Jaz13music

Ah great to see you restarting this Julian, especially as I can contribute in real time now. I have read through the rest of the thread so far and it’s fantastic! Of this group I’d agree pretty much completely with your favourites Starman is brilliant, and it’s great to see you starting with a 10. Such a high standard of 70s singles by Bowie. I Can See Clearly Now is a beautiful melodic soul classic Sylvia’s Mother is my favourite Dr Hook single, I really like the pleading vocals Silver Machine was very ahead of its time Walking In The Rain With The One I Love is lovely Looking forward to more of your excellent reviews!

I’ve mentioned before that When Doves Cry is my favourite Prince single, it was a revelation in every way when I first heard it. I think it would likely make my top 10 too! I was a huge Jam fan back in the day, and Going Underground is also my favourite single. One of my all time favourite chart memories was when they were still announced at Tuesday lunchtime. I would sneak my tiny transistor radio into school at playtime to hear the rundown. I distinctly remember the apparent shock, on the part of the DJs, of this unhyped non radio friendly song being the first single in many years to enter at number one. It was pretty much purely driven by their huge and loyal fan base. And it was such a blast of energy and fury. Yes it was very political, and sadly over 40 years later, the lyrics are still too relevant in today’s UK.

Though it’s not one of MJs best singles, I still like Black Or White and would probably have it a bit higher. The inclusive message is a laudable one even if the lyrics are a bit clunky, but I like the music a lot.

Mary’s Boy Child has always been a Christmas song I like, Save All Your Kisses For Me, not so much!

11 Waiting All Night - Rudimental Feat. Ella Eyre. Number one for 1 week Year end number 12 Number 2 watch - #thatPOWER - will.i.am/Justin Bieber And having mentioned Rudimental in my last post here they are! From this point on we’re into the realm of songs I love. Waiting All Night was the fourth single from Rudimental’s debut studio album Home, it was Ella’s first UK chart single. It became Rudimental’s second of three UK number ones and Ella’s only one so far. A mashup of the song with Bastille’s Pompeii was performed live by Rudimental, Eyre and Bastille at the 2014 Brit Awards and also reached 21 in the the UK. It was awarded British Single Of The Year at that ceremony. It’s a great uplifting dance record with Rudimental’s signature drum and bass prominent, though it’s perhaps not distinctive enough from Feel The Love to really stand out. Ella’s warm soulful vocals are excellent, still the best thing she’s done in my opinion. I love the brass bursting forward and the pace changes into the energetic chorus. I do also like that it feels a bit darker in its tone than their previous hits. Another fantastic dance number 1 of 2013! 7 Quiz - Answer - Les Miserables. Lana Del Rey's 2012 track "Summertime Sadness" became a massive 2013 global radio hit thanks to a remix by which DJ?

Again, I can’t argue with those two, both absolutely brilliant songs! West End Girls was a wonderful calling card for the best duo of the 80s (maybe all time?!) It all just sounds so cool, and I especially love the percussion that sounds like a ticking clock, which I find so satisfying! At this stage, with artists as fantastically great and consistent as the PSBs I usually say I can’t choose a favourite. But since they made, IMO, probably the greatest pop song ever in the absolutely perfect What Have I Done To Deserve This, I don’t have to be a cop out as usual 😆! FGTH had such an unbelievable triad of singles in 1984, and as I mentioned in Julian’s 80s thread, it depends on my mood which one I prefer at any particular time. Two Tribes is certainly the most exhilarating, with its driving rhythm, brilliant baseline, and ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ production. Welcome To The Pleasuredome in its full album version is also fantastic, almost to the level of the three number ones. Really looking forward to your top six!

I’m not a huge fan of The Shoop Shoop Song, Cher had many better singles before and after. I agree Last Train To Trancentral is one of the best of the very consistently great KLF singles!

I think I’d put The One And Only in a similar, lower top 10 position. It’s great fun and enthusiastic. You’re right Julian, I met Chesney last year and I can confirm he was lovely and personable, giving a lot of his time up chatting, taking photos and signing stuff for my family. I’ve had the pleasure to see James three times live Jim, once pre fame (and pre Sit Down), when supporting The Smiths (wonderful gig), then twice as main act and they played Sit Down both those times. The first time the ‘sitting down’ seemed to be happening organically and was fantastic (apart from sitting on the sticky beer soaked floor of course), a great communal experience!

