UK Music Chart: June 6, 1970

Number 13 : Mungo Jerry : In the Summertime
In its sixth week on the UK charts, Christie's Yellow River wins the battle to become the nation's new Number 1. However, it would not last for long, as a classic pop song was about to get a grip on the top spot over the the summer period.
  • 01 (03) Christie - Yellow River 
  • 02 (01) The England World Cup Squad - Back Home 
  • 03 (02) The Moody Blues - Question 
  • 04 (05) Glen Campbell - Honey Come Back 
  • 05 (09) Tom Jones - Daughter Of Darkness 
  • 06 (12) Ray Stevens - Everything Is Beautiful 
  • 07 (13) Mr Bloe - Groovin' With Mr Bloe 
  • 08 (11) The Jackson Five - ABC 
  • 09 (04) Norman Greenbaum - Spirit In The Sky 
  • 10 (06) The Supremes - Up The Ladder To The Roof 
  • 11 (08) Roger Whittaker - I Don't Believe In 'If' Anymore 
  • 12 (14) The Beach Boys - Cottonfields 
  • 13 (**) Mungo Jerry - In The Summertime 
  • 14 (20) Marvin Gaye - Abraham, Martin And John 
  • 15 (10) The Move - Brontosaurus 
  • 16 (07) Frijid Pink - House Of The Rising Sun 
  • 17 (18) Fleetwood Mac - Green Manalishi (With The Two-Prong Crown) 
  • 18 (19) Butterscotch - Don't You Know (She Said Hello) 
  • 19 (17) White Plains - I've Got You On My Mind 
  • 20 (23) Rufus Thomas - Do The Funky Chicken
*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red
Image: Mungo Jerry - The Dawn Singles Collection

As Rufus Thomas danced his way back into the Top 20, Mungo Jerry motored their way to the Number 13 spot in their first week on the chart. A spectacular debut for what has now become one of the classic, feelgood summer songs of all time.

As with many songs that capture the public imagination, In the Summertime was written very quickly by its composer, Ray Dorset. At the time, he was working in a watch factory and created the melody within a few minutes. Adding the lyrics the next day, it was not long before the BBC was contacting him to appear on its music show, Top of the Pops.

These TV appearances and regular radio airplay catapulted the track to Number 1, where it would remain for a total of seven weeks. It repeated this feat across Europe, Australia, South Africa and Canada, while it peaked at Number 3 in the United States.

In the intervening years, it has gone on to sell in the region of 30 million units, making it one of the biggest selling singles of all time. Playing at 33⅓ rpms, it was also one of the earliest available maxi singles, including Mighty Man on its A-Side and Dust Pneumonia Blues on the flip side.




Until next time...

UK Music Chart: May 30, 1970

Number 6 : The Supremes : Up the Ladder to the Roof

Another clear out of the Top 20 took place this week in 1970 as six tracks were discarded to be replaced by shiny, new songs that had come into favour with the British public (although many were still digging into their pockets for 7 shillings to purchase a certain football-related 45).
  • 01 (01) England World Cup Squad - Back Home 
  • 02 (04) The Moody Blues - Question 
  • 03 (03) Christie - Yellow River 
  • 04 (02) Norman Greenbaum - Spirit In The Sky 
  • 05 (13) Glen Campbell - Honey Come Back 
  • 06 (30) The Supremes - Up The Ladder To The Roof 
  • 07 (06) Frijid Pink - House Of The Rising Sun 
  • 08 (08) Roger Whittaker - I Don't Believe In 'If' Anymore 
  • 09 (05) Tom Jones - Daughter Of Darkness 
  • 10 (07) The Move - Brontosaurus 
  • 11 (20) The Jackson Five - ABC 
  • 12 (16) Ray Stevens - Everything Is Beautiful 
  • 13 (21) Mr Bloe - Groovin' With Mr Bloe 
  • 14 (32) The Beach Boys - Cottonfields 
  • 15 (09) The Hollies - I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top 
  • 16 (11) Creedence Clearwater Revival - Travellin' Band 
  • 17 (17) White Plains - I've Got You On My Mind 
  • 18 (49) Fleetwood Mac - Green Manalishi (With The Two-Prong Crown) 
  • 19 (22) Butterscotch - Don't You Know (She Said Hello)
  • 20 (24) Marvin Gaye - Abraham, Martin And John
*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red 
 Image: The Supremes 1970-1973: The Jean Terrell Years

