Now every year, someone usually posts the so-called official Christmas Charts. Of course, it is official that during the 50s, & 60s there was no Official Chart. The BBC compiled their own average charts for PICK OF THE POPS & indeed TOP OF THE POPS. These were compiled by Derek Chinnery 1958-65, and Denys Jones 1966-68.

 

So, throughout the next week, or two...Let`s take a look at those proper BBC Christmas Charts 1958-1968. Although it has to be said that Alan Dell (who was presenting Pick Of The Pops in December 57) did refer to various positions from various Music Papers Singles Charts. Had he been doing an average chart then, it would of looked like this in the top 10:

Sunday 22nd Dec 1957 (Pick Of The Pops briefly went to Sunday nights at 10.40pm, from Sept 57 - 17th May 58).

01 01 MARY`S BOY CHILD - HARRY BELAFONTE

02 04 MA HE`S MAKING EYES AT ME - JOHNNY OTIS SHOW WITH MARIE ADAMS

03 02 WAKE UP LITTLE SUSIE - EVERLY BROTHERS

04 03 I LOVE YOU BABY/TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME - PAUL ANKA

05 06 MY SPECIAL ANGEL - MALCOM VAUGHAN

06 04 BE MY GIRL - JIM DALE

07 12 LET`S HAVE A BALL - WINIFRED ATWELL

08 10 REET PETITE - JACKIE WILSON

09 09 ALONE - PETULA CLARK

10 15 DIANA - PAUL ANKA

 

Most of the time, Alan Dell referred to positions in the Record Mirror Charts. The RM Chart, being largely adopted by the BBC for that short period of Sept 57 - 22nd March 58.

 

Starting back (proper) on Pick Of The Pops (Saturday 20th Dec 1958)...In those days the BBC Chart was compiled on a Friday. The show went out on Saturday nights at 11pm from 24th May 1958.

The Chart at the time was introduced by David Jacobs on Pick Of The Pops. On the 27th Dec, David played a selection Number Ones of 1958, and some of his own favourites including Peggy Lee`s "Fever", that only got as high as Number 6 in September 1958!

01 02 IT`S ONLY MAKE BELIEVE - CONWAY TWITTY

02 01 HOOTS MON - LORD ROCKINGHAM`S XI

03 03 TOM DOOLEY - LONNIE DONEGAN

04 05 TOM DOOLEY - KINGSTON TRIO

05 04 IT`S ALL IN THE GAME - TOMMY EDWARDS

06 06 HIGH CLASS BABY - CLIFF RICHARD

07 07 LOVE MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND/MANDOLINS IN THE MOONLIGHT - PERRY COMO

08 08 TEA FOR TWO CHA CHA - TOMMY DORSEY ORCHESTRA

09 10 MORE THAN EVER - MALCOM VAUGHAN

10 08 A CERTAIN SMILE - JOHNNY MATHIS

10 12 COME ON LETS GO - TOMMY STEELE

10 15 THE DAY THE RAINS CAME - JANE MORGAN

13 16 MARY`S BOY CHILD - HARRY BELAFONTE

14 13 COME PRIMA/VOLARE - MARINO MARINI QUARTET

15 11 SOMEDAY/GOT A FEELING - RICKY NELSON

16 14 BIRD DOG - EVERLY BROTHERS

17 NE SON OF MARY - HARRY BELAFONTE

18 18 KING CREOLE - ELVIS PRESLEY

19 NE REAL LOVE - RUBY MURRAY

19 NE HEARTBEAT - BUDDY HOLLY

 

Interestingly on the "Proper" BBC Chart here, Tommy Edwards only peaked at number 2, while the Everly Brothers "Bird Dog", went to number 1 for 3weeks in November 58.

 

BBC Top 20 19th Dec 1959 (Again a late night Saturday Night with David Jacobs). On the 26th Dec, David again played the Number Ones of 1959.

01 01 WHAT DO YOU WANT - ADAM FAITH

02 02 WHAT DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THOSE EYES AT ME FOR - EMILE FORD AND THE CHECKMATES

03 03 OH CAROL - NEIL SEDAKA

04 03 TRAVELLIN`LIGHT/DYNAMITE - CLIFF RICHARD

05 05 SEVEN LITTLE GIRLS SITTING IN THE BACK SEAT - THE AVONS

06 06 RED RIVER ROCK - JOHNNY AND THE HURRICANES

07 10 SNOW COACH - RUSS CONWAY

08 08 PUT YOUR HEAD ON MY SHOULDER - PAUL ANKA

08 12 RAWHIDE - FRANKIE LAINE

10 11 AMONG MY SOUVENIRS - CONNIE FRANCIS

11 15 LITTLE WHITE BULL - TOMMY STEELE

12 07 MACK THE KNIFE - BOBBY DARIN

13 18 MORE AND MORE PARTY POPS - RUSS CONWAY

14 NE SOME KINDA EARTHQUAKE - DUANE EDDY

15 08 TEEN BEAT - SANDY NELSON

16 13 LITTLE DONKEY - BEVERLEY SISTERS

17 NE JINGLE BELL ROCK - MAX BYGRAVES

18 20 PIANO PARTY - WINIFRED ATWELL

19 16 MR BLUE - MIKE PRESTON

19 NE STACCATO`S THEME - ELMER BERNSTEIN

 

In 1959, Adam Faith most definately was the Christmas number 1, and managed to stay there until the New Year.

 

I will continue this thread soon, with the beginning of the 1960s BBC Christmas Charts.

great idea dave

 

ill move this to 'resourses' after crimbo, its certainly useful :)

 

tom dooley?...lol.. i liked lonnie donnegans version over the kingston trios... but i liked lonnie donnegan.

On to 1960 then.

