILD LOVE - Mungo Jerry

19 ( NEW ) PAPER ROSES - Marie Osmond

20 ( 19 ) THIS FLIGHT TONIGHT - Nazareth

 

21 ( 22 ) DAN THE BANJO MAN - Dan The Banjo Man

22 ( 26 ) WONDERFUL - Colin Blunstone

23 ( 27 ) AMOUREUSE - Kiki Dee

24 ( 15 ) KNOCKIN’ ON HEAVEN’S DOOR - Bob Dylan

25 ( 30 ) JOYBRINGER - Manfred Mann’s Earthband

26 ( 23 ) MY FRIEND STAN - Slade

27 ( NEW ) STREET LIFE - Roxy Music

28 ( NEW ) GET IT TOGETHER - The Jackson 5

29 ( 10 ) A HARD RAIN'S A GONNA FALL - Bryan Ferry

30 ( NEW ) WHY OH WHY OH WHY - Gilbert O'Sullivan

24th November 1973

 

It's Jim Croce on top, with the sublimely poignant Time In A Bottle holding off Aretha Franklin's Stevie Wonder song at 2, with highest new entry at 3 coming from Roy Wood's Wizzard christmas classic. I went out to buy the gatefold cover christmas single, along with his new solo single Forever, up to 10. My brother opted for the next Slade single. We were both right, as 50 years later they have never stopped being played. To the point where my deep love has suffered from over-saturation. Still joyous though. Forever, meanwhile, has been forgotten.

 

Barry White is back again, in his Love Unlimited Orchestra guise and a US chart-topper in Love's Theme, just a fab lush disco tune new at 6, one place ahead of a debut from Hall & Oates. They are currently at legal logger-heads, but back then She's Gone was harmonious delight, and the Abandoned Luncheonette album had the fab When The Morning Comes to boot, new in at 26. New at 36, another UK Xmas classic, as Elton John's Step Into Christmas debuts as 36, making 4 Elton top 40's all at once. I never rated it that much, but it eventually surpassed it's modest chart performance and went top 10 in the 21st century when you didn't need to buy records to get a hit, you just needed a streaming platform to playlist it upfront.

 

Melanie covers Carole King's 60's classic song, and is rewarded with her biggest hit in 2 years, at 52, while Geordie drop their last substantial single in Black Cat Woman, a total Halloween song released too late, and calling out to be rediscovered as it sounds more AC/DC than other Geordie hits. Stealers Wheel make it a 4th chart entry with Star, White Plains return with Julie Ann as they push 4 years of chart entries - this one flopped, but turns out to be one I recognise but never charted or taped. So 50 years later it scrapes in at 78. Finally Rod and mates are back with Pool Hall Richard, the least of their singles, and still only their 4th charting retro track. Rod's had loads and will have loads for decades to come of course.

 

 

1 ( 2 ) TIME IN A BOTTLE - Jim Croce # 1

2 ( 4 ) UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME (THAT’S WHAT I’M GONNA DO) - Aretha Franklin # 2

3 ( NEW ) I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS EVERYDAY - Wizzard # 3

4 ( 1 ) SEBASTIAN - Cockney Rebel # 1

5 ( 5 ) MIND GAMES - John Lennon # 2

6 ( NEW ) LOVE’S THEME - Love Unlimited Orchestra # 6

7 ( NEW ) SHE’S GONE - Daryl Hall & John Oates # 7

8 ( 11 ) DANCE WITH THE DEVIL - Cozy Powell # 8

9 ( 6 ) LIVING FOR THE CITY - Stevie Wonder # 4

10 ( 15 ) FOREVER - Roy Wood # 10

 

11 ( 3 ) STREET LIFE - Roxy Music # 3

12 ( 13 ) SEASONS IN THE SUN - Terry Jacks # 12

13 ( 10 ) DO YOU WANNA DANCE - Barry Blue # 1

14 ( 7 ) ROLL AWAY THE STONE - Mott The Hoople featuring Thunderthighs # 7

15 ( 8 ) JOLENE - Dolly Parton # 5

16 ( 12 ) MY COO CA CHOO - Alvin Stardust # 2

17 ( 14 ) DYNA-MITE - Mud # 5

18 ( 9 ) I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE - Gary Glitter & The Glitter Band # 9

19 ( 27 ) YOU’RE SIXTEEN - Ringo Starr # 19

20 ( 20 ) BEYOND THE BLUE HORIZON - Lou Christie # 20

 

21 ( 18 ) HELEN WHEELS - Paul McCartney & Wings # 14

22 ( 34 ) LAMPLIGHT - David Essex # 22

23 ( 19 ) AFTER THE GOLDRUSH - Prelude # 19

24 ( 23 ) SHOWDOWN - Electric Light Orchestra # 1

25 ( 40 ) IF YOU’RE READY (COME GO WITH ME) - The Staple Singers # 25

26 ( NEW ) WHEN THE MORNING COMES - Daryl Hall & John Oates # 26

27 ( 17 ) PHOTOGRAPH - Ringo Starr # 1

28 ( 26 ) THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL - Charlie Rich # 6

29 ( 30 ) BENNIE AND THE JETS - Elton John # 1

30 ( 32 ) SPIDERS AND SNAKES - Jim Stafford # 30

 

31 ( 33 ) MAMA NEVER TOLD ME - Sister Sledge # 31

32 ( 31 ) SHOW AND TELL - Al Wilson # 5

33 ( 25 ) GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD - Elton John # 1

34 ( 29 ) HARMONY - Elton John # 14

35 ( 53 ) HYPNOTISED - Fleetwood Mac # 35

36 ( NEW ) STEP INTO CHRISTMAS - Elton John # 36

37 ( 16 ) ROCK’N’ROLL (I GAVE YOU THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE) - Kevin Johnson # 16

38 ( 50 ) BRING ON THE LUCIE (FREDA PEEPLE) - John Lennon # 38

39 ( 36 ) KNOCKING ON HEAVEN’S DOOR - Bob Dylan # 1

40 ( 24 ) WON’T SOMEBODY DANCE WITH ME - Lynsey De Paul featuring Ed Stewart # 21

 

41 ( 28 ) COME AND GET YOUR LOVE - Redbone # 3

42 ( 21 ) WHEREFORE AND WHY - Glen Campbell # 21

43 ( 52 ) IT’S ALL OVER - Jackie Wilson # 43

44 ( 41 ) THE BALLROOM BLITZ - The Sweet # 1

45 ( 22 ) DAYTONA DEMON - Suzi Quatro # 22

46 ( 42 ) PEPPERBOX - The Peppers # 8

47 ( 44 ) MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS - Maria Muldaur # 5

48 ( 35 ) COME LIVE WITH ME - Ray Charles # 12

49 ( 51 ) LOVE ON A MOUNTAIN TOP - Robert Knight # 49

50 ( 39 ) THE WOMBLING SONG - The Wombles # 39

 

51 ( 55 ) I THINK I’M OVER (GETTING OVER YOU) - Peter Noone # 51

52 ( NEW ) WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW - Melanie # 52

53 ( 66 ) NEW BREED KINDA WOMAN - Holland-Dozier # 53

54 ( 54 ) DON’T LET ME DOWN AGAIN - Buckingham Nicks # 54

55 ( 45 ) SPEED KILLS - 10CC # 1

56 ( 47 ) I’M FREE - Roger Daltry & The London Symphony Orchestra # 1

57 ( 57 ) YOU WON’T FIND ANOTHER FOOL LIKE ME - The New Seekers featuring Lyn Paul # 57

58 ( 38 ) I KNOW WHAT I LIKE (IN YOUR WARDROBE) - Genesis # 12

59 ( 59 ) THE LOVE I LOST (PART 1) - Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes # 10

60 ( 63 ) TRUCK ON (TYKE) - T.Rex # 60

 

61 ( 46 ) DREAM ON - Aerosmith # 7

62 ( 48 ) RADAR LOVE - Golden Earring # 12

63 ( 61 ) NUTBUSH CITY LIMITS - Ike & Tina Turner # 1

64 ( 60 ) JOYBRINGER - Manfred Mann’s Earthband # 1

65 ( 65 ) THE OLD FASHIONED WAY - Charles Aznavour # 65

66 ( 43 ) NEVER NEVER GONNA GIVE YA UP - Barry White # 13

67 ( 68 ) WHO’S IN THE STRAWBERRY PATCH WITH SALLY? - Dawn featuring Tony Orlando # 67

68 ( 74 ) JUNGLE BOOGIE - Kool & The Gang # 68

69 ( 69 ) WHY, OH WHY, OH WHY - Gilbert O’Sullivan # 69

70 ( 37 ) PIANO MAN - Billy Joel # 37

 

71 ( 71 ) RING RING - The Vernons # 71

72 ( NEW ) BLACK CAT WOMAN - Geordie # 72

73 ( 72 ) I’VE GOT TO USE MY IMAGINATION - Gladys Knight & The Pips # 72

74 ( NEW ) STAR - Stealers Wheel # 74

75 ( 70 ) LET ME BE THERE - Olivia Newton-John # 70

76 ( 79 ) HOW COME? - Ronnie Lane & Slim Chance # 76

77 ( 62 ) KEEP ON TRUCKIN’ (PART 1) - Eddie Kendricks # 4

78 ( NEW ) JULIE ANN - White Plains # 78

79 ( 67 ) YOU’VE GOT MY SOUL ON FIRE - Edwin Starr # 67

80 ( NEW ) POOL HALL RICHARD - The Faces # 80

 

 

 

 

 

 

24th November 1973 my chart of the time Gloucester

 

It's Barry Blue Glam-Rocking Mud off the top spot 50 years ago, with Alvin threatening at 2 for a full-on Glam top 4. Mott The Hoople make it 4 top 10's in a row, and David Essex 2 in a row, while Eddie Kendricks gets his first post-Temptations top 10 - and his last! T.Rex are back and can only manage 14 with Truck On (Tyke), the lowest debut for Marc Bolan to date. The tide of school public opinion had definitely changed with this single.