Firstly, just a little housekeeping: As YouTube has become a problem with regard to sharing some of the relative music videos for the archives presented here, I am now experimenting with bringing you the tracks through Spotify (create free account here). While you don't get to see the artists, this appears to be the solution to presenting the songs in a cleaner, compressed way. At the moment, I'm deciding between the playlist or the individual track option.

Now on to this week's Top 20 which sees a varied array of musical genres among its six new entries. First up is the latest single from the new line-up of The Supremes following the departure of Diana Ross. While it had taken a little while to make its appearance, this week saw it leap twenty-four places to Number 6. With Ms. Ross gone, the new lead vocalist was Jean Terrell and Up the Ladder to the Roof would become the (oft changing) trio's first of eight Top 40 hits during the Seventies.

Seven places below them, a one-off instrumental track became a surprise hit when the BBC mistakenly started playing the B-Side of a single by an American studio group called Wind (which included Tony Orlando). Such was its popularity that the track was re-recorded with a different arrangement and released as Groovin' With Mr Bloe by the almost entirely anonymous Mr Bloe (who could have been a guy called Zack Laurence). The track went on to peak at Number 2 and become one of the biggest sellers of the year.

In the meantime, the not so anonymous Beach Boys were enjoying another sizeable British hit, although in their homeland the band appeared to have fallen out of favour. The country-flavoured Cottonfields flopped on the US Billboard chart (No.103), but across many territories outside of the United States it was a massive hit. In the UK, it went on to peak at Number 5, stay in the charts for seventeen weeks and become the tenth best selling single of 1970.



The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Prong Crown) was about to become Fleetwood Mac's fourth UK Top 10 hit, but the group's last (barring re-releases) in its original line-up. Written by Peter Green, it is not absolutely clear what a "Manalishi" is, but it seems it was created from visions produced by his drug abuse. Green insists it's about money, but another explanation could be that it's about LSD. Whatever the story is, the track is a classic example of British Blues of the period and unlike anything else on the charts of the time. Its popularity was, no doubt, in part due to Green's departure from Fleetwood Mac at this point.

One place below Fleetwood Mac at Number 19 was a track that was as far away from the blues as one could get - and a song many might struggle to remember. Butterscotch was the group and Don't You Know (She Said Hello) was their hit. Sounding very much like the pop produced by Vanity Fair or Brotherhood of Man, there is very little available information about the band. The song, however, was written by David Martin, Chris Arnold and Geoff Morrow.

If Butterscotch are somewhat anonymous, Marvin Gaye could never be accused of being unknown. His presence in the UK Top 20 this week added a third memorable Motown track to the countdown. Celebrating the contributions to American society of Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy, the track at Number 20 was a cover of a song originally recorded by Dion (of the Belmonts fame), which was never a hit in the UK, but was a Top 5 track in the US. Marvin Gaye recorded his version of Abraham, Martin and John for the album That's the Way Love Is, releasing it as a single here but not in his homeland. He was rewarded with a Number 9 hit.

The Number 1 album this week:
















The Number 1 Song in the USA: Everything is Beautiful - Ray Stevens


Until next time...

