Seventies Music Archives: June 2014

UK Music Chart: January 9, 1971

Clive Dunn had threatened to capture the UK Number 1 spot with Grandad over the Christmas period but, due to a strike at his record company's factory, his march to the top was temporarily impeded. However, this week was to be his first (of three) as the best-selling song in the nation, benefiting from a lag in questionable seasonal taste.

Christmas also had a knock-on effect on the rest of the charts, with new records and releases at a premium. It was, therefore, a treat to see the return of The Equals to the Top Twenty for the first time since the Summer of 1969.

The Chart:

01 (02) Clive Dunn - Grandad
02 (01) Dave Edmunds - I Hear You Knocking
03 (03) McGuinness Flint - When I'm Dead And Gone
04 (10) T. Rex - Ride A White Swan
05 (05) The Jackson Five - I'll Be There
06 (06) Neil Diamond - Cracklin' Rosie
07 (11) Johnny Johnson And The Bandwagon - Blame It On The Pony Express
08 (08) Gilbert O'Sullivan - Nothing Rhymed
09 (04) Glen Campbell - It's Only Make Believe
10 (07) Andy Williams - Home Lovin' Man
11 (12) Chairmen Of The Board - You've Got Me Dangling On A String
12 (20) The Kinks - Apeman
13 (13) Peter Noone And Herman's Hermits - Lady Barbara
14 (09) Gerry Monroe - My Prayer
15 (17) Ken Dodd - Broken Hearted
16 (14) Don Fardon - Indian Reservation
17 (15) Elvis Presley - I've Lost You
18 (31) The Equals - Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys
19 (16) White Plains - Julie, Do Ya Love Me?
20 (19) Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Chile

*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red; New entries in bold
Image: The Equals: Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys

The Equals by Nationaal Archief, Den Haag, Rijksfotoarchief: Fotocollectie Algemeen Nederlands Fotopersbureau (ANEFO), 1945-1989 - negatiefstroken zwart/wit, nummer toegang 2.24.01.05, bestanddeelnummer 921-0132 (Nationaal Archief) [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

18: The Equals: Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys

The Equals' first taste of chart success occurred at the beginning of 1968 when they dented the Top 50 all too briefly with I Get So Excited. It was the follow-up, however, which cemented the group's reputation (and name) in the annals of rock history. Baby Come Back took them to Number 1 and a long career seemed assured. It wasn't to be, though. Just two more Top 10 hits followed, including this week's new entry at Number 18, Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys. Eddy Grant had fallen ill and the group folded, but he would return as a solo artist later in the decade.

The Number 1 album this week:

Andy Williams' Greatest Hits

The Number 1 Song in the USA:
My Sweet Lord - George Harrison

UK Music Chart: January 2, 1971

Number 20: The Kinks

Clocking up his sixth and final week as the UK Number 1 artist on this date in January 1971 was Dave Edmunds with the song I Hear You Knocking.

A new Number 1 beckoned, but because of Christmas and the New Year the singles chart was very quiet, record companies preferring to release new material once the turkey and stuffing had been forgotten. As a consequence, there was just one new entry on the Top 20, as well as a re-entry of a song that had been around since the Spring of 1969.

The Chart:

01 (01) Dave Edmunds - I Hear You Knocking
02 (06) Clive Dunn - Grandad
03 (02) McGuinness Flint - When I'm Dead And Gone
04 (04) Glen Campbell - It's Only Make Believe
05 (05) The Jackson Five - I'll Be There
06 (03) Neil Diamond - Cracklin' Rosie
07 (07) Andy Williams - Home Lovin' Man
08 (08) Gilbert O'Sullivan - Nothing Rhymed
09 (09) Gerry Monroe - My Prayer
10 (12) T. Rex - Ride A White Swan
11 (15) Johnny Johnson And The Bandwagon - Blame It On The Pony Express
12 (10) Chairmen Of The Board - You've Got Me Dangling On A String
13 (17) Peter Noone And Herman's Hermits - Lady Barbara
14 (13) Don Fardon - Indian Reservation
15 (14) Elvis Presley - I've Lost You
16 (16) White Plains - Julie, Do Ya Love Me?
17 (18) Ken Dodd - Broken Hearted
18 (26) Frank Sinatra - My Way (RE)
19 (11) Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Chile
20 (32) The Kinks - Apeman

*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red; New entries in bold
Image: The Kinks poster - Buy at Amazon.co.uk

18: Frank Sinatra: My Way

There was no stopping this song in terms of chart longevity. It first entered the UK charts in April 1969 and climbed to a peak of Number 5. It would re-enter the Top 40/50 on six further occasions over the next 2½ years, this week registering its second highest peak of Number 18. In total, My Way would spend 122 weeks on the chart, thus earning its still current title of the single with the longest stay on the UK chart.