 

Robert Knight's Northern Soul oldie was bringing some 60's cheer to the charts, new at 18, and it was fab to see him getting a hit after Everlasting Love got covered by The Love Affair. I recall one of the cooler classroom lads, who went to the local disco (I didn't) bought Love On A Mountain Top - and then fell out of love with it very quickly, regretting his purchase. The New Seekers are back again after a series of minor hits, switched lead vocalist to Lyn Paul, gone old-time sing-song, and grab a huge UK hit that I wasn't too fussed about, new in at 26. But ahead of John Lennon's first new single in 2 years (Happy Xmas was held back in the UK), the fab Mind Games under-performed, sadly.

 

 

1 ( 2 ) DO YOU WANNA DANCE - Barry Blue

2 ( 6 ) MY COO CA CHOO - Alvin Stardust

3 ( 1 ) DYNAMITE - Mud

4 ( 3 ) I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE - Gary Glitter

5 ( 5 ) PHOTOGRAPH - Ringo Starr

6 ( 10 ) IT’S A GAME - String Driven Thing

7 ( 17 ) ROLL AWAY THE STONE - Mott The Hoople

8 ( 12 ) LAMPLIGHT - David Essex

9 ( 4 ) HELEN WHEELS - Paul McCartney & Wings

10 ( 15 ) KEEP ON TRUCKING - Eddie Kendricks

 

11 ( 7 ) LONELY DAYS LONELY NIGHTS - Don Downing

12 ( 27 ) STREET LIFE - Roxy Music

13 ( 9 ) SHOWDOWN - Electric Light Orchestra

14 ( NEW ) TRUCK ON (TYKE) - T.Rex

15 ( 8 ) DAYTONA DEMON - Suzi Quatro

16 ( 23 ) AMOUREUSE - Kiki Dee

17 ( 11 ) SORROW - David Bowie

18 ( NEW ) LOVE ON A MOUNTAIN TOP - Robert Knight

19 ( 16 ) GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD - Elton John

20 ( 28 ) GET IT TOGETHER - The Jackson 5

 

21 ( 14 ) DAYDREAMER/ THE PUPPY SONG - David Cassidy

22 ( 25 ) JOYBRINGER - Manfred Mann’s Earthband

23 ( 18 ) WILD LOVE - Mungo Jerry

24 ( 19 ) PAPER ROSES - Marie Osmond

25 ( 13 ) LET ME IN - The Osmonds

26 ( NEW ) YOU WON'T FIND ANOTHER FOOL LIKE ME - The New Seekers

27 ( NEW ) MIND GAMES - John Lennon

28 ( 20 ) THIS FLIGHT TONIGHT - Nazareth

29 ( 21 ) DAN THE BANJO MAN - Dan The Banjo Man

30 ( 30 ) WHY OH WHY OH WHY - Gilbert O'Sullivan

1st December 1973

 

It's a brand new entry at 1 as Paul McCartney & Wings drop their no-contest-greatest-album, Band On The Run, with no singles (though the USA got Helen Wheels as an extra), and the highly-featured track on Radio 1 during the album chart shows of Johnnie Walker at lunchtimes was Jet, a masterpiece. I changed my chart rules in January 1974 to allow album tracks as I was severely pissed off that my favourite record of the time wasn't a single. It topped my charts of the time for 4 weeks, and again in April when it finally got a UK single release. So, as I didn't wait in 1974 to chart it, I'm not waiting now either. Paul's 3rd post-Beatles chart-topper in my Retro charts. Other tracks will feature next week.

 

Terry Jacks gets his Canadian biggie into the top 10, also months ahead of UK release, and Love Unlimited debut at 10, keeping their Orchestra (and Barry White) company at the top end of the charts with It May Be Winter Outside, which didn't hit until January 1975 in the UK, and it's a second top 10 for Mrs. White & friends. Anne Murray is back with another goodie, A Love Song at 31, keeping her run of chart years going for a 4th year. She never had big UK hits (just 2 minor hits) but she was consistently on UK TV variety shows, and generally classy.

 

Peter Noone gets his first top 40 single in a while (and probably his last) and the UK's instant chart-topper has a modest entry at 44 for Merry Christmas Everybody, the anthem of December 1973, a time of strikes, power cuts, 3-day weeks, and TV off at 10pm every night. Glam Rock was colourful and invigorating on Top Of The Pops, but 50 years of non-stop plays for Slade, Wizzard and Elton John has left me not wanting to hear any of them for a decade or so. The first 30 years were fine, but there's never been a break from them, so they are all under-performing here. My brother bought Slade the same day I bought Wizzard, shopping with mum in Gloucester.

 

Albert Hammond keeps the quality songs coming, such a shame that the one that hit for him wasnt that great, but his flops and gifted songs to other acts were. Half A Million Miles From Home is a great title, new at 65. Joni Mitchell has a new US single out, and as usual it'll take 3 or 4 months to drop in the UK, Raised On Robbery was one I took a shine to, along with her Old Grey Whistle Test plays for the Court & Spark album, which is a good'un. In at 72, and in the bottom slot it's Harry Chapin's melancholy W.O.L.D., another 1974 UK minor hit. Poor Harry died young in an accident in 1981 driving to a free charity concert, hit from behind by a lorry.

 

 

1 ( NEW ) JET - Paul McCartney & Wings # 1

2 ( 4 ) SEBASTIAN - Cockney Rebel # 1

3 ( 1 ) TIME IN A BOTTLE - Jim Croce # 1

4 ( 8 ) DANCE WITH THE DEVIL - Cozy Powell # 4

5 ( 6 ) LOVE’S THEME - Love Unlimited Orchestra # 5

6 ( 7 ) SHE’S GONE - Daryl Hall & John Oates # 6

7 ( 2 ) UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME (THAT’S WHAT I’M GONNA DO) - Aretha Franklin # 2

8 ( 5 ) MIND GAMES - John Lennon # 2

9 ( 12 ) SEASONS IN THE SUN - Terry Jacks # 9

10 ( NEW ) IT MAY BE WINTER OUTSIDE (BUT IN MY HEART IT’S SPRING) - Love Unlimited # 10

 

11 ( 26 ) WHEN THE MORNING COMES - Daryl Hall & John Oates # 11

12 ( 3 ) I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS EVERYDAY - Wizzard # 3

13 ( 9 ) LIVING FOR THE CITY - Stevie Wonder # 4

14 ( 10 ) FOREVER - Roy Wood # 10

15 ( 14 ) ROLL AWAY THE STONE - Mott The Hoople featuring Thunderthighs # 7

16 ( 11 ) STREET LIFE - Roxy Music # 3

17 ( 20 ) BEYOND THE BLUE HORIZON - Lou Christie # 17

18 ( 13 ) DO YOU WANNA DANCE - Barry Blue # 1

19 ( 19 ) YOU’RE SIXTEEN - Ringo Starr # 19

20 ( 22 ) LAMPLIGHT - David Essex # 20

 

21 ( 15 ) JOLENE - Dolly Parton # 5

22 ( 16 ) MY COO CA CHOO - Alvin Stardust # 2

23 ( 25 ) IF YOU’RE READY (COME GO WITH ME) - The Staple Singers # 23

24 ( 17 ) DYNA-MITE - Mud # 5

25 ( 21 ) HELEN WHEELS - Paul McCartney & Wings # 14

26 ( 36 ) STEP INTO CHRISTMAS - Elton John # 26

27 ( 24 ) SHOWDOWN - Electric Light Orchestra # 1

28 ( 27 ) PHOTOGRAPH - Ringo Starr # 1

29 ( 49 ) LOVE ON A MOUNTAIN TOP - Robert Knight # 29

30 ( 23 ) AFTER THE GOLDRUSH - Prelude # 19

 