UK Music Chart: May 23, 1970

Number 13 : Glen Campbell : Honey Come Back
While The England World Cup Squad continued its grip at the top of the UK charts this week in 1970, below it there was much activity, including a 25% change in the songs featured in the Top 20.
  • 01 (01) The England World Cup Squad - Back Home 
  • 02 (02) Norman Greenbaum - Spirit In The Sky 
  • 03 (06) Christie - Yellow River 
  • 04 (03) The Moody Blues - Question 
  • 05 (08) Tom Jones - Daughter Of Darkness 
  • 06 (04) Frijid Pink - House Of The Rising Sun 
  • 07 (10) The Move - Brontosaurus 
  • 08 (15) Roger Whittaker - I Don't Believe In 'If' Anymore 
  • 09 (07) The Hollies - I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top 
  • 10 (05) Dana - All Kinds Of Everything 
  • 11 (09) Creedence Clearwater Revival - Travellin' Band 
  • 12 (11) Andy Williams - Can't Help Falling In Love 
  • 13 (28) Glen Campbell - Honey Come Back 
  • 14 (12) Simon And Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water 
  • 15 (16) Stevie Wonder - Never Had A Dream Come True 
  • 16 (40) Ray Stevens - Everything Is Beautiful 
  • 17 (20) White Plains - I've Got You On My Mind 
  • 18 (25) Rufus Thomas - Do The Funky Chicken 
  • 19 (23) Julie Felix - If I Could (El Condor Pasa) 
  • 20 (41) The Jackson Five - ABC
*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red
Image: Rhinestone Cowboy - The Best Of Glen Campbell

Yes, five had dropped off the chart to be replaced by the songs below, all legendary artists of the time. First up, and with the highest new entry of the week, was the latest release from country star Glen Campbell. While he was a frequent visitor to the US Country/Billboard Hot 100 charts, in the UK most of his hits occurred in the late Sixties and early Seventies. The excellent Honey Come Back (written by Jimmy Webb) was the first of his four songs to reach the UK Top 40 in 1970 alone.


If my memory serves me well, the following song was the first that I bought on a 45 all those years ago. Listening to it again, I'm really not sure why. I guess age has made me more cynical. That said, Ray Stevens was always better known for his comedy/novelty tracks - he'd already had hits Stateside with titles such as Ahab the Arab and Gitarzan - but the more religious and message driven Everything Is Beautiful became his first hit in the UK. It was an auspicious debut peaking at Number 6 here.


When Rufus Thomas passed away in 2001, he left behind a wonderful catalogue of funk and soul recorded at one of America's most historical record labels, Stax. While songs such as Walking the Dog never appeared on the British charts, thankfully Thomas did grace it on one solitary occasion. This was it. In the US, Do the Funky Chicken peaked at Number 28, while in the UK, our chicken was slightly more funky when the song peaked this week at Number 18.


Right about now, Simon and Garfunkel were the real deal, enjoying a huge selling album and single in Bridge Over Troubled Water, as well as seeing their other albums charting as a consequence. One of the tracks from the Bridge LP was If I Could (El Condor Pasa), with which Paul Simon had some copyright woes. While a lawsuit was settled amicably, the track was never released in the UK as a single, albeit the duo witnessed success with it across other parts of Europe and the USA. Step forward American folk singer Julie Felix, who was very much in the public spotlight at the time because of her appearances on TV. Never one to miss an opportunity, her producer Mickie Most released the song and both were rewarded with a hit when the tracked peaked at Number 19 this week.


Last and by no means least were the latest pop/soul sensation, The Jackson 5, whose single ABC made an impressive twenty-one place jump to this week's Number 20. This was to be the second of four consecutive US Number 1 songs for the quintet, beginning with their debut I Want You Back. In the UK, it would only peak at Number 8, but would also become the second in a string of four debut Top 10 hits. Who could have guessed what was yet to come from that skinny 12-year-old lead singer by the name of Michael Jackson?




Until next time...