20: The Kinks: Apeman

This single had been skulking around the lower reaches of the Top 40 for a couple of weeks and because of Christmas it looked as if it may miss out on a Top 20 placing. No worries, though, as Apeman climbed an impressive twelve places to Number 20 this week. It was the follow-up to the band's controversial Number 2 song, Lola, and it caused a little controversy of its own. Like Lola, a line from the song had to be re-recorded. The group's record company (mis)heard a portion of the lyric as "a-fuckin' up my eyes", when according to The Kinks it was "a-foggin' up my eyes". To solve the problem, Ray Davies went back into the studio and overdubbed the track with a clearer rendition of the lyric.

The Number 1 album this week:

Andy Williams' Greatest Hits

The Number 1 Song in the USA:
My Sweet Lord - George Harrison

UK Music Chart: December 19 & 26, 1970

Number 15: Johnny Johnson & His Bandwagon

The final newly compiled UK Top 20 of 1970 was this one which covered a two week period over Christmas. Dave Edmunds continued his grip on the top of the charts, registering his fourth and fifth weeks as the UK Number artist with I Hear You Knocking.

As one would expect, the chart was its normally quiet self at this time of the year. However, there was a little upward movement with three new releases making their debuts in the Top 20.

The Chart:

01 (01) Dave Edmunds - I Hear You Knocking
02 (02) McGuinness Flint - When I'm Dead And Gone
03 (03) Neil Diamond - Cracklin' Rosie
04 (04) Glen Campbell - It's Only Make Believe
05 (13) The Jackson Five - I'll Be There
06 (17) Clive Dunn - Grandad
07 (07) Andy Williams - Home Lovin' Man
08 (11) Gilbert O'Sullivan - Nothing Rhymed
09 (12) Gerry Monroe - My Prayer
10 (08) Chairmen Of The Board - (You've Got Me) Dangling On A String
11 (05) Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Chile
12 (06) T. Rex - Ride A White Swan
13 (09) Don Fardon - Indian Reservation
14 (10) Elvis Presley - I've Lost You
15 (22) Johnny Johnson And His Bandwagon - (Blame It) On The Pony Express
16 (14) White Plains - Julie, Do Ya Love Me?
17 (16) Peter Noone And Herman's Hermits - Lady Barbara
18 (30) Ken Dodd - Broken Hearted
19 (19) Jimmy Ruffin - It's Wonderful (To Be Loved By You)
20 (26) The Motown Spinners - It's A Shame

*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red; New entries in bold

15: Johnny Johnson & His Bandwagon: (Blame It) On The Pony Express

For the second time in 1970, Johnny Johnson made an appearance in the UK Top 20, this time with this Cook/Greenaway/Macaulay penned stomper, which was not only popular with the average record buyer but also with fans of the burgeoning Northern Soul scene. By this time though, Johnson was the only constant amongst the Bandwagon, as the group had merely become a rotation of singers employed solely for recording sessions and appearances. Sadly, however, (Blame It) On the Pony Express was to be the final time the act would appear in the British charts.

18: Ken Dodd: Broken Hearted

Back in the UK Top 20 for the seventh time this week in 1970 was British comedian, actor and singer, Ken Dodd. Broken Hearted was another in the "translated from the Italian" ballads in which he specialised and would peak at Number 15 in the weeks to come.

20: The Motown Spinners: It's A Shame

This was the first time that The Spinners, or The Motown Spinners as they were known in the UK at this time, had appeared in the UK Top 20. It's A Shame was also the first song that Stevie Wonder had produced for another act, as well as having written it along with his then wife Syreeta Wright and associate Lee Garrett. Unfortunately, the song didn't stay around too long but The Detroit Spinners, as they would later become known, would return to the Top 20 in 1973.

Until next time...

UK Music Chart: December 12, 1970

Number 11: Gilbert O'Sullivan

I Hear You Knocking by Dave Edmunds entered its third week as the UK's Number 1 song this week in 1970, but there were several challengers to its crown, among them three new entries to the Top 20.

Included in their number were both the debut hit by Ireland's Gilbert O'Sullivan and a novelty song from actor Clive Dunn.

The Chart:

01 (01) Dave Edmunds - I Hear You Knocking
02 (06) McGuinness Flint - When I'm Dead And Gone
03 (03) Neil Diamond - Cracklin' Rosie
04 (18) Glen Campbell - It's Only Make Believe
05 (02) Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Chile
06 (07) T. Rex - Ride A White Swan
07 (17) Andy Williams - Home Lovin' Man
08 (05) Chairmen Of The Board - You've Got Me Dangling On A String
09 (04) Don Fardon - Indian Reservation
10 (09) Elvis Presley - I've Lost You
11 (30) Gilbert O'Sullivan - Nothing Rhymed
12 (12) Gerry Monroe - My Prayer
13 (15) The Jackson Five - I'll Be There
14 (08) White Plains - Julie, Do Ya Love Me?
15 (14) Christie - San Bernadino
16 (24) Peter Noone And Herman's Hermits - Lady Barbara
17 (32) Clive Dunn - Grandad
18 (19) CCS - Whole Lotta Love
19 (10) Jimmy Ruffin - It's Wonderful (To Be Loved By You)
20 (13) Edwin Starr - War