31 ( NEW ) A LOVE SONG - Anne Murray # 31

32 ( 18 ) I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE - Gary Glitter & The Glitter Band # 9

33 ( 28 ) THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL - Charlie Rich # 6

34 ( 31 ) MAMA NEVER TOLD ME - Sister Sledge # 31

35 ( 30 ) SPIDERS AND SNAKES - Jim Stafford # 30

36 ( 43 ) IT’S ALL OVER - Jackie Wilson # 36

37 ( 32 ) SHOW AND TELL - Al Wilson # 5

38 ( 29 ) BENNIE AND THE JETS - Elton John # 1

39 ( 33 ) GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD - Elton John # 1

40 ( 51 ) I THINK I’M OVER (GETTING OVER YOU) - Peter Noone # 40

 

41 ( 52 ) WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW - Melanie # 41

42 ( 41 ) COME AND GET YOUR LOVE - Redbone # 3

43 ( 38 ) BRING ON THE LUCIE (FREDA PEEPLE) - John Lennon # 38

44 ( NEW ) MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY - Slade # 44

45 ( 39 ) KNOCKING ON HEAVEN’S DOOR - Bob Dylan # 1

46 ( 44 ) THE BALLROOM BLITZ - The Sweet # 1

47 ( 80 ) POOL HALL RICHARD - The Faces # 47

48 ( 53 ) NEW BREED KINDA WOMAN - Holland-Dozier # 48

49 ( 47 ) MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS - Maria Muldaur # 5

50 ( 34 ) HARMONY - Elton John # 14

 

51 ( 48 ) COME LIVE WITH ME - Ray Charles # 12

52 ( 57 ) YOU WON’T FIND ANOTHER FOOL LIKE ME - The New Seekers featuring Lyn Paul # 52

53 ( 46 ) PEPPERBOX - The Peppers # 8

54 ( 68 ) JUNGLE BOOGIE - Kool & The Gang # 54

55 ( 55 ) SPEED KILLS - 10CC # 1

56 ( 54 ) DON’T LET ME DOWN AGAIN - Buckingham Nicks # 54

57 ( 56 ) I’M FREE - Roger Daltry & The London Symphony Orchestra # 1

58 ( 74 ) STAR - Stealers Wheel # 58

59 ( 72 ) BLACK CAT WOMAN - Geordie # 59

60 ( 40 ) WON’T SOMEBODY DANCE WITH ME - Lynsey De Paul featuring Ed Stewart # 21

 

61 ( 35 ) HYPNOTISED - Fleetwood Mac # 35

62 ( 37 ) ROCK’N’ROLL (I GAVE YOU THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE) - Kevin Johnson # 16

63 ( 60 ) TRUCK ON (TYKE) - T.Rex # 60

64 ( 59 ) THE LOVE I LOST (PART 1) - Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes # 10

65 ( NEW ) HALF A MILLION MILES FROM HOME - Albert Hammond # 65

66 ( 42 ) WHEREFORE AND WHY - Glen Campbell # 21

67 ( 65 ) THE OLD FASHIONED WAY - Charles Aznavour # 65

68 ( 64 ) JOYBRINGER - Manfred Mann’s Earthband # 1

69 ( 63 ) NUTBUSH CITY LIMITS - Ike & Tina Turner # 1

70 ( 78 ) JULIE ANN - White Plains # 70

 

71 ( 45 ) DAYTONA DEMON - Suzi Quatro # 22

72 ( NEW ) RAISED ON ROBBERY - Joni Mitchell # 72

73 ( 67 ) WHO’S IN THE STRAWBERRY PATCH WITH SALLY? - Dawn featuring Tony Orlando # 67

74 ( 76 ) HOW COME? - Ronnie Lane & Slim Chance # 74

75 ( NEW ) W.O.L.D. - Harry Chapin # 75

 

1st December 1973

 

It's a first week on top for Alvin Stardust as his Coo Ca Choo holds off Mott The Hoople, who get a second number 2 with Roll Away The Stone. Roxy Music meanwhile hit a new peak of 4 with Street Life, holding off a double Roy Wood threat, with I Wish It Could Be Christmas announcing it's arrival for non-stop christmas plays for the next half-century at 5, and as I buy it complete with picture gatefold sleeve, along with Roy's solo single Forever, in a week or two as Glam helps us get through the 3-day week - that's days off school, food shortages, power cuts, and no TV after 10pm to force everyone to go to bed - cue a baby boom in August 1974. Want to know why record sales boomed in December 1973? There's was eff all else to do! Glam Rock kept us going!

 

Roy's record had a long credit to Brian Wilson and Neil Sedaka, as the style of it shows, with as usual every layered harmong vocal, lead vocal and instrument, and production, a one-man show. I was seriously impressed. It's not lasted in the same league that Wizzard has, but hey ho. T.Rex get a last top 10 for 18 months, for a double Truckin' top 10, and drum hero Cozy Powell debuted the monster instrumental Dance With The Devil, one I played on my school desk. I could have been a drummer, no prob, if it weren't for lack of cash and a serious record buying and DC comics habit. New at 21.

 

 

Cliff's got a new film coming out with Debbie Watling, Take Me High was a flop, not really jolly like his old movies, and not a jolly time generally, so that was a drawback. The record's got a great intro though, and is pretty good, new at 25. Drupi from Italy is ironically named, as, much like the cartoon character, Vado Via is a bit morose. New at 27. That leaves Dutch band Golden earring getting a UK hit with the fabulous rock track Radar Love, in at 30.

 

 

1 ( 2 ) MY COO CA CHOO - Alvin Stardust

2 ( 7 ) ROLL AWAY THE STONE - Mott The Hoople

3 ( 1 ) DO YOU WANNA DANCE - Barry Blue

4 ( 12 ) STREET LIFE - Roxy Music

5 ( NEW ) I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS EVERYDAY - Wizzard

6 ( NEW ) FOREVER - Roy Wood

7 ( 5 ) PHOTOGRAPH - Ringo Starr

8 ( 3 ) DYNAMITE - Mud

9 ( 10 ) KEEP ON TRUCKING - Eddie Kendricks

10 ( 14 ) TRUCK ON (TYKE) - T.Rex

 

11 ( 8 ) LAMPLIGHT - David Essex

12 ( 4 ) I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE - Gary Glitter

13 ( 18 ) LOVE ON A MOUNTAIN TOP - Robert Knight

14 ( 16 ) AMOUREUSE - Kiki Dee

15 ( 26 ) YOU WON'T FIND ANOTHER FOOL LIKE ME - The New Seekers

16 ( 9 ) HELEN WHEELS - Paul McCartney & Wings

17 ( 27 ) MIND GAMES - John Lennon

18 ( 6 ) IT’S A GAME - String Driven Thing

19 ( 11 ) LONELY DAYS LONELY NIGHTS - Don Downing

20 ( 13 ) SHOWDOWN - Electric Light Orchestra

 

21 ( NEW ) DANCE WITH THE DEVIL - Cozy Powell

22 ( 15 ) DAYTONA DEMON - Suzi Quatro

23 ( 19 ) GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD - Elton John

24 ( 20 ) GET IT TOGETHER - The Jackson 5

25 ( NEW ) TAKE ME HIGH - Cliff Richard

26 ( 22 ) SWEET UNDERSTANDING LOVE - The Four Tops

27 ( NEW ) VADO VIA - Drupi

28 ( 17 ) SORROW - David Bowie

29 ( 25 ) LET ME IN - The Osmonds

30 ( NEW ) RADAR LOVE - Golden Earring

 

 

 

8th December 1973

 

It's 2 weeks on top for Jet as Macca's Band On The Run album debuts another 4 tracks to join the 2 singles already listed. The highest-placed newie is Mrs Vandebilt at 43, on I got into (and charted) summer of '74 when it got played on Johnny Walker's album chart rundown when the album was still dominating much of 1974. Roy Wood is back up to a new peak of 7 with Forever, Peter Noone gets his biggest track since 1969 when Herman's Hermits was a thing. Slade make it another top 20 with the Xmas classic - but overplays of all 3 1973 classics for the last 50 years have dented their current appeal to me.

 

The Isleys make it 2 in a row with Highways Of My Life entering at 29, Gregg Allman debuts his Midnight Rider, 2 years ahead of the brilliant Paul Davidson reggae cover, and The Pioneers beat Showaddywaddy by a few years in covering reggae-stylee the old Jarmels 50's song.