UK Music Chart: May 16 1970

Number 6 : Christie : Yellow River
While The England World Cup Squad was enjoying its first week as the UK's Number 1 song, the rest of the twenty was looking decidedly active, particularly in the cases of two songs that were vying for that top position.
  • 01 (02) The England World Cup Squad - Back Home 
  • 02 (01) Norman Greenbaum - Spirit In The Sky 
  • 03 (20) The Moody Blues - Question 
  • 04 (06) Frijid Pink - House Of The Rising Sun 
  • 05 (03) Dana - All Kinds Of Everything 
  • 06 (28) Christie - Yellow River 
  • 07 (10) The Hollies - I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top 
  • 08 (05) Tom Jones - Daughter Of Darkness 
  • 09 (08) Creedence Clearwater Revival - Travellin' Band 
  • 10 (14) The Move - Brontosaurus 
  • 11 (07) Andy Williams - Can't Help Falling In Love 
  • 12 (04) Simon And Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water 
  • 13 (12) Cuff Links - When Julie Comes Around 
  • 14 (16) Jimmy Ruffin - Farewell Is A Lonely Sound 
  • 15 (17) Roger Whittaker - I Don't Believe In 'If' Anymore 
  • 16 (09) Stevie Wonder - Never Had A Dream Come True 
  • 17 (19) The Band - Rag Mama Rag 
  • 18 (11) Pipkins - Gimme Dat Ding! 
  • 19 (24) The Who - The Seeker 
  • 20 (22) White Plains - I've Got You On My Mind
*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red 
Image: Yellow River (Christie album)

In my last post, I discussed one of the previous week's new entries, Question by The Moody Blues. Along with newcomers Christie, The Moodies were among the biggest climbers of this week, jumping seventeen places to Number 3. As for Christie, the group's song Yellow River advanced twenty-two places to Number 6 to threaten Back Home at the top.

Although Yellow River was composed by Jeff Christie, he initially offered the song to The Tremeloes as the band's next single. However, they rejected it, claiming it was too "pop-py" for the direction in which they were now wanting to go. Instead, Christie decided to record it with his band and took it to Number 1 in the UK, as well as into the Top 30 in America. It's one of those songs that gets into your head and won't go away. Perhaps the band should have considered Eurovision?

 

From one end of pop's musical spectrum to the other as we greet The Who into the Top 20 this week in 1970. The band was releasing new material following the international acclaim after performances of the rock opera, Tommy. Perhaps not one of the group's best remembered songs, Pete Townshend himself has expressed a dislike for The Seeker, albeit he wrote it. This week's position of Number 19 was its highest before it re-emerged on the compilation album, Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy.


Just a few weeks after their first hit had fallen off the chart, White Plains were back to claim their second Top Twenty hit with the song I've Got You On My Mind. Of their four tracks that climbed into this part of the chart, this is the one that peaked at the lowest position: Number 17. Unfortunately, I'm not able to find a video of the group performing the song, but as an Avengers and Bond fan, this one featuring Honor Blackman serves as a very acceptable substitute.




The Number 1 album this week in 1970:




















Until next time...

UK Music Chart: May 9, 1970

Number 14 : The Move : Brontosaurus
Spirit in the Sky was, once again, the UK's best selling song this week in 1970, but the nation was becoming football crazy with the imminent World Cup tournament and copies of The England World Cup Squad's Back Home were flying out of record shops. In the meantime, three new songs made their debuts inside the Top 20.
  • 01 (01) Norman Greenbaum - Spirit In The Sky 
  • 02 (03) The England World Cup Squad - Back Home 
  • 03 (02) Dana - All Kinds Of Everything 
  • 04 (04) Simon And Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water 
  • 05 (15) Tom Jones - Daughter Of Darkness 
  • 06 (09) Frijid Pink - House Of The Rising Sun 
  • 07 (05) Andy Williams - Can't Help Falling In Love 
  • 08 (11) Creedence Clearwater Revival - Travellin' Band 
  • 09 (06) Stevie Wonder - Never Had A Dream Come True 
  • 10 (19) The Hollies - I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top 
  • 11 (07) Pipkins - Gimme Dat Ding! 
  • 12 (10) Cuff Links - When Julie Comes Around 
  • 13 (12) Blue Mink - Good Morning Freedom 
  • 14 (27) The Move - Brontosaurus 
  • 15 (14) Mary Hopkin - Knock, Knock Who's There 
  • 16 (08) Jimmy Ruffin - Farewell Is A Lonely Sound 
  • 17 (23) Roger Whittaker - I Don't Believe In If Anymore 
  • 18 (13) Bob And Marcia - Young, Gifted And Black 
  • 19 (16) The Band - Rag Mama Rag 
  • 20 (35) The Moody Blues - Question
*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red
Image: The Move Anthology

The Move's Brontosaurus was something of a landmark song in view of what was to happen to the band over the next couple of years. Lead vocalist Carl Wayne had left and Roy Wood's influence had grown ever stronger. Having taken over the role as lead singer himself, Wood steered the group in a more classic rock direction, planting the seeds for the now embryonic Electric Light Orchestra. Jeff Lynne had also joined The Move and we would see Roy Wood promoting this latest disc in the face make-up that would become an even more familiar feature as his signature look in the band, Wizzard (although not in this video).