*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red; New entries in bold
Image by AVRO (Beeld En Geluid Wiki - Gallerie: Toppop 1974) [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

11: Gilbert O'Sullivan: Nothing Rhymed

In the UK, Gilbert O'Sullivan was to become one of the most successful recording artists of the 1970s. Although he had released several songs in the late Sixties, none of them had sold in any great quantities. It wasn't until he'd secured himself a new management team that the hits began to flow. He was helped in this endeavour by a newly adopted image which included a cloth cap worn over a pudding basin haircut and short trousers held up by braces. It worked. Nothing Rhymed became the first of thirteen Top 20 hits for him in the UK and he would go on to enjoy success throughout the decade in both Europe and the USA.

16: Herman's Hermits: Lady Barbara

Asked to name a Herman's Hermits hit, Lady Barbara is probably not one that would instantly spring to mind. Unless you are a fervent fan, it probably figures among the group's "lost hits". In fact, it seemed the record company was trying to market the quintet a little differently at the time by crediting the single to Peter Noone and Herman Hermits. However, even though this record peaked at Number 13, it would prove to be the last time the band would appear in the UK charts. Peter Noone would soon leave for a solo career and consequently the hits would dry up for good.

17: Clive Dunn: Grandad

Released to cash in on the Christmas market, Clive Dunn's sickly sweet ode to grandads everywhere owes its success more to seasonal sentimentality than to good taste. Grandad entered the Top 20 at Number 17 this week and quite possibly should have been the Christmas Number 1 for 1970. However - fortunately or unfortunately depending on your view - due to strike action at the time which affected the record company's pressing plant and distribution, Dunn's record stalled at Number 6 over the Christmas period. It had to wait until January to finally secure the Number 1 spot, spending three weeks there and a total of 28 weeks on the chart.

The Number 1 album this week:

Led Zeppelin III - Led Zeppelin

The Number 1 Song in the USA:
The Tears of a Clown - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

UK Music Chart: December 5, 1970

Number 6: McGuiness Flint: When I'm Dead and Gone

Dave Edmunds celebrated his second week as the UK's Number 1 artist, as I Hear You Knocking continued its reign at the top this week in December, 1970.

Elsewhere within the Top 20, it was a relatively quiet time with just four climbers. New songs from McGuiness Flint, Gerry Monroe and The Jackson Five made impressive debuts, however, each of them making double figure gains.

The Chart:

01 (01) Dave Edmunds - I Hear You Knocking
02 (02) Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Chile
03 (05) Neil Diamond - Cracklin' Rosie
04 (03) Don Fardon - Indian Reservation
05 (16) Chairmen Of The Board - (You've Got Me) Dangling On A String
06 (24) McGuinness Flint - When I'm Dead And Gone
07 (07) T. Rex - Ride A White Swan
08 (10) White Plains - Julie, Do Ya Love Me?
09 (09) Elvis Presley - I've Lost You
10 (12) Jimmy Ruffin - It's Wonderful (To Be Loved By You)
11 (04) Matthews' Southern Comfort - Woodstock
12 (23) Gerry Monroe - My Prayer
13 (06) Edwin Starr - War
14 (11) Christie - San Bernadino
15 (26) The Jackson Five - I'll Be There
16 (08) Clarence Carter - Patches
17 (17) Andy Williams - Home Lovin' Man
18 (18) Glen Campbell - It's Only Make Believe
19 (13) CCS - Whole Lotta Love
20 (14) Melanie - Ruby Tuesday

*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red; New entries in bold

6: McGuiness Flint: When I'm Dead and Gone

Tom McGuiness, former guitarist with Manfred Mann, had hooked up with Hughie Flint, Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle to form McGuiness Flint a few months earlier in 1970. When I'm Dead and Gone was their debut single and the combination of a prominent use of the mandolin and a great tune propelled the single to the upper reaches of the UK chart. It climbed eighteen places to Number 6 this week, but would eventually settle at Number 2. It did not fare so well in the US, where it peaked at Number 47.

Number 12: Gerry Monroe: My Prayer

Gerry Monroe returned to the Top 20 for the second time back in 1970 with this song that had been around since the 1920s and adapted in the 1930s. Glenn Miller, The Ink Spots and The Platters had all seen chart action with My Prayer and Monroe's caterwauling version was about to land him in the the UK Top 10. The only reason I can see for this was due to his exposure on the popular TV talent show, Opportunity Knocks.

15: The Jackson 5: I'll Be There

I'll Be There had already been Number 1 in the States for five weeks, becoming the group's fourth chart topper in a row there - something that no other recording act had achieved. In the UK, however, The Jackson 5 were trying to score four Top Ten hits on the bounce with this release. It was easily achieved, moving this week to Number 15 and eventually peaking at Number 4 in the weeks to come.