 

 

1 ( 1 ) JET - Paul McCartney & Wings # 1

2 ( 2 ) SEBASTIAN - Cockney Rebel # 1

3 ( 3 ) TIME IN A BOTTLE - Jim Croce # 1

4 ( 5 ) LOVE’S THEME - Love Unlimited Orchestra # 4

5 ( 6 ) SHE’S GONE - Daryl Hall & John Oates # 5

6 ( 4 ) DANCE WITH THE DEVIL - Cozy Powell # 4

7 ( 14 ) FOREVER - Roy Wood # 7

8 ( 10 ) IT MAY BE WINTER OUTSIDE (BUT IN MY HEART IT’S SPRING) - Love Unlimited # 8

9 ( 11 ) WHEN THE MORNING COMES - Daryl Hall & John Oates # 9

10 ( 7 ) UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME (THAT’S WHAT I’M GONNA DO) - Aretha Franklin # 2

 

11 ( 8 ) MIND GAMES - John Lennon # 2

12 ( 12 ) I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS EVERYDAY - Wizzard # 3

13 ( 13 ) LIVING FOR THE CITY - Stevie Wonder # 4

14 ( 9 ) SEASONS IN THE SUN - Terry Jacks # 9

15 ( 16 ) STREET LIFE - Roxy Music # 3

16 ( 15 ) ROLL AWAY THE STONE - Mott The Hoople featuring Thunderthighs # 7

17 ( 40 ) I THINK I’M OVER (GETTING OVER YOU) - Peter Noone # 17

18 ( 44 ) MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY - Slade # 18

19 ( 31 ) A LOVE SONG - Anne Murray # 19

20 ( 26 ) STEP INTO CHRISTMAS - Elton John # 20

 

21 ( 17 ) BEYOND THE BLUE HORIZON - Lou Christie # 17

22 ( 19 ) YOU’RE SIXTEEN - Ringo Starr # 19

23 ( 21 ) JOLENE - Dolly Parton # 5

24 ( 24 ) DYNA-MITE - Mud # 5

25 ( 18 ) DO YOU WANNA DANCE - Barry Blue # 1

26 ( 25 ) HELEN WHEELS - Paul McCartney & Wings # 14

27 ( 22 ) MY COO CA CHOO - Alvin Stardust # 2

28 ( 36 ) IT’S ALL OVER - Jackie Wilson # 28

29 ( NEW ) HIGHWAYS OF MY LIFE - The Isley Brothers # 29

30 ( 27 ) SHOWDOWN - Electric Light Orchestra # 1

 

31 ( 28 ) PHOTOGRAPH - Ringo Starr # 1

32 ( 32 ) I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE - Gary Glitter & The Glitter Band # 9

33 ( 20 ) LAMPLIGHT - David Essex # 20

34 ( 33 ) THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL - Charlie Rich # 6

35 ( 41 ) WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW - Melanie # 35

36 ( 23 ) IF YOU’RE READY (COME GO WITH ME) - The Staple Singers # 23

37 ( 65 ) HALF A MILLION MILES FROM HOME - Albert Hammond # 37

38 ( 38 ) BENNIE AND THE JETS - Elton John # 1

39 ( 47 ) POOL HALL RICHARD - The Faces # 39

40 ( 58 ) STAR - Stealers Wheel # 40

 

41 ( 37 ) SHOW AND TELL - Al Wilson # 5

42 ( 39 ) GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD - Elton John # 1

43 ( NEW ) MRS. VANDEBILT - Paul McCartney & Wings # 43

44 ( 29 ) LOVE ON A MOUNTAIN TOP - Robert Knight # 29

45 ( 45 ) KNOCKING ON HEAVEN’S DOOR - Bob Dylan # 1

46 ( 42 ) COME AND GET YOUR LOVE - Redbone # 3

47 ( 30 ) AFTER THE GOLDRUSH - Prelude # 19

48 ( 48 ) NEW BREED KINDA WOMAN - Holland-Dozier # 48

49 ( 46 ) THE BALLROOM BLITZ - The Sweet # 1

50 ( 59 ) BLACK CAT WOMAN - Geordie # 50

 

51 ( 51 ) COME LIVE WITH ME - Ray Charles # 12

52 ( 52 ) YOU WON’T FIND ANOTHER FOOL LIKE ME - The New Seekers featuring Lyn Paul # 52

53 ( 56 ) DON’T LET ME DOWN AGAIN - Buckingham Nicks # 53

54 ( 54 ) JUNGLE BOOGIE - Kool & The Gang # 54

55 ( 35 ) SPIDERS AND SNAKES - Jim Stafford # 30

56 ( 55 ) SPEED KILLS - 10CC # 1

57 ( 53 ) PEPPERBOX - The Peppers # 8

58 ( 49 ) MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS - Maria Muldaur # 5

59 ( 43 ) BRING ON THE LUCIE (FREDA PEEPLE) - John Lennon # 38

60 ( 34 ) MAMA NEVER TOLD ME - Sister Sledge # 31

 

61 ( 72 ) RAISED ON ROBBERY - Joni Mitchell # 61

62 ( 70 ) JULIE ANN - White Plains # 62

63 ( 57 ) I’M FREE - Roger Daltry & The London Symphony Orchestra # 1

64 ( 50 ) HARMONY - Elton John # 14

65 ( 64 ) THE LOVE I LOST (PART 1) - Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes # 10

66 ( 75 ) W.O.L.D. - Harry Chapin # 66

67 ( NEW ) BLUEBIRD - Paul McCartney & Wings # 67

68 ( NEW ) NINETEEN HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FIVE - Paul McCartney & Wings # 68

69 ( 63 ) TRUCK ON (TYKE) - T.Rex # 60

70 ( NEW ) MAMUNIA - Paul McCartney & Wings # 70

 

71 ( 74 ) HOW COME? - Ronnie Lane & Slim Chance # 71

72 ( 68 ) JOYBRINGER - Manfred Mann’s Earthband # 1

73 ( NEW ) MIDNIGHT RIDER - Gregg Allman # 73

74 ( 69 ) NUTBUSH CITY LIMITS - Ike & Tina Turner # 1

75 ( NEW ) A LITTLE BIT OF SOAP - The Pioneers # 75

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8th December 1973 My actual chart of that week way back then

 

It's a hat-trick of number ones for Wizzard in 1973, Roy Wood's 5th in total, and he's hovering poised at 2 to boot with Forever. That's not the record that has been remembered forever though - that's the Xmas classic in the charts every xmas without fail since downloads became a thing and then streaming took over. He's joined by 2 other Xmas classics that always chart and dominate the festive season - Slade's Merry Christmas Everybody at 13, as bought by my younger brother, and Elton John's Step Into Christmas new at 18, as not bought by either of us at the time. It was very much runner-up to the 2 chart monsters.

 

T.Rex fail to go top 5 for the first time since debuting in 1970, but 6 is pretty Trucking good, leap-frogging Eddie Trucking Kendricks at 7. John Lennon climbs to 10, making it a Beatles top 10 clean sweep for 1973 as all four manage it in my charts of the time. Final new entry is from The Faces' 3rd chart hit, Pool Hall Richard at 29. 50 years ago the Xmas TV shows (restricted hours) were building up and at the cinema Clint Eastwood's Magnum Force was doing the business. UK blockbuster The Three Musketeers was getting promo, but a great Woody Allen movie, Sleeper, was getting readied in the USA. It was one of the last "funny" Woody Allen films - that is to say, slapstick and one-liners, set in a sci-fi future with robots and sex machines. I rather liked it! The relationship witticism he spent his career on after Annie Hall never grabbed me the same way.

 

 

1 ( 5 ) I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS EVERYDAY - Wizzard

2 ( 6 ) FOREVER - Roy Wood

3 ( 4 ) STREET LIFE - Roxy Music

4 ( 1 ) MY COO CA CHOO - Alvin Stardust

5 ( 2 ) ROLL AWAY THE STONE - Mott The Hoople

6 ( 10 ) TRUCK ON (TYKE) - T.Rex

7 ( 9 ) KEEP ON TRUCKING - Eddie Kendricks

8 ( 13 ) LOVE ON A MOUNTAIN TOP - Robert Knight

9 ( 3 ) DO YOU WANNA DANCE - Barry Blue

10 ( 17 ) MIND GAMES - John Lennon

 

11 ( 7 ) PHOTOGRAPH - Ringo Starr

12 ( 15 ) YOU WON'T FIND ANOTHER FOOL LIKE ME - The New Seekers

13 ( NEW ) MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY - Slade

14 ( 8 ) DYNAMITE - Mud

15 ( 14 ) AMOUREUSE - Kiki Dee

16 ( 12 ) I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE - Gary Glitter

17 ( 21 ) DANCE WITH THE DEVIL - Cozy Powell

18 ( NEW ) STEP INTO CHRISTMAS - Elton John

19 ( 11 ) LAMPLIGHT - David Essex

20 ( 16 ) HELEN WHEELS - Paul McCartney & Wings

 

21 ( 18 ) IT’S A GAME - String Driven Thing

22 ( 26 ) SWEET UNDERSTANDING LOVE - The Four Tops

23 ( 25 ) TAKE ME HIGH - Cliff Richard

24 ( 27 ) VADO VIA - Drupi

25 ( 22 ) DAYTONA DEMON - Suzi Quatro

26 ( 30 ) RADAR LOVE - Golden Earring

27 ( 19 ) LONELY DAYS LONELY NIGHTS - Don Downing

28 ( 20 ) SHOWDOWN - Electric Light Orchestra

29 ( NEW ) POOL HALL RICHARD - The Faces

30 ( 28 ) SORROW - David Bowie

Didn’t realise Hall and Oates started as early as this!