    

Easy listening made another assault on the Top 20, this time from Roger Whittaker who was enjoying a string of hits during this period. This was his third consecutive entry in the British chart following Durham Town and New World in the Morning. I Don't Believe in 'If' Anymore would peak at Number 8, making it his first Top 10 hit.



Question became The Moody Blues' biggest hit song in the UK since the group's second single Go Now had topped the charts in 1965. Included on their sixth album, A Question of Balance, the track was written by band member Justin Hayward with the ongoing conflict in Vietnam as its core theme. A superb song from a superb band.



Until next time...

UK Music Chart: May 2, 1970

Number 19 : The Hollies: I Can't Tell the Bottom From the Top
Norman Greenbaum was the week's new Number 1, having pushed Dana's Eurovision-winning song from the top spot. However, Spirit in the Sky would soon get the boot from the England World Cup Squad which leapt twenty places to Number 3.
  • 01 (02) Norman Greenbaum - Spirit In The Sky 
  • 02 (01) Dana - All Kinds Of Everything 
  • 03 (23) England World Cup Squad - Back Home 
  • 04 (03) Simon And Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water 
  • 05 (04) Andy Williams - Can't Help Falling In Love 
  • 06 (08) Stevie Wonder - Never Had A Dream Come True 
  • 07 (06) Pipkins - Gimme Dat Ding! 
  • 08 (09) Jimmy Ruffin - Farewell Is A Lonely Sound 
  • 09 (14) Frijid Pink - House Of The Rising Sun 
  • 10 (12) Cuff Links - When Julie Comes Around 
  • 11 (15) Creedence Clearwater Revival - Travellin' Band 
  • 12 (10) Blue Mink - Good Morning Freedom 
  • 13 (07) Bob And Marcia - Young, Gifted And Black 
  • 14 (05) Mary Hopkin - Knock, Knock Who's There 
  • 15 (17) Tom Jones - Daughter Of Darkness 
  • 16 (16) The Band - Rag Mama Rag 
  • 17 (11) Four Tops - I Can't Help Myself 
  • 18 (20) Juicy Lucy - Who Do You Love 
  • 19 (27) Hollies - I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top 
  • 20 (21) Joe Dolan - You're Such A Good Looking Woman
*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red
Image: The Hollies - Midas Touch (The Very Best of The Hollies)

The 1970 World Cup began on May 31, but before the kick-off the England team was about to score a Number 1 hit with its football anthem, Back Home. It was the first among the now traditional football songs recorded by the latest England team in support of their endeavours. It also became the first of four (to date) team singles to top the UK chart. Unfortunately, Bobby Moore and co fell at the quarter-final stages, but the song ruled the Top 50 for three weeks:



One of the most consistently successful bands of the 1960s continued its winning ways at the beginning of the 1970s when The Hollies' first single release of the decade was about to land in the Top 10. I Can't Tell the Bottom From the Top would eventually settle at a peak of Number 7 and would mark the penultimate time that the group would enjoy such a high placing. The track features Elton John on piano and, of course, the fantastic vocals of Allan Clarke:




Until next time...