The Number 1 album this week:

Andy Williams' Greatest Hits

The Number 1 Song in the USA:
I Think I Love You - The Partridge Family

UK Music Chart: November 28, 1970

Dave Edmunds began his first week as the UK Number 1 this week in November 1970 by making an impressive fifteen-place climb to the top of the charts.

As he was doing that, a wave of easy listening was to invade the Top 20 with three new entries from the kings of the genre at this time: Elvis Presley, Andy Williams and Glen Campbell.

The Chart:

01 (16) Dave Edmunds - I Hear You Knocking
02 (01) Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Chile
03 (03) Don Fardon - Indian Reservation
04 (02) Matthews' Southern Comfort - Woodstock
05 (10) Neil Diamond - Cracklin' Rosie
06 (05) Edwin Starr - War
07 (15) T.Rex - Ride A White Swan
08 (04) Clarence Carter - Patches
09 (23) Elvis Presley - I've Lost You
10 (13) White Plains - Julie, Do Ya Love Me?
11 (07) Christie - San Bernadino
12 (06) Jimmy Ruffin - It's Wonderful (To Be Loved By You)
13 (20) CCS - Whole Lotta Love
14 (09) Melanie - Ruby Tuesday
15 (08) The Rattles - The Witch
16 (19) Chairmen Of The Board - (You've Got Me) Dangling On A String
17 (45) Andy Williams - Home Lovin' Man
18 (38) Glen Campbell - It's Only Make Believe
19 (22) Mary Hopkin - Think About Your Children (RE)
20 (21) Roger Whittaker - New World In The Morning (RE)

*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red; New entries in bold

9: Elvis Presley: I've Lost You

Included on both the album and the documentary film That's the Way It Is, the track I've Lost You became Presley's fourth and final hit of 1970. Originally recorded by Matthews' Southern Comfort, many commentators have noted that the lyrics to this song reflect what was happening in his marriage to Priscilla. Chartwise it peaked at Number 9 in the UK, but fared less well in the US, stalling at Number 32.

17: Andy Williams: Home Lovin' Man

Back in the UK Top 20 for the third time this year was Andy Williams with the Cook-Greenaway-Macaulay composed song, Home Lovin' Man. Peaking at Number 7 on this side of the pond, it made the US Adult Contemporary chart, but failed to register on the Hot 100.

18: Glen Campbell: It's Only Make Believe

Glen Campbell's cover of the 1958 Conway Twitty Number 1 song, It's Only Make Believe, proved to be his last significant hit in the UK for five years when Rhinestone Cowboy brought him back into the Top 10. This one peaked at Number 4 in the UK and Number 10 in the US.

Until next time....

UK Music Chart: November 21, 1970

Following the death of the legendary Jimi Hendrix, his track Voodoo Chile raced to the top of the British charts on this date in 1970. (Listen below).

Meanwhile, four new entries steamrollered their way into the Top 20, each of them becoming classic hits and all of them possible contenders for the Number 1 spot in the weeks to come.

The Chart:

01 (05) Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Chile
02 (01) Matthews' Southern Comfort - Woodstock
03 (04) Don Fardon - Indian Reservation
04 (02) Clarence Carter - Patches
05 (03) Edwin Starr - War
06 (12) Jimmy Ruffin - It's Wonderful (To Be Loved By You)
07 (07) Christie - San Bernadino
08 (08) The Rattles - The Witch
09 (09) Melanie - Ruby Tuesday
10 (29) Neil Diamond - Cracklin' Rosie
11 (11) Deep Purple - Black Night
12 (06) The Tremeloes - Me And My Life
13 (16) White Plains - Julie, Do Ya Love Me?
14 (14) The Temptations - Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)
15 (30) T. Rex - Ride A White Swan
16 (--) Dave Edmunds - I Hear You Knocking
17 (10) Freda Payne - Band Of Gold
18 (15) The Four Tops - Still Water (Love)
19 (40) Chairmen Of The Board - (You've Got Me) Dangling On A String
20 (18) CCS - Whole Lotta Love

*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red; New entries in bold

10: Neil Diamond: Cracklin' Rosie

Having just spent a week on top of the American charts, Neil Diamond's Cracklin' Rosie was the song that would break the singer in the UK. He had already figured on the British charts as a songwriter, penning hits for the likes of The Monkees and Lulu, but this week in 1970 Cracklin' Rosie truly brought Diamond to the UK public's attention as the song leapt 19 places to Number 10.

15: T.Rex: Ride A White Swan

A new abbreviated name for Marc Bolan's band T.Rex combined with a new electric sound ushered in a change in his commercial fortunes. Gone were the acoustic, folksy rhythms and instead Bolan began to embrace his own rock concept. Although Ride A White Swan was not the song that would come to initiate the glam rock movement in the UK (that would come next year), it was certainly a forerunner to this genre synonymous with Marc Bolan - one which would dominate the charts for the next five to six years.