 

The BBC Chart 24th Dec 1960 (Again a Saturday late night 11pm slot with David Jacobs). On the 31st Dec, David played the Number Ones of 1960.

01 01 IT`S NOW OR NEVER - ELVIS PRESLEY

02 02 I LOVE YOU - CLIFF RICHARD

03 03 SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME - DRIFTERS

04 04 STRAWBERRY FAIR - ANTHONY NEWLY

04 05 LITTLE DONKEY - NINA AND FREDERICK

06 10 LONELY PUP IN A CHRISTMAS SHOP - ADAM FAITH

07 09 POETRY IN MOTION - JOHNNY TILLOTSON

08 06 GOODNESS GRACIOUS ME - PETER SELLERS/SOPHIA LOREN

09 07 ROCKING GOOSE - JOHNNY AND THE HURRICANES

10 11 GURNEY SLADE - MAX HARRIS

11 07 MAN OF MYSTERY/THE STRANGER - SHADOWS

12 19 PERFIDIA - VENTURES

13 13 DREAMIN`- JOHNNY BURNETTE

14 12 MY HEART HAS A MIND OF IT`S OWN - CONNIE FRANCIS

14 19 COUNTING TEARDROPS - EMILE FORD AND THE CHECKMATES

16 14 AS LONG AS HE NEEDS ME - SHIRLEY BASSEY

16 15 BLUE ANGEL/TODAYS TEARDROPS - ROY ORBISON

18 16 MY LOVE FOR YOU - JOHNNY MATHIS

19 17 LIVELY - LONNIE DONEGAN

19 NE LITTLE GIRL - MARTY WILDE

 

Cliff got stuck at 2 for 5 weeks on the BBC Top 20. Elvis definately selling more over Christmas.

 

Now, during 1958 - 60 the format for Pick Of The Pops...was Part One: New Entries/Climbers, and the complete top 3. Where the 2nd part featured the New Releases. This changed in September 1961, when Alan Freeman hosted three 20 minute segments in the Jazz type Light Programme show "Trad Tavern". This featured a 20 minute segment of New Releases at 9.20pm, and 2 segments of top 20 New Entries/Cimbers, and top 3 at 10.40, and 11.20pm. This also, went out on Saturdays from 23rd Sept - 23rd Dec 1961. When Pick Of The Pops, first started on 11th Oct 1955, it had been introduced by BBC Anouncer Franklin Engelman. It was a show, that was only on every other week. Back in 1955-57, it only featured new releases. Franklin only presented 7 shows. Alan Dell took over in January 1956. David Jacobs, was there in Sept 1956. Then, Alan Dell returned in Oct 1957, and actually started to play current top 10 hits + the current top 3, along with the New Releases. It was on 29th March 1958, when David Jacobs, gave us the first BBC Top 20.

 

BBC Top 20 23rd Dec 1961

01 01 TOWER OF STRENGTH - FRANKIE VAUGHAN

02 03 MOON RIVER - DANNY WILLIAMS

03 06 STRANGER ON THE SHORE - MR ACKER BILK

04 04 MIDNIGHT IN MOSCOW - KENNY BALL AND HIS JAZZMEN

05 02 TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY BABY - BOBBY VEE

06 12 JOHNNY WILL - PAT BOONE

07 15 LET THERE BE DRUMS - SANDY NELSON

08 14 SO LONG BABY - DEL SHANNON

09 13 MY FRIEND THE SEA - PETULA CLARK

10 10 I`LL GET BY - SHIRLEY BASSEY

11 05 HIS LATEST FLAME - ELVIS PRESLEY

12 09 WALKING BACK TO HAPPINESS - HELEN SHAPIRO

13 11 TAKE FIVE - DAVE BRUBECK

14 08 BIG BAD JOHN - JIMMY DEAN

15 18 I`D NEVER FIND ANOTHER YOU - BILLY FURY

16 07 THE TIME HAS COME - ADAM FAITH

17 NE HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET SIXTEEN - NEIL SEDAKA

18 NE SON THIS IS SHE - JOHN LEYTON

19 NE TOY BALLOONS - RUSS CONWAY

20 NE DON`T BRING LULU - DOROTHY PROVINE

 

Bobby Vee had a BBC number 1, with "Take Good Care Of My Baby" at the beginning of Dec 1961. Frankie Vaughan knocked him off. Then, Danny Williams took over on the 29th Dec, with "Moon River"...It`s only week at the top, because Mr Acker Bilk knocked Danny off on 5th Jan 1962.

 

Back soon, with Christmas 1962...

interestingly those two charts (60, 61) both featured instrumentals from i blieve 2 one hit wonders that went on to be used in the bbc childrens programme 'vision on'.

 

'10 11 GURNEY SLADE - MAX HARRIS'

 

'13 11 TAKE FIVE - DAVE BRUBECK' ..... or am i wrong with this?...

i remember several of the tracks (as opposed to knowing them in a backdated way), i still recall the film used on tv to 'stranger on the shore'.

interestingly those two charts (60, 61) both featured instrumentals from i blieve 2 one hit wonders that went on to be used in the bbc childrens programme 'vision on'.

 

'10 11 GURNEY SLADE - MAX HARRIS'

 

'13 11 TAKE FIVE - DAVE BRUBECK' ..... or am i wrong with this?...

Absolutely right about Gurney Slade..though this was originally the theme to an ITV series "The Strange World Of Gurney Slade", starring none other than Anthony Newly.

 

I believe "Take Five", was used in a BBC Sitcom, at some point with Tim Brooke Taylor.

 

Anyway, let`s go to Christmas 1962.