Yeah Puppy Love is dreadful. Three Times A Lady is okay, I wouldn’t actively seek it out though. Hoping for some favourites in the rest of the top 20!🤞

12 Love Me Again - John Newman. Number one for 1 week Year end number 14 Love Me Again is the debut solo single by English singer and DJ John Newman and was the lead single from his debut studio album Tribute. It was his first solo number one, though obviously, not his first time at the top of the charts having sung featured vocals on Rudimental’s genuinely fantastic euphoric number one single, the drum and bass masterpiece, Feel The Love. To date he has a total of 3 number ones. Though it’s almost impossible to be as good as that song, I really do like Love Me Again. Primarily, Johns’s powerful soulful vocals which in many ways are a precursor to Teddy Swims’ ultra popular singing style, but a bit more uptempo and a lot better. The songs has matching great emotive lyrics about love and break-up, brought to life with dramatic piano and soaring strings. I especially like the middle section as it goes into the final choruses There definitely also feels like a updated Northern Soul influence and the song’s videos reflect that too. And it certainly has momentum with the ‘funky drummer’ rhythm in the verses and funky guitar in the bridge. With such a promising start to his chart career I can’t help but think he hasn’t reached his full potential since then. 6 Quiz - Answer - Emeli Sandé Which album in 2013 became the first film soundtrack to top the UK album charts since "Evita" in 1997, spending four weeks at number one?

Another two great ones to start the decade. I was thinking you might be having an ABBA song in your 80s list, having not seen them in the 70s. Lay All Your love On Me is fantastic, I especially love the bridge into the chorus bit. One Of Us is another one I love and both would challenge Dancing Queen for my ABBA favourite. Crash is a lovely blast of indie pop, energetic and catchy, part of the lineage of bands from the ‘Spector sound’ girl groups of the 60s, through Blondie in the 70s/early 80s. Great stuff!

Yes I agree, I really love that song!

Wow, two terrible songs to start the top 20! The 70s answer to a very poor X Factor winner and, as Spiceboy noted, the 70s version of the Teletubbies (but somehow worse)!

Ha, I knew that would be the one you were going to put last!😆

Thanks! Great idea for a theme, I don’t know how you guys come up with them, but I love it! Need to get my thinking cap on now.

13 Get Up (Rattle) - Bingo Players Feat. Far East Movement. Number one for 2 weeks Year end number 69 Bingo Players are a Dutch house DJ and production duo and Get Up (Rattle) features vocals from American hip hop group Far East Movement. It is a revamped and vocal mix version of the Bingo Player's own 2011 song ‘Rattle’. It was both acts' first chart-topping hit in the UK. As you’re probably realising by now, I’m a sucker for a big club banger and this is no exception. It’s a really enjoyable dance rap song, which was another surprising (certainly to me) chart topper from 2013. It has a pounding beat (certainly ‘rattling’ my speakers) and great synths plus more ‘skronking’ horns (they were definitely a thing in 2013) and obviously the never ending party manifesto. It sounds like an older rave anthem. The raps, though generic, are energetic. I particularly love the references to the wonderful Technotronic and a homage to them in the first bridge, then a later one to Black Eyed Peas in the last. Nothing earth shattering but just a great dumb fun party song! And I’m a big fan of dumb fun party songs! 6 Quiz - Answer - HAIM Whose 2012 album spent almost all of 2013 as the biggest seller, before being overtaken in the very last week of the year?

Are there any restrictions in the genre of song at all?

This time I like all 3 songs. Heart Of Glass is also my favourite Blondie song, so effortlessly cool. We Don’t Talk Anymore is the best of Cliff’s later singles, his vocals sound great here. Without You is a great song, there must be stacks of cover versions of it, but the Nilsson one is best, more great vocals!

I’m curious now, which Rainbow song got your 12? I’d love to have a go at a 70s retro contest, maybe we’ll revisit it again one day?!

Oops, yes of course you’re right, sorry! 🫢 At least that means I can now find room for Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl😅 And, in that case, I’ll probably catch up with Joy Division in the 80s then….

Just had a look at this, and it’s excellent! Great recommendation, thanks!