16: Dave Edmunds: I Hear You Knocking

Hot on the heels of the split of his band Love Sculpture (Sabre Dance #5, 1968), Dave Edmunds' solo career started off with a bang as his interpretation of I Hear You Knocking crashed in at Number 16. Originally recorded by Smiley Lewis in the mid-1950s, Edmunds turned it from an R&B number into a rock tune, reputedly playing all the instruments on the recording. Quite possibly his most successful single, it would climb to Number 1 the following week and remain there for six weeks, becoming the Christmas Number 1 of 1970.

19: Chairmen of the Board: (You've Got Me) Dangling On A String

For the second time in three months, American soul outfit Chairmen of the Board was back in the UK Top 20, this time with (You've Got Me) Dangling On A String. Written by the legendary Motown songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland, lead singer General Johnson's soulful vocals dominate the song and elevated it to a peak of Number 5 in the UK charts.

Until next time...

UK Music Chart: November 14, 1970

Number 16: White Plains: Julie, Do Ya Love Me?

Matthews' Southern Comfort's Woodstock was at the top of the British charts for a third and final time this week in November 1970. Meanwhile, there were several singles vying to take the crown, as four tracks climbed impressively towards the top of the listing. Elsewhere, three very different songs made their debut into this week's Top 20.

The Chart:

01 (01) Matthews' Southern Comfort - Woodstock
02 (02) Clarence Carter - Patches
03 (05) Edwin Starr - War
04 (12) Don Fardon - Indian Reservation
05 (15) Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Chile
06 (06) The Tremeloes - Me And My Life
07 (18) Christie - San Bernadino
08 (08) The Rattles - The Witch
09 (09) Melanie - Ruby Tuesday
10 (04) Freda Payne - Band Of Gold
11 (03) Deep Purple - Black Night
12 (16) Jimmy Ruffin - It's Wonderful (To Be Loved By You)
13 (10) Black Sabbath - Paranoid
14 (07) The Temptations - Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)
15 (11) The Four Tops - Still Water (Love)
16 (24) White Plains - Julie Do Ya Love Me?
17 (21) Roger Whittaker - New World In The Morning (RE)
18 (32) CCS - Whole Lotta Love
19 (25) Mary Hopkin - Think About Your Children
20 (14) The Carpenters - (They Long To Be) Close To You

*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red; New entries in bold
Image: White Plains - The Sensational 70s

16: White Plains: Julie, Do Ya Love Me?

White Plains' third successive Top 20 hit entered the listing during this week and was a cover of a song originally recorded by American teen idol, Bobby Sherman. By this time he was 27-years-old, but had been releasing records since 1962, none of which saw any action on the British charts. He had enjoyed an American Top 10 hit with Julie, Do Ya Love Me? earlier in the year and, at one point, it looked as if this would be the song to break him in the UK. As it turned out White Plains released their own version, which outsold Sherman's original quite substantially. White Plains peaked at Number 8 while Sherman's recording stalled at Number 28.

18: CCS: Whole Lotta Love

CCS, or Collective Consciousness Society, put out some marvellous music over its short time together as a recording unit. Formed in 1970, the group's best-known member was probably bluesman Alexis Korner and much of their output was of the bluesy, brassy variety. Their first hit was this one: an instrumental cover of Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love, which sailed up to a peak of Number 13. If you're my age, you'll also recognise it as the theme tune to the BBC's long-running show, Top of the Pops.

19: Mary Hopkin: Think About Your Children

By this time, Mary Hopkin had been enjoying UK chart success for two years, recording on and helping establish The Beatles' Apple record label. Earlier in 1970, she had represented the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest with Knock, Knock Who's There? and placed second. The song peaked at Number 2 and everything seemed good. However, partly due to her wish to start a family and partly due to problems at Apple, her commercial star began to wane. Think About Your Children was a typically folk-pop tune, but could only manage a peak of Number 19 and became her final UK Top 20 entry.

Until next time...

UK Music Chart: November 7, 1970

Number 15: Jimi Hendrix Experience: Voodoo Chile

Woodstock by Matthews' Southern Comfort continued as the UK Number 1 song for a second week on this date in 1970, but the recent death of a rock legend saw a posthumous release of one of Jimi Hendrix's best known tracks as a single. It made its chart debut this week and would go on to top the British listing before the end of November.

The Chart:

01 (01) Matthews' Southern Comfort - Woodstock
02 (02) Clarence Carter - Patches
03 (05) Deep Purple - Black Night
04 (03) Freda Payne - Band Of Gold
05 (15) Edwin Starr - War
06 (04) The Tremeloes - Me And My Life
07 (07) The Temptations - Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)
08 (14) The Rattles - The Witch
09 (13) Melanie - Ruby Tuesday
10 (06) Black Sabbath - Paranoid
11 (10) The Four Tops - Still Water (Love)
12 (19) Don Fardon - Indian Reservation
13 (09) Diana Ross - Ain't No Mountain High Enough
14 (11) The Carpenters - (They Long To Be) Close To You
15 (--) Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Chile
16 (18) Jimmy Ruffin - It's Wonderful (To Be Loved By You)
17 (16) The Hollies - Gasoline Alley Bred
18 (24) Christie - San Bernadino
19 (12) Desmond Dekker - You Can Get It If You Really Want
20 (17) Des O'Connor - The Tip Of My Fingers