Didn’t realise Hall and Oates started as early as this!

 

Hi Steve, yes they had their huge success in the 80's but were making great records 50 years ago! Sadly they are now in legal action against one another as John Oates wanted to sell his publishing rights of half the songs they wrote together - and Daryl wasn't so keen on that happening.

I think I heard that somewhere which is sad. I wouldn’t be for selling the rights for what it’s worth.

15th December 1973

 

It's a double Retro Barry White top 2 as the lush disco instrumental Love's Theme gives Barry a 3rd number one, following on from Love Unlimited's Walking In The Rain With The One I Love in 1972, his own I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby earlier in 1973, and now this one with his missus at 2 with Love Unlimited's winter delight. Peter Noone gets a first top 10 since Herman's Hermits had 2 in 1969.

 

Highest new entry is the future ELO single (flop) in summer 1974 taken from current album On The Third Day: Daybreaker is an instrumental, and new at 34 for a 4th chart entry in total. Ruby Winters drops the soul ballad I Will in the USA, 4 years ahead of a UK big hit with it - I didn't actually realise it was 4 years old at the time I first charted it - and new in here at 57. Art Garfunkel gets his 2nd solo entry with the delightful jolly I Shall Sing out in the USA, a few months earlier than it was getting UK airplay (but no hit), and in at 62.

 

Johnny Nash pops in yet again with another single I had forgotten about, but know, Loving You at 69 extending his run to well over 5 years. Alice Cooper has his last UK hit for around 15 years, and his 5th here with Teenage Lament '74 in at 71, while Diana Ross moves further into morose ballads with All Of My Life at 73. Billy Paul is on his 3rd of 1972/3 with Thanks For saving My Life at 74, and Blue Magic sneak in at 75 with one I didn't know before this week - Stop To Start. They will be back later on with more famous songs.

 

 

1 ( 4 ) LOVE’S THEME - Love Unlimited Orchestra # 1

2 ( 8 ) IT MAY BE WINTER OUTSIDE (BUT IN MY HEART IT’S SPRING) - Love Unlimited # 2

3 ( 1 ) JET - Paul McCartney & Wings # 1

4 ( 5 ) SHE’S GONE - Daryl Hall & John Oates # 4

5 ( 2 ) SEBASTIAN - Cockney Rebel # 1

6 ( 3 ) TIME IN A BOTTLE - Jim Croce # 1

7 ( 7 ) FOREVER - Roy Wood # 7

8 ( 9 ) WHEN THE MORNING COMES - Daryl Hall & John Oates # 8

9 ( 10 ) UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME (THAT’S WHAT I’M GONNA DO) - Aretha Franklin # 2

10 ( 17 ) I THINK I’M OVER (GETTING OVER YOU) - Peter Noone # 10

 

11 ( 12 ) I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS EVERYDAY - Wizzard # 3

12 ( 6 ) DANCE WITH THE DEVIL - Cozy Powell # 4

13 ( 13 ) LIVING FOR THE CITY - Stevie Wonder # 4

14 ( 11 ) MIND GAMES - John Lennon # 2

15 ( 15 ) STREET LIFE - Roxy Music # 3

16 ( 28 ) IT’S ALL OVER - Jackie Wilson # 16

17 ( 19 ) A LOVE SONG - Anne Murray # 17

18 ( 20 ) STEP INTO CHRISTMAS - Elton John # 18

19 ( 35 ) WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW - Melanie # 19

20 ( 29 ) HIGHWAYS OF MY LIFE - The Isley Brothers # 20

 

21 ( 14 ) SEASONS IN THE SUN - Terry Jacks # 9

22 ( 16 ) ROLL AWAY THE STONE - Mott The Hoople featuring Thunderthighs # 7

23 ( 23 ) JOLENE - Dolly Parton # 5

24 ( 30 ) SHOWDOWN - Electric Light Orchestra # 1

25 ( 22 ) YOU’RE SIXTEEN - Ringo Starr # 19

26 ( 37 ) HALF A MILLION MILES FROM HOME - Albert Hammond # 26

27 ( 21 ) BEYOND THE BLUE HORIZON - Lou Christie # 17

28 ( 27 ) MY COO CA CHOO - Alvin Stardust # 2

29 ( 18 ) MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY - Slade # 18

30 ( 25 ) DO YOU WANNA DANCE - Barry Blue # 1

 

31 ( 24 ) DYNA-MITE - Mud # 5

32 ( 26 ) HELEN WHEELS - Paul McCartney & Wings # 14

33 ( 43 ) MRS. VANDEBILT - Paul McCartney & Wings # 33

34 ( NEW ) DAYBREAKER - Electric Light Orchestra # 34

35 ( 40 ) STAR - Stealers Wheel # 35

36 ( 31 ) PHOTOGRAPH - Ringo Starr # 1

37 ( 34 ) THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL - Charlie Rich # 6

38 ( 50 ) BLACK CAT WOMAN - Geordie # 38

39 ( 39 ) POOL HALL RICHARD - The Faces # 39

40 ( 52 ) YOU WON’T FIND ANOTHER FOOL LIKE ME - The New Seekers featuring Lyn Paul # 40

 

41 ( 38 ) BENNIE AND THE JETS - Elton John # 1

42 ( 42 ) GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD - Elton John # 1

43 ( 54 ) JUNGLE BOOGIE - Kool & The Gang # 43

44 ( 53 ) DON’T LET ME DOWN AGAIN - Buckingham Nicks # 44

45 ( 45 ) KNOCKING ON HEAVEN’S DOOR - Bob Dylan # 1

46 ( 32 ) I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE - Gary Glitter & The Glitter Band # 9

47 ( 33 ) LAMPLIGHT - David Essex # 20

48 ( 61 ) RAISED ON ROBBERY - Joni Mitchell # 48

49 ( 49 ) THE BALLROOM BLITZ - The Sweet # 1

50 ( 66 ) W.O.L.D. - Harry Chapin # 50

 

51 ( 41 ) SHOW AND TELL - Al Wilson # 5

52 ( 46 ) COME AND GET YOUR LOVE - Redbone # 3

53 ( 47 ) AFTER THE GOLDRUSH - Prelude # 19

54 ( 58 ) MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS - Maria Muldaur # 5

55 ( 75 ) A LITTLE BIT OF SOAP - The Pioneers # 55

56 ( 56 ) SPEED KILLS - 10CC # 1

57 ( NEW ) I WILL - Ruby Winters # 57

58 ( 51 ) COME LIVE WITH ME - Ray Charles # 12

59 ( 62 ) JULIE ANN - White Plains # 59

60 ( 44 ) LOVE ON A MOUNTAIN TOP - Robert Knight # 29

 

61 ( 55 ) SPIDERS AND SNAKES - Jim Stafford # 30

62 ( NEW ) I SHALL SING - Garfunkel # 62

63 ( 63 ) I’M FREE - Roger Daltry & The London Symphony Orchestra # 1

64 ( 36 ) IF YOU’RE READY (COME GO WITH ME) - The Staple Singers # 23

65 ( 67 ) BLUEBIRD - Paul McCartney & Wings # 65

66 ( 70 ) MAMUNIA - Paul McCartney & Wings # 66

67 ( 73 ) MIDNIGHT RIDER - Gregg Allman # 67

68 ( 48 ) NEW BREED KINDA WOMAN - Holland-Dozier # 48

69 ( NEW ) LOVING YOU - Johnny Nash # 69

70 ( 57 ) PEPPERBOX - The Peppers # 8

 

71 ( NEW ) TEENAGE LAMENT ’74 - Alice Cooper # 71

72 ( 68 ) NINETEEN HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FIVE - Paul McCartney & Wings # 68

73 ( NEW ) ALL OF MY LIFE - Diana Ross # 73

74 ( NEW ) THANKS FOR SAVING MY LIFE - Billy Paul # 74

75 ( NEW ) STOP TO START - Blue Magic # 75

 

 

15th December 1973 My actual charts that week then

 

It's 2 weeks on top for Wizzard as Roy Wood holds Roy Wood off the top spot as Xmas trumps Forever. Or forever as the Xmas song goes on and on half a century later, ditto Slade at 3 and Elton at 13. Elton's mate Kiki is up to 8 with Amoureuse and The New Seekers get back in the top 10 for the first time since Circles, with You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me. Geordie are highest new entry at 12, with the very halloween Black Cat Woman, probably their best record and a shock flop which has plunged it into obscurity since. It needs to be revived as a Halloween regular.