14 Need You (100%) - Duke Dumont Feat. A*M*E. Number one for 2 weeks Year end number 35 Number 2 watch - Just Give Me A Reason - Pink/Nate Ruess Ding-Dong The Witch Is Dead - Wizard Of Oz Film Cast ‘Need U’ is a song by the British musician and DJ, real name Adam George Dyment, and features the vocals from Sierra Leonean-born British singer A*M*E, it was both artists first UK number one. It was also co written by MNEK This is a great deep house song that sounds like it comes straight from peak early 90s Detroit Techno, like a long lost Inner City song. All great punchy ‘piano’, rumbling bass and soulful vocals. Dumont’s next single is probably even better though. 6 Quiz - Answer - Metallica Which sibling indie-pop trio from California topped the UK album charts in October 2013 with their debut album Days Are Gone?

Cover Versions In 2013 I hope you don’t mind me taking a little diversion before continuing the countdown. There were a few cover versions reaching number one in 2013 (I think four in total) and I feel like I’ve been treating them quite harshly so far (though there is one still to come). I’m really not keen on them in general, especially if they add little, I like it much more if they are reimagining the original. So I set myself a challenge to find some more cover versions that were made in 2013 that I like or at least find interesting. Here’s what I came up with, I’d be interested to know what you think, and if you like any of them (or maybe they’re all rubbish🫢)… Tame Impala – "Prototype" (OutKast cover) Natalie Maines (Dixie Chicks frontwoman)– "Mother" (Pink Floyd cover) Dirty Projectors – "Climax" (Usher cover) Arctic Monkeys – "Hold On, We're Going Home" (Drake cover) Postmodern Jukebox – "We Can't Stop" (Miley Cyrus cover) Daughter – "Get Lucky" (Daft Punk cover) Haim – "Strong Enough" (Sheryl Crow cover) Twin Shadow – "I'm on Fire" (Bruce Springsteen cover) Mandatory Fun - ‘Weird Al’ Jankovic Humour me please! While were discussing cover versions, I’d also like to recognise the majesty of the career of Weird Al and this album which parodies many of the number ones of 2013. This, his last album, became his first and only US number one. Pharrell Williams, among others, said he was honoured to be spoofed by Yankovic. I think it’s worth a listen, though it’s probably ‘marmite’ to many! Some highlights :- ‘Handy’ (Fancy - Iggy Azalea and Charli XCX) ‘Foil’ (Royals - Lorde) ‘Word Crimes’ (Robin Thicke, Pharrell and TI) ‘Inactive’ (Radioactive - Imagine Dragons) Tacky’ (Happy - Pharrell Williams) with an appearance by Jack Black in the video The ‘Now That’s What I Call Polka’ medley (featuring Get Lucky, Thrift Shop, Scream & Shout and Wrecking Ball among others) I’d love any suggestions for great cover versions of the era that anyone might have?!

Two brilliant synth classics at the top! Both quite dark and ‘detached’ in their delivery but wonderfully melodic. Very far ahead of their time, so much so that, as you described, it literally took years for the public to catch up to The Model! That’s a really fantastic top 10 Jade, I couldn’t argue with any of them. Aside from the songs and artists you have highlighted I’ve tried to put together a list of 30 others I’d consider for my top 70s songs. I’m afraid I’m nowhere near as disciplined as you so I couldn’t put them in an order! 🫢 Walk on the Wild Side - Lou Reed Pop Muzik - M & Robin Scott All the Young Dudes - Mott the Hoople Spirit In the Sky - Norman Greenbaum Band On the Run - Paul McCartney & Wings Message In A Bottle - The Police Killer Queen - Queen Brown Sugar - The Rolling Stones Anarchy In the U.K. - Sex Pistols Making Plans for Nigel - XTC Hot Love - T. Rex Blockbuster - Sweet Superstition - Stevie Wonder Teenage Kicks - The Undertones Come and Get It - Badfinger Across the Universe - The Beatles Jive Talkin' - Bee Gees Video Killed the Radio Star - The Buggles It's Too Late - Carole King I Fought the Law - The Clash Boys Don't Cry - The Cure Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) - Edison Lighthouse Oliver's Army - Elvis Costello & The Attractions December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night) - The Four Seasons A Case of You - Joni Mitchell Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division That's the Way (I Like It) - KC and the Sunshine Band Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) - Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel I’m Not In Love - 10cc Uptown Top Ranking - Althea & Donna

Not a massive fan of any of these three, they’re all just okay. Mississippi with it gentle rolling country like ballading would probably just be my favourite. I like the enthusiasm of Bye Bye Baby though that might be one of my least favourite ‘boyband’ eras. Dr Hook had much better earlier singles, don’t much like the lyrics either! I do remember the mix up at number one, which was a big story at the time. 1979 was probably the first proper year of my chart following obsession!