*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red; New entries in bold
Image: Voodoo Child: The Jimi Hendrix Collection

15: Jimi Hendrix Experience: Voodoo Chile

It was September 18, 1970 when the world learned that Jimi Hendrix, "arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music", had died. He had been principally an album act in the US, while in the UK he accomplished much more commercial success with both his single releases as well as his albums. Up to this point, he had entered the UK Top 20 five times but, prompted by his death, Voodoo Chile (or Voodoo Child, depending on your preference) was released in late October and became his sixth and final appearance. With the additional pull of Hey Joe and All Along the Watchtower on the B-Side, this week the single debuted on the chart at Number 15 and would rise to Number 1 in the next fortnight.

18: Christie: San Bernadino

San Bernadino was the follow-up to Christie's Number 1 song Yellow River, which had charted earlier in the year. Although it was a Top 10 single in the UK (Number 7), it seems to have been largely forgotten in favour of the band's bigger previous hit. However, it fared even better in Germany where it topped the charts, while it placed well in both Spain and Italy. San Bernadino turned out to be Christie's final big hit in the UK, though, with only Iron Horse briefly denting the Top 50 in 1972.

Until next time...

UK Music Chart: October 31, 1970

Number 14: The Rattles: The Witch

After six weeks, there was a new Number 1 song on the UK music chart as Matthews' Southern Comfort leapt nine places to the top spot with a cover of the Joni Mitchell song, Woodstock. Meanwhile, four tracks made their debut on the Top 20 of this week in October, 1970.

The Chart:

01 (10) Matthews' Southern Comfort - Woodstock
02 (03) Clarence Carter - Patches
03 (01) Freda Payne - Band Of Gold
04 (04) The Tremeloes - Me And My Life
05 (02) Deep Purple - Black Night
06 (05) Black Sabbath - Paranoid
07 (09) The Temptations - Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)
08 (11) Bobby Bloom - Montego Bay
09 (07) Diana Ross - Ain't No Mountain High Enough
10 (13) The Four Tops - Still Water (Love)
11 (06) The Carpenters - (They Long To Be) Close To You
12 (08) Desmond Dekker - You Can Get It If You Really Want
13 (18) Melanie - Ruby Tuesday
14 (22) The Rattles - The Witch
15 (16) Edwin Starr - War
16 (14) The Hollies - Gasoline Alley Bred
17 (19) Des O'Connor - The Tip Of My Fingers
18 (27) Jimmy Ruffin - It's Wonderful (To Be Love By You)
19 (32) Don Fardon - Indian Reservation
20 (24) Roger Whittaker - New World In The Morning

*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red; New entries in bold
Image: The Best of The Rattles

14: The Rattles: The Witch

It's the Halloween chart of 1970, so perhaps it's no surprise that a song by the name of The Witch should make its first appearance this week. Recorded by one of Germany's most successful bands of the time, The Rattles also enjoyed brief chart action in the US with this song. It would eventually become an international million seller and peak at Number 8 in the UK.

18: Jimmy Ruffin: It's Wonderful (To Be Loved By You)

In at Number 18 was Jimmy Ruffin's second hit of the year, his song benefitting from the Northern Soul club scene in the UK. He first came to prominence in the mid-1960s with tracks such as What Becomes of the Brokenhearted and I've Passed This Way Before, but found that his popularity had begun to wane in the US. He moved to the UK around this time and continued to enjoy irregular chart hits for the next ten years, such as this one: It's Wonderful (To Be Loved By You).

19: Don Fardon: Indian Reservation

American readers may remember The Raiders' recording of Indian Reservation, which topped the US chart in July 1971. However, Don Fardon's 1968 cover of John D. Loudermilk's song was the first to see chart action in both the US and the UK. Fardon, formerly the vocalist with The Sorrows, had enjoyed a minor hit earlier in the year with his tribute to footballer George Best called Belfast Boy. However, Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian) - to give it its full title - would be his biggest hit, registering a Number 3 peak in the UK and Number 20 in the US.

20: Roger Whittaker: New World in the Morning

Roger Whittaker was riding a wave of success in Great Britain at the beginning of the 1970s and New World in the Morning reflected this, becoming his third Top 20 hit in the matter of twelve months. However, his easy listening style fell out of favour for a few years and this track would be his final major hit for five years.

Until next time...

UK Music Chart: October 24, 1970

Number 16: Edwin Starr: War

This week in October 1970 would be the sixth and final week that Freda Payne would hold the Number 1 spot in the UK singles chart. A change was a-comin' in the shape of Matthews' Southern Comfort but, before that happened, there were two new songs entering the lower reaches of the Top 20 to enjoy.