UK Music Chart: April 25, 1970

Number 14 : Frijid Pink : House of the Rising Sun


Dana continued as the UK's best selling song this week in April, 1970, although Norman Greenbaum's Spirit in the Sky was hot on her heels to claim the top spot. Further down the chart, three songs made their debuts in the Top 20, beginning with an updated version of an Animals classic.
  • 01 (01) Dana - All Kinds Of Everything 
  • 02 (05) Norman Greenbaum - Spirit In The Sky 
  • 03 (02) Simon And Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water 
  • 04 (03) Andy Williams - Can't Help Falling In Love 
  • 05 (04) Mary Hopkin - Knock, Knock Who's There 
  • 06 (06) Pipkins - Gimme Dat Ding! 
  • 07 (07) Bob And Marcia - Young, Gifted And Black 
  • 08 (13) Stevie Wonder - Never Had A Dream Come True 
  • 09 (09) Jimmy Ruffin - Farewell Is A Lonely Sound 
  • 10 (18) Blue Mink - Good Morning Freedom 
  • 11 (10) Four Tops - I Can't Help Myself 
  • 12 (12) Cufflinks - When Julie Comes Around 
  • 13 (08) Lee Marvin - Wand'rin' Star 
  • 14 (21) Frijid Pink - House Of The Rising Sun 
  • 15 (19) Creedence Clearwater Revival - Travellin' Band 
  • 16 (25) The Band - Rag Mama Rag 
  • 17 (33) Tom Jones - Daughter Of Darkness 
  • 18 (15) Kenny Rogers And The First Edition - Something's Burning 
  • 19 (11) Pickettywitch - That Same Old Feeling 
  • 20 (14) Juicy Lucy - Who Do You Love
*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red
Image: Frijid Pink in August 1970 (Public Domain).

Frijid Pink hail from the Motown city - Detroit - and have undergone many member changes since first forming in 1967. The group's most commercially fruitful era though was the early 1970s. From that period comes this wonderful, psychedelic version of The House of the Rising Sun, previously a Number 1 for The Animals in 1964. Frijid Pink would eventually reach Number 4 in the UK, but internationally it would be more successful than The Animals' recording, finding favour across Europe, the US and Australia:



Only twice did The Band manage to see action on the UK Singles Chart and Rag Mama Rag was the second such occurrence. Previously peaking at Number 21 with The Weight in 1968, this tune fared a little better, reaching a high of Number 16. While Robbie Robertson and co are better remembered for their country-rock styling, as the title suggests, Rag Mama Rag is performed very much in a ragtime fashion:



Better known now by the younger generation as a judge on The Voice UK, back in 1970 Sir Tom Jones was enjoying his fifteenth UK Top 20 hit and his first of the 1970s. Eventually stalling at Number 5, Daughter of Darkness would also make the charts of Canada, Germany, The Netherlands and the US:




The Number One album this week:
 

















Until next time...peace...

UK Music Chart: April 18, 1970

Number 18 : Blue Mink : Good Morning Freedom
  • 01 (02) Dana - All Kinds Of Everything 
  • 02 (01) Simon And Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water 
  • 03 (03) Andy Williams - Can't Help Falling In Love 
  • 04 (04) Mary Hopkin - Knock, Knock Who's There 
  • 05 (06) Norman Greenbaum - Spirit In The Sky 
  • 06 (10) Pipkins - Gimme Dat Ding! 
  • 07 (08) Bob And Marcia - Young, Gifted And Black 
  • 08 (05) Lee Marvin - Wand'rin' Star 
  • 09 (13) Jimmy Ruffin - Farewell Is A Lonely Sound 
  • 10 (12) Four Tops - I Can't Help Myself 
  • 11 (07) Pickettywitch - That Same Old Feeling 
  • 12 (16) Cuff Links - When Julie Comes Around 
  • 13 (19) Stevie Wonder - Never Had A Dream Come True 
  • 14 (25) Juicy Lucy - Who Do You Love 
  • 15 (09) Kenny Rogers And The First Edition - Something's Burning 
  • 16 (11) Beatles - Let It Be 
  • 17 (17) Joe Dolan - You're Such A Good Looking Woman 
  • 18 (21) Blue Mink - Good Morning Freedom 
  • 19 (27) Creedence Clearwater Revival - Travellin' Band 
  • 20 (14) Elvis Presley - Don't Cry Daddy
*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red
Image: Good Morning Freedom: The Anthology

The winner of the 1970 Eurovision Song Contest climbed into the Number 1 position this week in April, replacing one of pop's most enduring songs in Bridge Over Troubled Water. As it turned out, Dana presided over a reasonably static Top 20 with All Kinds of Everything. Only two new entries (the song by Juicy Lucy was a re-entry) managed to dent the 20 and the first of these came from a much loved band of the time.