 

Leo Sayer debuts with The Show Must Go On at 16, all dressed up as a Harlequin on Top Of The Pops, but already a good songwriter donating Giving It All Away to Roger Daltrey. Stevie Wonder's great social commentary song Living For The City is new at 24, Billy Paul is back for a follow-up at 26, Thanks For Saving My Life, and Andy Williams gets his first UK hit in 3 years as he covers Neil Sedaka's album track Solitaire at 29. That leaves The Beach Boys christmas classic Little Saint Nick to debut at 28 around 10 years late - it was getting a lot of plays on Radio 1 a christmas oldie that christmas. But it was new to me.

 

My first term at Chosen Hill Comprehensive was about to draw to a close, and we were getting ready for Christmas, buying stuff, wrapping, getting ready for the new big film debuts on TV, Morecambe & Wise's Xmas Special, and trying to make the best of power cuts, reduced TV hours, and I was buying DC Comics galore to help keep me happy as my reel to reel tape recorder was starting to develop a fault - the recordings were getting very muffled and low. I didn't realise it was due to the head getting clogged and could have sorted it myself, but it ended up getting sent away for repairs for 2 or 3 months in early 1974 which was a disaster for me - so many songs I didn't get to record!

 

 

1 ( 1 ) I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS EVERYDAY - Wizzard

2 ( 2 ) FOREVER - Roy Wood

3 ( 13 ) MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY - Slade

4 ( 8 ) LOVE ON A MOUNTAIN TOP - Robert Knight

5 ( 4 ) MY COO CA CHOO - Alvin Stardust

6 ( 3 ) STREET LIFE - Roxy Music

7 ( 5 ) ROLL AWAY THE STONE - Mott The Hoople

8 ( 15 ) AMOUREUSE - Kiki Dee

9 ( 12 ) YOU WON'T FIND ANOTHER FOOL LIKE ME - The New Seekers

10 ( 6 ) TRUCK ON (TYKE) - T.Rex

 

11 ( 17 ) DANCE WITH THE DEVIL - Cozy Powell

12 ( NEW ) BLACK CAT WOMAN - Geordie

13 ( 18 ) STEP INTO CHRISTMAS - Elton John

14 ( 9 ) DO YOU WANNA DANCE - Barry Blue

15 ( 7 ) KEEP ON TRUCKING - Eddie Kendricks

16 ( NEW ) THE SHOW MUST GO ON - Leo Sayer

17 ( 14 ) DYNAMITE - Mud

18 ( 16 ) I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE - Gary Glitter

19 ( 19 ) LAMPLIGHT - David Essex

20 ( 20 ) HELEN WHEELS - Paul McCartney & Wings

 

21 ( 24 ) VADO VIA - Drupi

22 ( 29 ) POOL HALL RICHARD - The Faces

23 ( 26 ) RADAR LOVE - Golden Earring

24 ( NEW ) LIVING FOR THE CITY - Stevie Wonder

25 ( 10 ) MIND GAMES - John Lennon

26 ( NEW ) THANKS FOR SAVING MY LIFE - Billy Paul

27 ( 11 ) PHOTOGRAPH - Ringo Starr

28 ( NEW ) LITTLE SAINT NICK - The Beach Boys

29 ( NEW ) SOLITAIRE - Andy Williams

30 ( 23 ) TAKE ME HIGH - Cliff Richard

22nd December 1973

 

So the Xmas revamped chart has the wintry Love Unlimited on top a year early for the UK charts, their second number one in 2 years, and Barry White's fourth in total as he knocks his own Love's Theme off the top spot. ELO leapfrog Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne would be happy about that at the time given Daybreaker stiffed when it came out as a single in 1974 - it is a cracker though. ELO's 3rd top 10.

 

With hardly any new records out, and a Post Office bit of bother the UK charts and music mags didn't have much new to report on, so that leaves Eddie Kendricks out in the US with Boogie Down new at 51, his 3rd solo entry and joining Kool & The Gang with Boogie-titles. Marc Bolan, who joined Eddie on Truckin' song titles, would also join in the boogie fever in 1976 as he bopped I Love To Boogie. The Hotshots do a reggaefied version of Chris Andrews' Yesterday's Man, his fab 60's biggie, and it's not bad, so gives them a second retro chart entry after the Snoopy 60's cover.

 

 

1 ( 2 ) IT MAY BE WINTER OUTSIDE (BUT IN MY HEART IT’S SPRING) - Love Unlimited # 1

2 ( 1 ) LOVE’S THEME - Love Unlimited Orchestra # 1

3 ( 3 ) JET - Paul McCartney & Wings # 1

4 ( 4 ) SHE’S GONE - Daryl Hall & John Oates # 4

5 ( 5 ) SEBASTIAN - Cockney Rebel # 1

6 ( 6 ) TIME IN A BOTTLE - Jim Croce # 1

7 ( 8 ) WHEN THE MORNING COMES - Daryl Hall & John Oates # 7

8 ( 34 ) DAYBREAKER - Electric Light Orchestra # 8

9 ( 7 ) FOREVER - Roy Wood # 7

10 ( 9 ) UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME (THAT’S WHAT I’M GONNA DO) - Aretha Franklin # 2

 

11 ( 12 ) DANCE WITH THE DEVIL - Cozy Powell # 4

12 ( 13 ) LIVING FOR THE CITY - Stevie Wonder # 4

13 ( 10 ) I THINK I’M OVER (GETTING OVER YOU) - Peter Noone # 10

14 ( 19 ) WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW - Melanie # 14

15 ( 16 ) IT’S ALL OVER - Jackie Wilson # 15

16 ( 17 ) A LOVE SONG - Anne Murray # 16

17 ( 11 ) I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS EVERYDAY - Wizzard # 3

18 ( 14 ) MIND GAMES - John Lennon # 2

19 ( 20 ) HIGHWAYS OF MY LIFE - The Isley Brothers # 19

20 ( 15 ) STREET LIFE - Roxy Music # 3

 

21 ( 22 ) ROLL AWAY THE STONE - Mott The Hoople featuring Thunderthighs # 7

22 ( 21 ) SEASONS IN THE SUN - Terry Jacks # 9

23 ( 26 ) HALF A MILLION MILES FROM HOME - Albert Hammond # 23

24 ( 24 ) SHOWDOWN - Electric Light Orchestra # 1

25 ( 23 ) JOLENE - Dolly Parton # 5

26 ( 33 ) MRS. VANDEBILT - Paul McCartney & Wings # 26

27 ( 28 ) MY COO CA CHOO - Alvin Stardust # 2

28 ( 27 ) BEYOND THE BLUE HORIZON - Lou Christie # 17

29 ( 44 ) DON’T LET ME DOWN AGAIN - Buckingham Nicks # 29

30 ( 43 ) JUNGLE BOOGIE - Kool & The Gang # 30

 

31 ( 30 ) DO YOU WANNA DANCE - Barry Blue # 1

32 ( 32 ) HELEN WHEELS - Paul McCartney & Wings # 14

33 ( 36 ) PHOTOGRAPH - Ringo Starr # 1

34 ( 25 ) YOU’RE SIXTEEN - Ringo Starr # 19

35 ( 18 ) STEP INTO CHRISTMAS - Elton John # 18

36 ( 38 ) BLACK CAT WOMAN - Geordie # 36

37 ( 39 ) POOL HALL RICHARD - The Faces # 37

38 ( 55 ) A LITTLE BIT OF SOAP - The Pioneers # 38

39 ( 31 ) DYNA-MITE - Mud # 5

40 ( 35 ) STAR - Stealers Wheel # 35

 

41 ( 29 ) MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY - Slade # 18

42 ( 42 ) GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD - Elton John # 1

43 ( 37 ) THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL - Charlie Rich # 6

44 ( 41 ) BENNIE AND THE JETS - Elton John # 1

45 ( 45 ) KNOCKING ON HEAVEN’S DOOR - Bob Dylan # 1

46 ( 48 ) RAISED ON ROBBERY - Joni Mitchell # 46

47 ( 57 ) I WILL - Ruby Winters # 47

48 ( 62 ) I SHALL SING - Garfunkel # 48

49 ( 69 ) LOVING YOU - Johnny Nash # 49

50 ( 50 ) W.O.L.D. - Harry Chapin # 50

 

51 ( NEW ) BOOGIE DOWN - Eddie Kendricks # 51

52 ( 65 ) BLUEBIRD - Paul McCartney & Wings # 52

53 ( 49 ) THE BALLROOM BLITZ - The Sweet # 1

54 ( 54 ) MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS - Maria Muldaur # 5

55 ( 67 ) MIDNIGHT RIDER - Gregg Allman # 55

56 ( 66 ) MAMUNIA - Paul McCartney & Wings # 56

57 ( 58 ) COME LIVE WITH ME - Ray Charles # 12

58 ( 59 ) JULIE ANN - White Plains # 58

59 ( 56 ) SPEED KILLS - 10CC # 1

60 ( 40 ) YOU WON’T FIND ANOTHER FOOL LIKE ME - The New Seekers featuring Lyn Paul # 40