 

The BBC (in it`s wisdom) decided that Alan Freeman was maybe to hip, for Pick Of The Pops, and in Sept 1962, they got David Jacobs back on the show. When Alan took the show to Sundays on 7th Jan 1962, he was the first to play the top 10 in full on the show. By then it was divided into 4 segments..New Entries, New Releases, The album spot, and the top 10.

So, on Sunday 23rd Dec 1962 at 4pm, David Jacobs came on with this BBC Christmas chart. On the 30th Dec 1962, David (once again) played the Number Ones of the year.

01 01 RETURN TO SENDER - ELVIS PRESLEY

02 04 THE NEXT TIME - CLIFF RICHARD

03 02 LOVESICK BLUES/SHE TAUGHT ME TO YODEL - FRANK IFIELD

04 03 SUN ARISE - ROLF HARRIS

05 07 DANCE WITH THE GUITAR MAN - DUANE EDDY AND THE REBELETTES

06 05 BOBBY`S GIRL - SUSAN MAUGHAN

07 11 ROCKIN`AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE - BRENDA LEE

08 18 DANCE ON - SHADOWS

09 06 LET`S DANCE - CHRIS MONTEZ

10 08 SWISS MAID - DEL SHANNON

11 09 TELSTAR - TORNADOES

12 10 DEVIL WOMAN - MARTY ROBBINS

13 13 IT ONLY TOOK A MINUTE - JOE BROWN

14 12 THE MAIN ATTRACTION - PAT BOONE

15 17 DESAFINADO - STAN GETZ/CHARLIE BYRD

16 16 A FOREVER KIND OF LOVE - BOBBY VEE

17 14 SHERRY - FOUR SEASONS

18 19 MUST BE MADISON - JOE LOSS

19 23 LIKE I DO - MAUREEN EVANS

20 29 YOUR CHEATING HEART - RAY CHARLES

21 20 JAMES BOND THEME - JOHN BARRY SEVEN

22 22 LOVE ME TENDER - RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN

23 21 NO ONE CAN MAKE MY SUNSHINE SMILE - EVERLY BROTHERS

23 NE GO AWAY LITTLE GIRL - MARK WYNTER

25 15 VENUS IN BLUE JEANS - MARK WYNTER

26 27 BABY TAKE A BOW - ADAM FAITH

27 NE UP ON THE ROOF - KENNY LYNCH

28 25 LOVE ME DO - BEATLES

29 NE ME AND MY SHADOW - FRANK SINATRA/SAMMY DAVIS JNR

30 NE ALWAYS YOU AND ME - RUSS CONWAY

 

In 1962, although it was possible for the BBC to use a top 30, they only ran through the top 20, on Pick Of The Pops.

 

 

On to Christmas 1963. Suddenly in January 1963, the BBC decided to bring back Alan Freeman to the show. This lasted 9 months. In late Sept 1963, until the end of 1963, Don Moss hosted Pick Of The Pops.

On Sunday 22nd Dec 1963 at 4pm, Don announced this chart (well the top 20 segment, anyway). On 29th Dec, Don played the Number Ones of 1963.

01 01 I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND - BEATLES

02 02 SHE LOVES YOU - BEATLES

03 06 GLAD ALL OVER - DAVE CLARK FIVE

04 03 YOU WERE MADE FOR ME - FREDDIE AND THE DREAMERS

05 04 SECRET LOVE - KATHY KIRBY

06 08 I ONLY WANT TO BE WITH YOU - DUSTY SPRINGFIELD

07 09 DOMINIQUE - SINGING NUN

08 07 MARIA ELENA - LOS INDIOS TABAJARAS

09 05 DON`T TALK TO HIM - CLIFF RICHARD

10 16 TWENTY FOUR HOURS FROM TULSA - GENE PITNEY

11 14 GERONIMO - SHADOWS

12 12 TWIST AND SHOUT E.P. - BEATLES

13 11 YOU`LL NEVER WALK ALONE - GERRY AND THE PACEMAKERS

14 10 I`LL KEEP YOU SATISFIED - BILLY J. KRAMER AND THE DAKOTAS

15 18 I WANNA BE YOUR MAN - ROLLING STONES

16 13 WITH THE BEATLES L.P. - BEATLES

17 26 SWINGING ON A STAR - BIG DEE IRWIN

18 17 BEATLES HITS E.P. - BEATLES

19 15 IT`S ALMOST TOMORROW - MARK WYNTER

20 19 MONEY - BERN ELLIOTT AND THE FENMEN

21 23 ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A BEATLE - DORA BRYAN

21 NE NOT TOO LITTLE NOT TOO MUCH - CHRIS SANDFORD

23 22 STAY - HOLLIES

24 20 I WHO HAVE NOTHING - SHIRLEY BASSEY

25 NE KISS ME QUICK - ELVIS PRESLEY

26 28 IF I RULED THE WORLD - HARRY SECOMBE

27 26 BLUE BAYOU/MEAN WOMAN BLUES - ROY ORBISON

27 25 HUNGRY FOR LOVE - JOHNNY KIDD AND THE PIRATES

29 30 BEATLES NO`1 E.P. - BEATLES

30 NE WE ARE IN LOVE - ADAM FAITH

 

The Beatles proving what they were, with 6 records in the top 30. Just like NME, the BBC included all E.Ps, and Albums in their charts, until Spring 1966. We remember that Chris Sandford, starred in Coronation Street at the time. He played Walter Potts, and performed the song in the show. Rather like Crossroads did in future years, with Sue Nicholls in 1968, Stephanie De Sykes in 1974, and Kate Robbins in 1981.

 

Coming soon, the first time Top Of The Pops, appeared at Christmas...

i really liked 64, it was the year where pops potential was starting to be realised as a new wave of new sounds started to take off.

So, Christmas 1964. On the 5th January 64, Alan Freeman returned to host Pick Of The Pops, and he also introduced the 2nd edition of Top Of The Pops, on Weds 8th January 1964.