01 (01) Freda Payne - Band Of Gold
02 (02) Deep Purple - Black Night
03 (14) Clarence Carter - Patches
04 (04) The Tremeloes - Me And My Life
05 (05) Black Sabbath - Paranoid
06 (08) The Carpenters - (They Long To Be) Close To You
07 (06) Diana Ross - Ain't No Mountain High Enough
08 (03) Desmond Dekker - You Can Get It If You Really Want
09 (10) The Temptations - Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)
10 (11) Matthews' Southern Comfort - Woodstock
11 (07) Bobby Bloom - Montego Bay
12 (09) Poppy Family Ft. Susan Jacks - Which Way You Goin' Billy?
13 (20) The Four Tops - Still Water (Love)
14 (19) The Hollies - Gasoline Alley Bred
15 (13) Horace Faith - Black Pearl
16 (---) Edwin Starr - War
17 (24) Blue Mink - Our World (Re)
18 (21) Melanie - Ruby Tuesday
19 (15) Des O'Connor - The Tip Of My Fingers
20 (17) Elvis Presley - The Wonder Of You

*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red; New entries in bold
Image: The Hits of Edwin Starr

Making its first appearance in the UK Top 20 at Number 16 was what had been a Temptations' album track, but was rebooted for soul singer Edwin Starr by its co-writer, Norman Whitfield. By this time, War had already spent three weeks at the top of the US charts, demonstrating much of the American public's contempt for events surrounding their government's involvement in Vietnam. Starr's intense and dramatic vocal turned it into one of rock's most successful protest songs, as well as the most enduring hit of his career.

Melanie's first international hit single, Lay Down (Candles in the Rain), was released earlier in 1970, but completely missed the UK Top 50. It wasn't until she covered The Rolling Stones' Ruby Tuesday that she broke in Great Britain, taking her folk/pop version into the Top 10. Strangely, the track performed poorly in her homeland, unable to crack the Top 50 there. She would return to both listing in 1971, though, with her better remembered, Brand New Key.

Until next time....

UK Music Chart: October 17, 1970

Number 11: Woodstock: Matthews' Southern Comfort

Freda Payne continued her grip on the UK Number 1 spot as she started a fifth week singing the nation's best selling song, Band of Gold. Elsewhere, there was a lot of upward movement within the Top 20, including five new entries, one of which would shortly replace the American soul singer at the top.

01 (01) Freda Payne - Band Of Gold
02 (03) Deep Purple - Black Night
03 (02) Desmond Dekker - You Can Get It If You Really Want
04 (08) The Tremeloes - Me And My Life
05 (04) Black Sabbath - Paranoid
06 (07) Diana Ross - Ain't No Mountain High Enough
07 (05) Bobby Bloom - Montego Bay
08 (06) The Carpenters - (They Long To Be) Close To You
09 (10) Poppy Family Ft. Susan Jacks - Which Way You Goin' Billy?
10 (16) The Temptations - Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)
11 (24) Matthew's Southern Comfort - Woodstock
12 (15) Family - Strange Band
13 (14) Horace Faith - Black Pearl
14 (39) Clarence Carter - Patches
15 (33) Des O'Connor - The Tip Of My Fingers
16 (12) Smokey Robinson And The Miracles - Tears Of A Clown
17 (11) Elvis Presley - The Wonder Of You
18 (09) Chairmen Of The Board - Give Me Just A Little More Time
19 (23) The Hollies - Gasoline Alley Bred
20 (27) The Four Tops - Still Water (Love)

*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red; New entries in bold
Image: Matthews' Southern Comfort: The Essential Collection

In essence, Matthews Southern Comfort was Iain Matthews, who originally came to prominence as a vocalist with the folk group, Fairport Convention. He led Southern Comfort for a couple of years, during which time the band recorded a cover of this Joni Mitchell song. It was the group's only commercially successful recording, entering the UK Top 20 at this week's Number 11 and ultimately capturing the Number 1 spot for three weeks. It's also my favourite version of Woodstock.

Three places below at Number 14 was the only UK hit from American soul man, Clarence Carter. He had been a regular on the US pop and R&B charts for around three years, but it was his cover of the Chairmen of the Board song Patches that almost took him to the top of the British listing. The track ultimately stalled at Number 2, but across the pond it won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song and became a Number 4 pop hit.

Inexplicably - for this author at least - people were buying enough copies of Des O'Connor's output to actually push it into the national charts. A couple of years earlier he'd enjoyed a Number 1 hit with I Pretend, but thankfully The Tip of My Fingers would be his last entry in the singles chart for a further 16 years when, in 1986, The Skye Boat Song would make an appearance in the Top 10.

Much more enjoyable was the arrival of the latest hit by The Hollies, a group that was never away from the British charts for too long at this time. Gasoline Alley Bred was the follow-up to the more successful I Can't Tell the Bottom From the Top, marking the start of a decline in the band's commercial fortunes in the UK over the next few years. It would be 1974 before we would see the group in the Top 20 again, but nevertheless, it's wonderful to be reminded of this 'forgotten' hit which entered the listing this week at Number 19.