 

61 ( 51 ) SHOW AND TELL - Al Wilson # 5

62 ( 52 ) COME AND GET YOUR LOVE - Redbone # 3

63 ( 53 ) AFTER THE GOLDRUSH - Prelude # 19

64 ( 63 ) I’M FREE - Roger Daltry & The London Symphony Orchestra # 1

65 ( 46 ) I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE - Gary Glitter & The Glitter Band # 9

66 ( 47 ) LAMPLIGHT - David Essex # 20

67 ( 71 ) TEENAGE LAMENT ’74 - Alice Cooper # 67

68 ( 60 ) LOVE ON A MOUNTAIN TOP - Robert Knight # 29

69 ( 70 ) PEPPERBOX - The Peppers # 8

70 ( 73 ) ALL OF MY LIFE - Diana Ross # 70

 

71 ( 74 ) THANKS FOR SAVING MY LIFE - Billy Paul # 71

72 ( 61 ) SPIDERS AND SNAKES - Jim Stafford # 30

73 ( 72 ) NINETEEN HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FIVE - Paul McCartney & Wings # 68

74 ( NEW ) YESTERDAY MAN - The Hotshots # 74

75 ( 75 ) STOP TO START - Blue Magic # 75

 

 

 

22nd December 1973 my chart of the time

 

It's my Christmas chart of 50 years ago, and with School out Roy Wood knocks his own Xmas classic off the top spot as Forever becomes his first solo number one, making a total of 6 in various guises in almost 5 years. Cozy Powell gets his banging instrumental rock tune top 5, Geordie get a second top 10 and Leo sayer his first. The Beach Boys go top 20 with the Xmas classic that has only just at long last made the UK top 50. About time!

 

Meanwhile, Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes get a second chart hit with the fab The Love I Lost all Philly at 26. Bay City Rollers get a second chart hit of the year, as they release the catchy sha la la Remember song that would break them properly - once they dropped the lead vocalist who'd been there 2 years and opt for a teenybop-appealing Les McKewan. They re-did this version i order to get a hit, and soon as it became a hit I went off the Rollers. I had no idea at the time about the lead singer swap, but it explains why they never quite sounded right again for me.

 

That leaves Marmalade going off on an ill-advised rockier sound on Our House Is Rocking new at 30. Mostly here for old-times sakes, I think, as they never got over Junior Campbell leaving, really. Though they had a personnel revamp and hit again in 1976 it was never really the same. Next week's chart will feature some of the TV gems over Xmas and New Year, if I remember to google. Bearing in mind we only had 3 channels, and I only actually remember Christmas Top Of The Pops - which happily still exists, unlike most of the 1973 episodes.

 

 

1 ( 2 ) FOREVER - Roy Wood

2 ( 1 ) I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS EVERYDAY - Wizzard

3 ( 4 ) LOVE ON A MOUNTAIN TOP - Robert Knight

4 ( 3 ) MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY - Slade

5 ( 11 ) DANCE WITH THE DEVIL - Cozy Powell

6 ( 6 ) STREET LIFE - Roxy Music

7 ( 7 ) ROLL AWAY THE STONE - Mott The Hoople

8 ( 5 ) MY COO CA CHOO - Alvin Stardust

9 ( 12 ) BLACK CAT WOMAN - Geordie

10 ( 16 ) THE SHOW MUST GO ON - Leo Sayer

 

11 ( 13 ) STEP INTO CHRISTMAS - Elton John

12 ( 8 ) AMOUREUSE - Kiki Dee

13 ( 24 ) LIVING FOR THE CITY - Stevie Wonder

14 ( 28 ) LITTLE SAINT NICK - The Beach Boys

15 ( 10 ) TRUCK ON (TYKE) - T.Rex

16 ( 14 ) DO YOU WANNA DANCE - Barry Blue

17 ( 23 ) RADAR LOVE - Golden Earring

18 ( 22 ) POOL HALL RICHARD - The Faces

19 ( 20 ) HELEN WHEELS - Paul McCartney & Wings

20 ( 9 ) YOU WON'T FIND ANOTHER FOOL LIKE ME - The New Seekers

 

21 ( 21 ) VADO VIA - Drupi

22 ( 17 ) DYNAMITE - Mud

23 ( 18 ) I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE - Gary Glitter

24 ( 26 ) THANKS FOR SAVING MY LIFE - Billy Paul

25 ( 19 ) LAMPLIGHT - David Essex

26 ( NEW ) THE LOVE I LOST - Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes

27 ( 29 ) SOLITAIRE - Andy Williams

28 ( RE ) PAPER ROSES - Marie Osmond

29 ( NEW ) REMEMBER (SHA LA LA LA) - The Bay City Rollers

30 ( NEW ) OUR HOUSE IS ROCKING - Marmalade

29th December 1973

 

It's the final retro chart of 1973 and the remaining title track, and future single in the summer of '74, Band On The Run gives Macca a second chart-topper of the year, and 4th post-Beatles, entering on top ahead of the New Year rush of classics. The number of Macca tracks on the chart remains the same though, as one drops out. Albert Hammond gets his biggest track since It Never Rains In Southern California, and 10cc drop their first taster from the next album, the very quirky Worst Band In The World. It wasn't surprising it flopped in the charts (and they really should have gone with Speed Kills) but it's engagingly in at 27.

 

Jonathan King brings satisfaction back briefly after it charted as an album track in 1972, while the actual Stones chart with their album track Doo Doo Doo Doo, which probably should have been a single in the UK. The Bay City Rollers enter with Remember (Sha La la) as they are about to part ways with the current vocalist for the previous 5 chart entries and enlist a young Les McKewan, re-record the vocals and hit the stratosphere with less good records where there were 3 pretty fine singles, 2 of which flopped.

 

 

1 ( NEW ) BAND ON THE RUN - Paul McCartney & Wings # 1

2 ( 1 ) IT MAY BE WINTER OUTSIDE (BUT IN MY HEART IT’S SPRING) - Love Unlimited # 1

3 ( 4 ) SHE’S GONE - Daryl Hall & John Oates # 3

4 ( 3 ) JET - Paul McCartney & Wings # 1

5 ( 6 ) TIME IN A BOTTLE - Jim Croce # 1

6 ( 5 ) SEBASTIAN - Cockney Rebel # 1

7 ( 2 ) LOVE’S THEME - Love Unlimited Orchestra # 1

8 ( 8 ) DAYBREAKER - Electric Light Orchestra # 8

9 ( 7 ) WHEN THE MORNING COMES - Daryl Hall & John Oates # 7

10 ( 10 ) UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME (THAT’S WHAT I’M GONNA DO) - Aretha Franklin # 2

 

11 ( 9 ) FOREVER - Roy Wood # 7

12 ( 23 ) HALF A MILLION MILES FROM HOME - Albert Hammond # 12

13 ( 12 ) LIVING FOR THE CITY - Stevie Wonder # 4

14 ( 26 ) MRS. VANDEBILT - Paul McCartney & Wings # 14

15 ( 15 ) IT’S ALL OVER - Jackie Wilson # 15

16 ( 14 ) WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW - Melanie # 14

17 ( 16 ) A LOVE SONG - Anne Murray # 16

18 ( 19 ) HIGHWAYS OF MY LIFE - The Isley Brothers # 18

19 ( 18 ) MIND GAMES - John Lennon # 2

20 ( 13 ) I THINK I’M OVER (GETTING OVER YOU) - Peter Noone # 10

 

21 ( 20 ) STREET LIFE - Roxy Music # 3

22 ( 11 ) DANCE WITH THE DEVIL - Cozy Powell # 4

23 ( 17 ) I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS EVERYDAY - Wizzard # 3

24 ( 24 ) SHOWDOWN - Electric Light Orchestra # 1

25 ( 22 ) SEASONS IN THE SUN - Terry Jacks # 9

26 ( 25 ) JOLENE - Dolly Parton # 5

27 ( NEW ) THE WORST BAND IN THE WORLD - 10cc # 27

28 ( 36 ) BLACK CAT WOMAN - Geordie # 28

29 ( 21 ) ROLL AWAY THE STONE - Mott The Hoople featuring Thunderthighs # 7

30 ( 51 ) BOOGIE DOWN - Eddie Kendricks # 30

 

31 ( 31 ) DO YOU WANNA DANCE - Barry Blue # 1

32 ( 40 ) STAR - Stealers Wheel # 32

33 ( 33 ) PHOTOGRAPH - Ringo Starr # 1

34 ( 49 ) LOVING YOU - Johnny Nash # 34

35 ( 38 ) A LITTLE BIT OF SOAP - The Pioneers # 35

36 ( 46 ) RAISED ON ROBBERY - Joni Mitchell # 36

37 ( 27 ) MY COO CA CHOO - Alvin Stardust # 2

38 ( 35 ) STEP INTO CHRISTMAS - Elton John # 18

39 ( 34 ) YOU’RE SIXTEEN - Ringo Starr # 19

40 ( 30 ) JUNGLE BOOGIE - Kool & The Gang # 30

 