December 1964, Alan played the Number Ones of 64, on the 27th Dec, but this was the Christmas Chart:

01 01 I FEEL FINE - BEATLES

02 02 I`M GONNA BE STRONG - GENE PITNEY

03 03 DOWN TOWN - PETULA CLARK

04 04 WALK TALL - VAL DOONICAN

05 07 NO ARMS CAN EVER HOLD YOU - BACHELORS

06 06 I UNDERSTAND - FREDDIE AND THE DREAMERS

07 11 SOMEWHERE - GENE PITNEY

08 05 LITTLE RED ROOSTER - ROLLING STONES

09 09 I COULD EASILY FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU - CLIFF RICHARD

10 08 PRETTY PAPER - ROY ORBISON

11 21 YEH YEH - GEORGIE FAME

12 17 GIRL DON`T COME - SANDIE SHAW

13 15 TERRY - TWINKLE

14 10 MESSAGE TO MARTHA - ADAM FAITH

15 13 BLUE CHRISTMAS - ELVIS PRESLEY

16 12 BABY LOVE - SUPREMES

17 14 THERE`S A HEARTACHE FOLLOWING ME - JIM REEVES

18 20 WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO THE RAIN - SEARCHERS

19 18 GENIE WITH THE LIGHT BROWN LAMP - SHADOWS

20 24 BEATLES FOR SALE L.P. - BEATLES

21 29 GO NOW - MOODY BLUES

22 16 ALL DAY AND ALL OF THE NIGHT - KINKS

23 NE CAST YOUR FATE TO THE WIND - SOUNDS ORCHESTRAL

24 25 WALK AWAY - MATT MONRO

25 19 LOSING YOU - DUSTY SPRINGFIELD

26 30 LIKE A CHILD - JULIE ROGERS

27 22 UM UM UM UM UM UM - WAYNE FONTANA AND THE MINDBENDERS

28 23 HE`S IN TOWN - ROCKIN`BERRIES

28 NE FERRY CROSS THE MERSEY - GERRY AND THE PACEMAKERS

30 NE CHRISTMAS WILL BE JUST ANOTHER LONELY DAY - BRENDA LEE

 

1964 was apparently a year when the Beatles etc, made a difference to the charts. Not that apparent, when Val Doonican, and the Bachelors were doing just as good. This chart in 1964, was even more surprising because on the bubble outside the top 30, was a Piano Medley from Mrs Mills!

We also remember Alan Freeman on Top Of The Pops...announcing "Here are Sounds Orchestral, with their new piece "Cast Your Wind To The Fate", a mistake that was never forgotten!

 

What happened at Christmas 1965? It happened that the year before in 1964, The BBC compiled the chart on a Tuesday for the first time, along with Derek Chinnery.

However on Sunday 26th Dec 1965 at 4pm, Alan Freeman played the Number Ones of 65, but this was the Christmas Chart:

01 01 DAYTRIPPER/WE CAN WORK IT OUT - BEATLES

02 02 THE CARNIVAL IS OVER - THE SEEKERS

03 03 THE RIVER - KEN DODD

04 05 WIND ME UP LET ME GO - CLIFF RICHARD

05 04 1-2-3 - LEN BARRY

06 07 TEARS - KEN DODD

07 06 MY GENERATION - WHO

07 13 MY SHIP IS COMING IN - WALKER BROTHERS

09 09 RESCUE ME - FONTELLA BASS

10 09 MARIA - P.J. PROBY

11 07 A LOVER`S CONCERTO - TOYS

11 12 TO WHOM IT CONCERNS - CHRIS ANDREWS

13 17 KEEP ON RUNNING - SPENCER DAVIS GROUP

14 11 LET`S HANG ON - FOUR SEASONS

15 18 TILL THE END OF THE DAY - KINKS

16 14 PRINCESS IN RAGS - GENE PITNEY

17 28 MERRY GENTLE POPS - BARRON KNIGHTS

18 15 POSITIVELY 4TH STREET - BOB DYLAN

19 24 WAR LORD - SHADOWS

20 24 MY GIRL - OTIS REDDING

21 16 GET OFF MY CLOUD - ROLLING STONES

22 NE A HARD DAY`S NIGHT - PETER SELLARS

23 20 YESTERDAY MAN - CHRIS ANDREWS

24 21 DON`T BRING ME YOUR HEARTACHES - PAUL AND BARRY RYAN

25 23 RUBBER SOUL L.P. - BEATLES

26 NE YOU MAKE IT MOVE - DAVE DEE, DOZY, BEAKY, MICK, AND TICH

27 NE SPANISH FLEA - HERB ALPERT AND THE TIJUANA BRASS

28 19 TELL ME WHY - ELVIS PRESLEY

29 NE I LEFT MY HEART IN SAN FRANCISCO - TONY BENNETT

30 NE IF I NEEDED SOMEONE - HOLLIES

 

Again, there we were with "supossibly" the beat era, but there we find easy listening from Ken Dodd, the Seekers etc, proving the charts were open in 1965!

 

Christmas 1966. Alan Freeman hosting at 5pm, on Sunday 25th Dec. In December 1966, Denys Jones took over Chart compilation at the BBC.