Blue Mink had already enjoyed their first Top Five hit the previous Autumn with the controversial Melting Pot which, when covered in America, failed to take off because it was deemed too lyrically extreme. The follow-up saw Madeleine Bell, Roger Cook and Herbie Flowers (among others included in the group) back on the British chart performing Good Morning Freedom. This would be the second of seven hits from this much-loved band:


1969 had been an astoundingly successful year for Creedence Clearwater Revival, particularly in the United States where the band had witnessed four Top 3 singles and three Top 10 albums. That success was not quite replicated in the UK, but even so, three Top 20 singles (one Number 1) and two Top 20 albums was a healthy record in anyone's book. 1970 was to be another excellent year for the band as Travellin' Man became another huge hit on both sides of the Atlantic. The song was not without its problems, though. At one point, John Fogerty was sued for plagiarizing the song Good Golly Miss Molly in this one, but the suit was later dropped:


Until next time...

UK Music Chart: April 11, 1970

Number 10 : The Pipkins : Gimme Dat Ding
  •  01 (01) Simon And Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water 
  •  02 (13) Dana - All Kinds Of Everything 
  •  03 (03) Andy Williams - Can't Help Falling In Love 
  •  04 (02) Mary Hopkin - Knock, Knock Who's There 
  •  05 (04) Lee Marvin - Wand'rin' Star 
  •  06 (15) Norman Greenbaum - Spirit In The Sky 
  •  07 (06) Pickettywitch - That Same Old Feeling 
  •  08 (05) Bob And Marcia - Young, Gifted And Black 
  •  09 (08) Kenny Rogers And The First Edition - Something's Burning 
  •  10 (21) Pipkins - Gimme Dat Ding! 
  •  11 (07) Beatles - Let It Be 
  •  12 (17) Four Tops - I Can't Help Myself 
  •  13 (14) Jimmy Ruffin - Farewell Is A Lonely Sound 
  •  14 (10) Elvis Presley - Don't Cry Daddy 
  •  15 (09) Dave Clark Five - Everybody Get Together 
  •  16 (22) Cuff-Links - When Julie Comes Around 
  •  17 (18) Joe Dolan - You're Such A Good Looking Woman 
  •  18 (11) Steam - Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye 
  •  19 (39) Stevie Wonder - Never Had A Dream Come True 
  •  20 (12) Jackson Five - I Want You Back
*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red
Image: Pipkins - Gimme Dat Ding download

Bridge Over Troubled Water was about to complete its third and final week as the UK's best seller, as two other tracks on this week's listing were charging up the charts to eventually make claim to the Number 1 position: All Kinds of Everything and Spirit in the Sky. Elsewhere, three songs were new to the Top 20.

The first of these was very much a novelty song, sung by a studio duo, that also became a huge hit in the USA. The Pipkins were session singer Tony Burrows and songwriter Roger Greenaway. Both had been involved with other studio groups from recent weeks, including Edison Lighthouse, White Plains and Brotherhood of Man. Research shows that Gimme Dat Ding was originally recorded by Freddie and the Dreamers for a children's TV show sequence and later released on the album Oliver in the Overworld:

 

The new entry at Number 16 was the follow-up to the recent Top 10 success, Tracy by The Cuff Links. Although the group would continue to release singles over the next couple of years, When Julie Comes Around would prove to be their last chart entry in the UK:



Stevie Wonder's first single release of the 1970s is one of my favourites amongst his very large catalogue of songs. In fact, much of his output throughout this decade I could listen to over and over again. Never Had A Dream Come True is possibly not one of his best remembered tracks, but it did turn out to be more successful in the UK than in his homeland. It peaked at Number 5 here, while the States could only lift him to  Number 26:



Until next time...