41 ( 29 ) DON’T LET ME DOWN AGAIN - Buckingham Nicks # 29

42 ( 42 ) GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD - Elton John # 1

43 ( 43 ) THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL - Charlie Rich # 6

44 ( 39 ) DYNA-MITE - Mud # 5

45 ( 32 ) HELEN WHEELS - Paul McCartney & Wings # 14

46 ( 37 ) POOL HALL RICHARD - The Faces # 37

47 ( 47 ) I WILL - Ruby Winters # 47

48 ( 48 ) I SHALL SING - Garfunkel # 48

49 ( 52 ) BLUEBIRD - Paul McCartney & Wings # 49

50 ( 45 ) KNOCKING ON HEAVEN’S DOOR - Bob Dylan # 1

 

51 ( 53 ) THE BALLROOM BLITZ - The Sweet # 1

52 ( 56 ) MAMUNIA - Paul McCartney & Wings # 52

53 ( 41 ) MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY - Slade # 18

54 ( 28 ) BEYOND THE BLUE HORIZON - Lou Christie # 17

55 ( 44 ) BENNIE AND THE JETS - Elton John # 1

56 ( 55 ) MIDNIGHT RIDER - Gregg Allman # 55

57 ( 58 ) JULIE ANN - White Plains # 57

58 ( 67 ) TEENAGE LAMENT ’74 - Alice Cooper # 58

59 ( 54 ) MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS - Maria Muldaur # 5

60 ( 59 ) SPEED KILLS - 10cc # 1

 

61 ( 57 ) COME LIVE WITH ME - Ray Charles # 12

62 ( NEW ) SATISFACTION - Bubblerock aka Jonathan King # 62

63 ( 61 ) SHOW AND TELL - Al Wilson # 5

64 ( 60 ) YOU WON’T FIND ANOTHER FOOL LIKE ME - The New Seekers featuring Lyn Paul # 40

65 ( 62 ) COME AND GET YOUR LOVE - Redbone # 3

66 ( NEW ) REMEMBER (SHA LA LA) - Bay City Rollers # 66

67 ( 74 ) YESTERDAY MAN - The Hotshots # 67

68 ( 63 ) AFTER THE GOLDRUSH - Prelude # 19

69 ( 50 ) W.O.L.D. - Harry Chapin # 50

70 ( 64 ) I’M FREE - Roger Daltry & The London Symphony Orchestra # 1

 

71 ( 70 ) ALL OF MY LIFE - Diana Ross # 70

72 ( 75 ) STOP TO START - Blue Magic # 72

73 ( 71 ) THANKS FOR SAVING MY LIFE - Billy Paul # 71

74 ( NEW ) DOO DOO DOO DOO (HEARTBREAKER) - The Rolling Stones # 74

75 ( NEW ) GOD BLESS - Dexter Redding # 75

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My charts of the time 29th December 1973

 

It's 2 weeks on top for Roy Wood in my last chart of 1973 as Cozy Powell climbs to 3, Leo Sayer to 4, and Stevie Wonder gets a 4th top 10 of the year as Living For The City makes it 5 years of top 10's for the great Stevie. Elton grabs a late top 10 for his 4th of the year with his classic Xmas song, and the Bay City Rollers get a first top 10 since Keep On Dancing 2 years earlier.

 

Four new entries on this post-christmas chart - on Christmas Day we watched Top Of The Pops at a friend's house who had us over for dinner, happily this edition still exists and is still fabulous! What else was on telly? Help It's The Hair Bear Bunch was on repeat, a Hannah Barbera fave of the time, which ties in with the Dexter Redding record, God Bless, a kiddie list of TV animated faves from young Dexter Redding, son of the late Otis. I liked all the memories mentioned.

 

Other new entries, Jonathan King is back with another pseudonym, Bubblerock, and his folk-pastiche version of the Rolling Stones' Satisfaction, as it gets a single release from his 1972 album. The Stylistics make it a 5th top 30 as Rockin' Roll Baby brings a change of pace, upbeat rather than sweet soul ballads, and Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes are back with the great The Love I Lost, a future 90's remade dance monster for Sybil.

 

So, on BBC TV over the Xmas period, Laurel & Hardy were on morning TV, A Chump At Oxford from the days when ancient black & white comedy was still popular. I say ancient - 40 years seemed ancient to me then, but the equivalent would be a Young Ones repeat now. Champion The Wonder Horse was still getting shown, a 50's US TV romp, and fabulous Marx Brothers had A Night In Casablanca from 1946 on. Big shows were christmas specials from Morecambe & Wise and The Generation Game and The Beatles' were on Boxing Day with A Hard Day's Night. The Goodies & The Beanstalk was a fun romp, The Sonny & Cher Show was being shown from the USA not long ahead of their divorce, and the fab Alias Smith & Jones cowboy series was still on.

 

On ITV, the pretty naff Carry On Christmas TV special showed the movie series was about to reach the end of the road, Tommy Cooper, the odd film...and not much else worth watching!

 

 

1 ( 1 ) FOREVER - Roy Wood

2 ( 2 ) I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS EVERYDAY - Wizzard

3 ( 5 ) DANCE WITH THE DEVIL - Cozy Powell

4 ( 10 ) THE SHOW MUST GO ON - Leo Sayer

5 ( 13 ) LIVING FOR THE CITY - Stevie Wonder

6 ( 7 ) ROLL AWAY THE STONE - Mott The Hoople

7 ( 6 ) STREET LIFE - Roxy Music

8 ( 11 ) STEP INTO CHRISTMAS - Elton John

9 ( 29 ) REMEMBER (SHA LA LA LA) - The Bay City Rollers

10 ( 4 ) MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY - Slade

 

11 ( 3 ) LOVE ON A MOUNTAIN TOP - Robert Knight

12 ( 14 ) LITTLE SAINT NICK - The Beach Boys

13 ( 8 ) MY COO CA CHOO - Alvin Stardust

14 ( 9 ) BLACK CAT WOMAN - Geordie

15 ( 18 ) POOL HALL RICHARD - The Faces

16 ( 19 ) HELEN WHEELS - Paul McCartney & Wings

17 ( 16 ) DO YOU WANNA DANCE - Barry Blue

18 ( 12 ) AMOUREUSE - Kiki Dee

19 ( 15 ) TRUCK ON (TYKE) - T.Rex

20 ( 21 ) VADO VIA - Drupi

 

21 ( 23 ) I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE - Gary Glitter

22 ( 22 ) DYNAMITE - Mud

23 ( NEW ) (I CAN'T GET NO) SATISFACTION - Bubble Rock

24 ( 26 ) THE LOVE I LOST - Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes

25 ( 25 ) LAMPLIGHT - David Essex

26 ( NEW ) WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW - Melanie

27 ( 20 ) YOU WON'T FIND ANOTHER FOOL LIKE ME - The New Seekers

28 ( 17 ) RADAR LOVE - Golden Earring

29 ( NEW ) ROCKIN' ROLL BABY - The Stylistics

30 ( NEW ) GOD BLESS - Dexter Redding

"You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me" always was my favourite New Seekers song.

 

1974 is the next, so it's 50th anniversary of ABBA win on Eurovision.

 

Did you chart any early ABBA singles, which weren't released in UK ?

"Nina, Pretty Ballerina", "Honey Honey", "Hasta Manana", maybe anything else ?

"You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me" always was my favourite New Seekers song.

 

1974 is the next, so it's 50th anniversary of ABBA win on Eurovision.

 

Did you chart any early ABBA singles, which weren't released in UK ?

"Nina, Pretty Ballerina", "Honey Honey", "Hasta Manana", maybe anything else ?

 

Hi Alex,

 

In my original charts the only ABBA tracks I got to hear in 1974 were the singles and the B sides, so only Waterloo, Ring Ring, Rock n Roll Band and So Long made my charts during 1974. I've already posted those so all I'll be doing for them is add in the missing 2nd January chart next week to complete that year. I bought all 3 singles though and Honey Honey was a hit for Sweet Dreams, so that was the version I heard first. :o :D

 

 

http://www.buzzjack.com/forums/index.php?s...=0#entry4690248

 

 

My Retro revamped 1974 charts though will chart tons of ABBA album tracks and definitely those 3 you mention! :)

My Retro revamped 1974 charts though will chart tons of ABBA album tracks and definitely those 3 you mention! :)

 

John, it's very cool fact. I love "Ring Ring" era, this album is very underrated, even by big ABBA fans. In my old ranking of ABBA songs I had "I Am Just A Girl" at # 4, "Disillusion" on the 6th place (both are hidden gems) and titled track "Ring Ring" finished top 10.

Edited January 9, 20241 yr by Last Dreamer