01 01 GREEN GREEN GRASS OF HOME - TOM JONES

02 03 MORNINGTOWN RIDE - THE SEEKERS

03 02 WHAT WOULD I BE - VAL DOONICAN

04 06 SUNSHINE SUPERMAN - DONOVAN

05 08 DEAD END STREET - KINKS

06 09 YOU KEEP ME HANGIN`ON - SUPREMES

07 06 WHAT BECOMES OF THE BROKEN HEARTED - JIMMY RUFFIN

08 04 MY MIND`S EYE - SMALL FACES

09 15 SAVE ME - DAVE DEE, DOZY, BEAKY, MICK, AND TICH

10 10 FRIDAY ON MY MIND - EASYBEATS

11 05 GOOD VIBRATIONS - BEACH BOYS

12 16 IF EVERY DAY WAS LIKE CHRISTMAS - ELVIS PRESLEY

13 10 GIMME SOME LOVING - SPENCER DAVIS GROUP

14 23 HAPPY JACK - WHO

15 27 IN THE COUNTRY - CLIFF RICHARD

16 12 JUST ONE SMILE - GENE PITNEY

17 17 DISTANT DRUMS - JIM REEVES

18 14 HOLY COW - LEE DORSEY

18 NE ANYWAY THAT YOU WANT ME - TROGGS

20 13 SEMI-DETACHED SURBURBAN MR JAMES - MANFRED MANN

20 22 UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT - BARRON KNIGHTS

22 21 THERE WON`T BE MANY COMING HOME - ROY ORBISON

23 19 WALK WITH FAITH IN YOUR HEART - BACHELORS

24 18 REACH OUT I`LL BE THERE - FOUR TOPS

25 28 CALL HER YOUR SWEETHEART - FRANK IFIELD

26 20 HIGH TIME - PAUL JONES

27 29 SOMEWHERE MY LOVE - MIKE SAMMES SINGERS

28 26 FA-FA-FA-FA-FA SAD SONG - OTIS REDDING

29 30 PAMELA PAMELA - WAYNE FONTANA

30 NE I`M READY FOR LOVE - MARTHA AND THE VANDELLAS

30 NE I KNOW I`M LOSING YOU - TEMPTATIONS

30 NE DEADLIER THAN THE MALE - WALKER BROTHERS

30 NE HEART - RITA PAVONE

 

A few Christmas songs in there in 1966, including the Small Faces hit "My Mind`s Eye", which was based on the tune to "Glory In Excelsis". And also in 1966, there were no Beatles singles in, meaning another win for the easy listening artist! All through the 50s/60s, Pick Of The Pops featured the Number Ones of the year , the wek after Christmas, but on Sunday 1st Jan 1967, Alan counted down the top 20 best sellers according to Melody Maker.

 

Christmas 1967 soon...

1964 was apparently a year when the Beatles etc, made a difference to the charts. Not that apparent, when Val Doonican, and the Bachelors were doing just as good. This chart in 1964, was even more surprising because on the bubble outside the top 30, was a Piano Medley from Mrs Mills!

We also remember Alan Freeman on Top Of The Pops...announcing "Here are Sounds Orchestral, with their new piece "Cast Your Wind To The Fate", a mistake that was never forgotten!

 

oh i dunno, from what i remember 64 is still remembered for beat and the beatles more then 'square' 'mums' music. lets not forget either that 'pop music' as we know it (ie beatlesque) is a new phenominon and its appeal was nearly exclusively 'teen/young' unlike today (or even by the end of the 60's) where 'pop' was accepted and liked by older generations. val and the batchelors etc had already an established audience, plus at crimbo time 'square' music often made the charts more then at other times of the year. i was always under the impression that the new year brought in a whole lot of new, decent pop after somewhat of a break over crimbo...

 

'mums' music, (ballads) were popular in the 50's. 60's and after abit of a slump 70-80's boybands revived the interest in the 90's and its unfortunately still alive today with pestlife (and to a more credible extent, take that).

Right then it`s Christmas 1967. We tuned into Pick Of The Pops (as of 27th Aug 67, it was a 90 minute show, and finally became a 2 hour show, on 1st Oct 67). This was the first, of just two occasions (in the 60s), that the show featured the top 30.

Sunday 24th Dec 1967

01 01 HELLO GOODBYE - BEATLES

02 04 IF THE WHOLE WORLD STOPPED LOVIN`- VAL DOONICAN

03 07 I`M COMING HOME - TOM JONES

04 02 LET THE HEARTACHES BEGIN - LONG JOHN BALDRY

05 05 SOMETHING`S GOTTEN HOLD OF MY HEART - GENE PITNEY

06 06 CARELESS HANDS - DES O`CONNER

07 16 MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR E.P. - BEATLES

08 10 THANK YOU VERY MUCH - SCAFFOLD

09 03 EVERYBODY KNOWS - DAVE CLARK FIVE

10 08 WORLD - BEE GEES

11 11 DAYDREAM BELIEVER - MONKEES

12 09 ALL MY LOVE - CLIFF RICHARD

13 13 KITES - SIMON DUPREE

14 12 HERE WE GO ROUND THE MULBERRY BUSH - TRAFFIC

15 14 THE LAST WALTZ - ENGLEBERT HUMPERDINCK

16 21 WALK AWAY RENEE - FOUR TOPS

17 19 IN AND OUT OF LOVE - DIANA ROSS AND THE SUPREMES

18 26 TIN SOLDIER - SMALL FACES

19 18 I FEEL LOVE COMING ON - FELICE TAYLOR

20 15 LOVE IS ALL AROUND - TROGGS

21 17 BABY NOW THAT I`VE FOUND YOU - FOUNDATIONS

22 20 THERE MUST BE A WAY - FRANKIE VAUGHAN

23 NE BALLAD OF BONNIE AND CLYDE - GEORGIE FAME

24 24 SO TIRED - FRANKIE VAUGHAN

25 28 JACKIE - SCOTT WALKER

26 25 BIG SPENDER - SHIRLEY BASSEY

27 22 ZABADAK - DAVE DEE DOZY BEAKY MICK AND TICH

28 30 SUSANNAH`S STILL ALIVE - DAVE DAVIES

29 23 THERE IS A MOUNTAIN - DONOVAN

30 NE THE OTHER MAN`S GRASS - PETULA CLARK

 

The easy listening sector, at it again Rob! Val, Des, and the Hump etc. Yep, maybe the 64/65 period gave us the Beat era, but it was definately waining by 1967`s end! Being a bit controversial myself, I was never a fan of the Beatles anyway. I just think they were in the right place, at the right time. Couldn`t stand John Lennon (even more so, with Yoko). Do like Paul McCartney, not quite such an egotist, and in this chart his brother Mike, of course with the brilliant wind ups of the Scaffold.