Yet another of Motown's legendary vocal groups was enjoying phenomenal success in the UK as The Four Tops joined both Diana Ross and The Temptations in this week's UK Top 20. In fact, the Tops were on something of a roll on this side of the ocean, as Still Water (Love) became the fifth of six consecutive Top 20 UK entries for the quartet. Co-written by Smokey Robinson, the song enters this week at Number 20 and would eventually peak at Number 10 (Number 11 Stateside).

Until next time...

UK Music Chart: October 10, 1970

Number 16: The Temptations: Ball of Confusion

Freda Payne continued to reign supreme over the UK Singles Chart in October 1970, as she began a fourth week as the nation's Number 1 with Band of Gold. Elsewhere, an eclectic mix of musical genres was climbing the chart, but this week's two new entries to the Top 20 shared a common theme.

01 (01) Freda Payne - Band Of Gold
02 (02) Desmond Dekker - You Can Get It If You Really Want
03 (05) Deep Purple - Black Night
04 (08) Black Sabbath - Paranoid
05 (03) Bobby Bloom - Montego Bay
06 (14) The Carpenters - (They Long To Be) Close To You
07 (13) Diana Ross - Ain't No Mountain High Enough
08 (15) The Tremeloes - Me And My Life
09 (06) Chairmen Of The Board - Give Me Just A Little More Time
10 (07) Poppy Family Ft. Susan Jacks - Which Way You Goin' Billy?
11 (09) Elvis Presley - The Wonder Of You
12 (04) Smokey Robinson And The Miracles - Tears Of A Clown
13 (18) Aretha Franklin - Don't Play That Song
14 (20) Horace Faith - Black Pearl
15 (11) Family - Strange Band
16 (26) The Temptations - Ball Of Confusion
17 (10) Hot Chocolate - Love Is Life
18 (12) Three Dog Night - Mama Told Me (Not To Come)
19 (24) Blue Mink - Our World
20 (16) Bread - Make It With You

*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red; New entries in bold
Image: The Temptations: Psychedelic Soul

The Temptations were now in their "psychedelic period", having teamed up with Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong as their songwriters. Ball of Confusion was the follow-up to the equally pacy Psychedelic Shack, but with lyrics which reflected the major political concerns of the time. The track was a world away from the content that we had come to expect from The Temptations, causing some concern that conservative America may not accept this kind of material from the group. There was no need to worry, though, as the single raced to Number 3 in the US and Number 7 in the UK.

Meanwhile, Blue Mink followed up its previous Top 10 hit, Good Morning Freedom, with a British take on the "Ball of Confusion". Much less psychedelic and hard-hitting than their American counterparts, the band's "green" message was nevertheless equally as important - even if it sounded as if it was a hangover from the "Summer of Love". Not one of the group's most successful singles, Our World would peak at Number 17 but became the song that would give Blue Mink its only appearance in the US charts.

Until next time...

UK Music Chart: October 3, 1970

Number 20: Horace Faith: Black Pearl

Freda Payne racked up her third week as the UK Number 1 on this date in October 1970, while many of the new entries from last week continued their upward climb within the Top 20.

Looking back, it's amazing to see two of Britain's biggest heavy metal bands occupying places within the Top 10 singles, with Deep Purple at Number 5 and Black Sabbath at Number 8. Not a situation that would repeat itself in years to come. On another note, new entries were hard to come by, with only one making an appearance in this week's listing.

01 (01) Freda Payne - Band Of Gold
02 (04) Desmond Dekker - You Can Get It If You Really Want
03 (08) Bobby Bloom - Montego Bay
04 (02) Smokey Robinson And The Miracles - Tears Of A Clown
05 (09) Deep Purple - Black Night
06 (03) Chairmen Of The Board - Give Me Just A Little More Time
07 (07) Poppy Family Ft. Susan Jacks - Which Way You Goin' Billy?
08 (19) Black Sabbath - Paranoid
09 (05) Elvis Presley - The Wonder Of You
10 (11) Hot Chocolate - Love Is Life
11 (14) Family - Strange Band
12 (06) Three Dog Night - Mama Told Me Not To Come
13 (16) Diana Ross - Ain't No Mountain High Enough
14 (15) The Carpenters - (They Long To Be) Close To You
15 (18) The Tremeloes - Me And My Life
16 (10) Bread - Make It With You
17 (12) Jimmy Cliff - Wild World
18 (13) Aretha Franklin - Don't Play That Song
19 (23) Andy Williams - It's So Easy (Re)
20 (27) Horace Faith - Black Pearl

*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red; New entries in bold
Image: Horace Faith at Discogs

While Andy Williams re-entered the Top 20 with It's So Easy at Number 19, one place below him was the only new song to feature in this week's listing, Black Pearl. Originally co-written and produced by Phil Spector for the American band Checkmates Ltd, Jamaican reggae singer Horace Faith picked it up for release in the UK. Given Trojan Records' classic pop/reggae flavour, it emulated the American version by peaking at Number 13 in the charts.

Until next time...

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