 

On the 31st Dec 67, Alan Freeman re-played all the BBC top threes, of 1967. He also did that in 1968, 1969, and 1971.

 

Coming soon Christmas 1968...

The easy listening sector, at it again Rob! Val, Des, and the Hump etc. Yep, maybe the 64/65 period gave us the Beat era, but it was definately waining by 1967`s end! Being a bit controversial myself, I was never a fan of the Beatles anyway. I just think they were in the right place, at the right time. Couldn`t stand John Lennon (even more so, with Yoko). Do like Paul McCartney, not quite such an egotist, and in this chart his brother Mike, of course with the brilliant wind ups of the Scaffold.

 

lol.. true dave, easy listening with its army of soppy mums claiming the crimbo charts yet again. thank god they didnt prevail throughout the year or music would never have evolved!

 

they were in the right place at the right time, but without their inherant talent and intelect they would never have evolved past 'she loves you'... to become the icons and leaders in pop that they undoubtedly were.

 

yeah lennon was an egotist, but then again that goes with the teritory, ALL great leaders in popular music have been egotists... we needed them.

 

i think the scaffolds greatest moment was 'do you remember'.. which never charted.

ps....... i prefer the yardbirds anyway! :)

ps....... i prefer the yardbirds anyway! :)

Great stuff Rob. Just thinking though, wouldn`t it have been rather tedious if the Beatles, Stones, Animals, Yardbirds, etc had never existed. The charts would have all been the Bachelors, Val, Englebert, and Tom Jones! Like you say, it was definately the "older" market buying Val etc. Possibly Radio 2 help them along towards the end of 67, into 68. Though probably certain "stars" tv shows helped too.

 

Back to business then. The 1968 BBC Christmas Chart. Again, Alan Freeman hosted Pick Of The Pops on Sunday 22nd Dec 68, in the 5-7pm slot. The BBC though suddenly dropped back to a top 20 in October 1968. This was played in full on POTP, from 5.55pm. The rest of the programme featured bubblers new releases, and a few album tracks.

For our purposes though, I include a top 30 which could have been used, but wasn`t!

01 01 LILY THE PINK - SCAFFOLD

02 04 AIN`T GOT NO-I GOT LIFE - NINA SIMONE

03 03 1-2-3 O`LEARY - DES O`CONNER

04 05 BUILD ME UP BUTTERCUP - FOUNDATIONS

05 02 THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY - HUGO MONTENEGRO

06 10 I`M THE URBAN SPACEMAN - BONZO DOG DOO-DAH BAND

07 13 SABRE DANCE - LOVE SCULPTURE

08 08 MAY I HAVE THE NEXT DREAM WITH YOU - MALCOM ROBERTS

09 10 I`M A TIGER - LULU

09 14 RACE WITH THE DEVIL - THE GUN

11 08 BREAKIN`DOWN THE WALLS OF HEARTACHE - BANDWAGON

12 22 OB-LA-DI-OB-LA-DA - MARMALADE

13 06 THIS OLD HEART OF MINE - ISLEY BROTHERS

14 16 A MINUTE OF YOUR TIME - TOM JONES

15 07 ELOISE - BARRY RYAN

16 24 ALBATROSS - FLEETWOOD MAC

17 15 HARPER VALLEY PTA - JEANNIE C. RILEY

18 18 LOVE CHILD - DIANA ROSS AND THE SUPREMES

18 19 PRIVATE NUMBER - WILLIAM BELL/JUDY CLAY

20 23 SON OF A PREACHER MAN - DUSTY SPRINGFIELD

21 12 ELENORE - TURTLES

22 17 IF I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW - VAL DOONICAN

23 25 QUICK JOEY SMALL - KASENETZ-KATZ SINGING ORCHESTRAL CIRCUS

24 21 THOSE WERE THE DAYS - MARY HOPKIN

25 NE STOP HER ON SIGHT/HEADLINE NEWS - EDWIN STARR

26 26 DON`T FORGET TO CATCH ME - CLIFF RICHARD AND THE SHADOWS

27 NE I SHALL BE RELEASED - TREMOLOES

28 29 ATLANTIS - DONOVAN

28 NE OB-LA-DI-OB-LA-DA - BEDROCKS

30 20 ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER - JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE

 

Not exactly a lack of Beatles in 1968, as they were represented by the Marmalade, and the Bedrocks! The Cliff Richard hit, was the last to feature Cliff and the Shadows. Love Sculpture, was the first band of Dave Edmunds.

 

I was going to stop at 1968, but as Pick Of The Pops did continue for 3.75 more years. I decided to carry on. It was on Sunday 16th Feb 1969, when the BBC/Derek Chinnery joined forces with the British Market Research Bureau for the very first so called "Official" Chart. It was in June 1969 though, before the BBC used an Album Chart.

So, in 1969 on Sunday 28th Dec Alan Freeman actually replayed the top threes, of the whole of the year. The Christmas chart was announced on Radio One at 12.30pm on Tuesday 23rd Dec. Alan did the rundown each week, using the music of the Harry Roberts Sound, and "Quite Beside The Point". He also did the rundown with this on POTP from April 1966 - April 1970.

01 01 TWO LITTLE BOYS - ROLF HARRIS

02 02 RUBY DON`T TAKE YOUR LOVE TO TOWN - KENNY ROGERS

03 03 SUGAR SUGAR - THE ARCHIES

04 06 SUSPICIOUS MINDS - ELVIS PRESLEY

05 05 MELTING POT - BLUE MINK

06 04 YESTER-ME-YESTER-YOU-YESTERDAY - STEVIE WONDER

07 07 ALL I HAVE TO DO IS DREAM - BOBBIE GENTRY/GLEN CAMPBELL

08 08 WINTER WORLD OF LOVE - ENGLEBERT HUMPERDINCK

09 10 TRACY - CUFFLINKS

10 12 WITHOUT LOVE - TOM JONES

11 13 ONION SONG - MARVIN GAYE/TAMMI TERRELL

12 16 GOOD OLD ROCK N`ROLL - DAVE CLARK FIVE

13 14 DURHAM TOWN THE LEAVING - ROGER WHITTAKER

14 09 CALL ME NUMBER ONE - TREMOLOES

15 15 LOVE IS ALL - MALCOM ROBERTS

16 11 THE LIQUIDATOR - HARRY J. ALL STARS

17 22 BUT YOU LOVE ME DADDY - JIM REEVES

18 19 LONELINESS - DES O`CONNER

19 21 GREEN RIVER - CREEDANCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL

20 24 NOBODY`S CHILD - KAREN YOUNG

21 18 SOMETHING/COME TOGETHER - BEATLES

22 20 WITH THE EYES OF A CHILD - CLIFF RICHARD

23 27 SWEET DREAM - JETHRO TULL

24 17 WONDERFUL WORLD BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE - JIMMY CLIFF

25 28 LOVE`S BEEN GOOD TO ME - FRANK SINATRA

26 23 HIGHWAY SONG - NANCY SINATRA

27 29 SOMEDAY WE`LL BE TOGETHER - DIANA ROSS AND THE SUPREMES

28 26 RETURN OF DJANGO/DOLLAR IN THE TEETH - UPSETTERS

29 NE IF I THOUGHT YOU`D EVER CHANGE YOUR MIND - CILLA BLACK

30 NE REFLECTIONS OF MY LIFE - MARMALADE

 

Radio One were using the top 30 again in 1969, which they did until 9th May 1978, when they increased to the top 40.

 

If you listened to Pick Of The Pops on Sunday 27th Dec 1970, Alan played the top 50 best sellers of 1970 in 2 hours flat, and didn`t miss any out! But on Tuesday 22nd Dec, at 12.30pm he revealed this Christmas Chart, which he rundown along with Sounds Incorporated and "At The Sign Of The Swinging Cymbal". Of course between 61 - 66, he used a version of this by Brian Fahey.

01 01 I HEAR YOU KNOCKING - DAVE EDMUNDS

02 06 GRANDAD - CLIVE DUNN

03 02 WHEN I`M DEAD AND GONE - MCGUINESS FLINT

04 04 IT`S ONLY MAKE BELIVE - GLEN CAMPBELL

05 05 I`LL BE THERE - JACKSON FIVE

06 03 CRACKLIN`ROSIE - NEIL DIAMOND

07 07 HOME LOVIN`MAN - ANDY WILLIAMS

08 08 NOTHING RHYMED - GILBERT O`SULLIVAN

09 09 MY PRAYER - GERRY MONROE

10 12 RIDE A WHITE SWAN - T.REX

11 15 BLAME IT ON THE PONY EXPRESS - JOHNNY JOHNSON AND THE BANDWAGON

12 10 YOU`VE GOT ME DANGLIN`ON A STRING - CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD

13 17 LADY BARBARA - PETER NOONE AND HERMAN`S HERMITS

14 13 INDIAN RESERVATION - DON FARDON

15 14 I`VE LOST YOU - ELVIS PRESLEY

16 16 JULIE DO YOU LOVE ME - WHITE PLAINS

17 18 BROKEN HEARTED - KEN DODD

18 26 MY WAY - FRANK SINATRA

19 11 VOODOO CHILE - JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE

20 NE APEMAN - KINKS

21 RE YOU`RE READY NOW - FRANKI VALLI

22 24 NEW WORLD IN THE MORNING - ROGER WHITTAKER

23 29 SNOWBIRD - ANNE MURRAY

24 22 WHOLE LOTTA LOVE - CCS

25 25 MY WAY - DOROTHY SQUIRES

26 27 WAR - EDWIN STARR

27 20 IT`S A SHAME - MOTOWN SPINNERS

28 RE BAND OF GOLD - FREDA PAYNE

29 28 PATCHES - CLARENCE CARTER

30 NE AMAZING GRACE - JUDY COLLINS

 

You won`t find this chart in the Guiness Book Of Hit Singles. They are too lazy to find it, but it was the Official one used by Radio One. Dave Edmunds (always nicking other people`s songs)! Jimi Hendrix died. Dorothy Squires was married to Roger Moore. Top Of The Pops used CCS and "Whole Lotta Love", as it`s theme.

 

Pick of The Pops hit it`s final year in the 1971/2 run (except for oldie comebacks in 1982, 1989, 1994, 1997, 2004 etc). I thoroughly believe it should have been laid to rest after dear Alan`s sad parting in Nov 2006.

On Sunday 26th Dec 1971, Alan played all the top threes, on the show. But on Tuesday 21st Dec at 12.30pm, he announced this Christmas Chart:

01 01 ERNIE THE FASTEST MILKMAN IN THE WEST - BENNY HILL

02 02 JEEPSTER - T.REX

03 07 SOMETHING TELLS ME SOMETHINGS GONNA HAPPEN TONIGHT - CILLA BLACK

04 NE I`D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING - NEW SEEKERS

05 04 THEME FROM SHAFT - ISAAC HAYES

06 12 SOFTLY WHISPERING I LOVE YOU - CONGREGATION

07 06 TOKOLOSHE MAN - JOHN KONGOS

08 05 NO MATTER HOW I TRY - GILBERT O`SULLIVAN

09 18 SOLEY SOLEY - MIDDLE OF THE ROAD

10 08 GYPSIES TRAMPS AND THIEVES - CHER

11 09 BANKS OF THE OHIO - OLIVIA NEWTON JOHN

12 19 MORNING - VAL DOONICAN

13 26 SLEEPY SHORES (OWEN MD THEME) - JOHNNY PEARSON ORCHESTRA

14 03 COZ I LUV YOU - SLADE

15 16 IT MUST BE LOVE - LABI SIFFRE

16 22 I JUST CAN`T HELP BELIEVING - ELVIS PRESLEY

17 15 FIREBALL - DEEP PURPLE

18 NE MOTHER OF MINE - NEIL REID

19 10 TILL - TOM JONES

20 20 IS THIS THE WAY TO AMARILLO - TONY CHRISTIE

21 28 KARA KARA - NEW WORLD

22 13 SING A SONG OF FREEDOM - CLIFF RICHARD

23 11 RUN BABY RUN - NEWBEATS

24 14 JOHNNY REGGAE - PIGLETS

25 NE THEME FROM THE ONEDIN LINE - VIENNA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

26 21 I WILL RETURN - SPRINGWATER

27 25 YOU GOTTA HAVE LOVE IN YOUR HEART - SUPREMES/FOUR TOPS

28 24 LOOK AROUND - VINCE HILL

29 27 FOR ALL WE KNOW - SHIRLEY BASSEY

30 23 HOOKED ON A FEELING - JONATHON KING

 

A big slice of Hughie Greene`s "Opportunity Knocks" in 1971, as New World, and Neil Reid crashed in. Neil was all over the Christmas tv in 1971.

 

Well, on 24th Sept 1972 the very last Pick Of The Pops went out. The Tuesday rundown was taken over by Tony Blackburn at 12.30pm. Tom Browne came along on Sundays, with Solid Gold Sixty...playing 60 records in 3 hours! But only the top 20 was the sales chart. As 21 - 60 was Radio One airplay, and what do/did they know?! The only better thing with Solid Gold Sixty was the fact (in it`s short run, Oct 1972 - March 1974) was that it featured the biggest sellers of 1972 on 31st Dec 72, and the biggest 60 sellers of 1973, on 30th Dec 73. The show shrunk on 26th March 1974 to the hour long Top Twenty Show, until 11th Nov 1978 when Simon Bates did the Top 40, on a Sunday for the first time. The Tuesday rundowns continued until 1987, following Tony Blackburn, came Dave Lee Travis, Johnny Walker, Paul Burnett, DLT (again), Mike Smith, and finally Gary Davis. The new chart was also reviewed on the Wednesday Breakfast show through 78 - 87. Peter Powell also did a review from the late 70s, into the mid 80s on the Tuesday Evening Drivetime show at 6pm.

 

Anyone else, feel free to cover the Christmas Charts from 1972 - 2007!

Thanks for all this dave, a very interesting read.

 

Re: the chart revealed on Tuesday December 22, 1970.

 

Are you sure this chart wasn't used by Hit Singles? I have it in my database (the whole top 50 in fact) but the chart is dated 02/01/71. The chart of 26/12/70 shows as a frozen chart from 19/12/70 so I'm guessing there was no Record Retailer issue of 26/12/70 and the chart was carried to the next issue. I would have thought Hit Singles would have used this chart but with the same week ending date as I have.

Thanks for all this dave, a very interesting read.

 

Re: the chart revealed on Tuesday December 22, 1970.

 

Are you sure this chart wasn't used by Hit Singles? I have it in my database (the whole top 50 in fact) but the chart is dated 02/01/71. The chart of 26/12/70 shows as a frozen chart from 19/12/70 so I'm guessing there was no Record Retailer issue of 26/12/70 and the chart was carried to the next issue. I would have thought Hit Singles would have used this chart but with the same week ending date as I have.

It might actually have been in the Guiness Book Of Hit Singles, now I think about it. But it definately wasn`t in the Guiness Book Of Top 40 Charts (issued in 1992). Though it was definately announced on Radio One on Tuesday 22nd. I also remember in 1974, the chart featured in MW was dated 4th Jan 75, but that one was announced on Radio One, on Tuesday 24th Dec 74. Certainly some other "missing charts" are available from the 70s, when the New Year week`s charts were compiled but never announced on Radio One. A fate that stopped a few hits from getting higher in the charts. A couple that spring to mind...There was a chart for the 2nd Jan 1971 that showed Clive Dunn already at the number one spot. On the 3rd Jan 76, Dana actually climbed to number 3, and on 1st Jan 77, Chris Hill`s "Bionic Santa" achieved a number 9 spot.

Great stuff Rob. Just thinking though, wouldn`t it have been rather tedious if the Beatles, Stones, Animals, Yardbirds, etc had never existed. The charts would have all been the Bachelors, Val, Englebert, and Tom Jones! Like you say, it was definately the "older" market buying Val etc. Possibly Radio 2 help them along towards the end of 67, into 68. Though probably certain "stars" tv shows helped too.

 

thats what i like about our pop music heritage, we might not always like various styles but we did create alot of inovation and differing sounds/styles, making our charts imho the best in the world! variety! is what its about.

Hi there....any idea where I can obtain the BBC charts used in the sixties on top of the pops before the BMRB chart came along ?