Seventies Music Archives: July 2014

UK Music Chart: March 27, 1971

Hot Love by Marc Bolan and his glam rock band T.Rex completed the second week of six as the UK's Number 1 song on this date in 1971, while three singles made their debuts in the new Top 20.

Elvis was back, while the current Eurovision Song Contest entry to represent the United Kingdom jumped thirteen places to land in the Top 10.

The Chart:

01 (01) T. Rex - Hot Love
02 (03) Paul McCartney - Another Day
03 (04) Lynn Anderson - Rose Garden
04 (02) Mungo Jerry - Baby Jump
05 (05) Perry Como - It's Impossible
06 (13) Judy Collins - Amazing Grace
07 (06) George Harrison - My Sweet Lord
08 (09) Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline
09 (14) Ray Stevens - Bridget the Midget
10 (23) Clodagh Rodgers - Jack in the Box
11 (07) The Mixtures - Pushbike Song
12 (12) John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band - Power to the People
13 (18) Chairmen of the Board - Everything's Tuesday
14 (11) Atomic Rooster - Tomorrow Night
15 (15) New World - Rose Garden
16 (10) Ashton, Gardner and Dyke - Resurrection Shuffle
17 (16) Who Put the Lights Out? - Dana
18 (08) Deep Purple - Strange Kind of Woman
19 (29) Elvis Presley - There Goes My Everything
20 (21) CCS - Walkin'

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

10: Clodagh Rodgers: Jack In The Box

Clodagh Rodgers had become one of the UK's most popular female singers, thanks to hits like Come Back and Shake Me and her numerous television appearances. It seemed only natural then that she would be picked to represent the UK at the 1971 Eurovision Song Contest. Regional juries selected the bouncy Jack In The Box as the British representative, which ultimately ranked fourth at the Contest. This Sandie Shaw meets Cliff Richard meets Lulu hybrid would also peak at Number 4 in the UK Chart.

19: Elvis Presley: There Goes My Everything

Four years earlier Engelbert Humperdinck had taken his version of There Goes My Everything to Number 2 in the UK Chart. Elvis recorded his rendition as part of a collection of country material that ended up as the album Elvis Country (I'm 10,000 Years Old). A few weeks after landing at this week's Number 19, the song would eventually peak at Number 6.

20: CCS: Walkin'

Returning to the UK Top 20 on this date was the musical group CCS with their second hit Walkin'. A driving, brassy, bluesy track, this song was written by Sixties hitmaker Donovan and went on to sell enough copies to push it into the Top 10 a few weeks later.

The American Top 10 (W/E March 27, 1971)

01 (01) Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin
02 (03) Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) - The Temptations
03 (02) She's A Lady - Tom Jones
04 (06) Proud Mary - Ike and Tina Turner
05 (05) For All We Know - The Carpenters
06 (07) Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Wanted? - The Partridge Family
07 (08) What's Going On? - Marvin Gaye
08 (09) Help Me Make It Through the Night - Sammi Smith
09 (04) One Bad Apple - The Osmonds
10 (15) What is Life? - George Harrison

The Number 1 album this week:

All Things Must Pass - George Harrison

UK Music Chart: March 20, 1971

Number 8: Deep Purple

All change at the top of the UK Chart this week in 1971, as Hot Love by glam rock kings T.Rex leapt six places to Number 1 for the first of its six-week run at the summit.

Lower down the Top 20, four very diverse bedfellows made their latest appearances on the listing, as new tracks from Deep Purple, Frank Sinatra, Ray Stevens and John Lennon all entered the top end of the chart.

The Chart:

01 (07) T. Rex - Hot Love
02 (01) Mungo Jerry - Baby Jump
03 (02) Paul McCartney - Another Day
04 (04) Lynn Anderson - Rose Garden
05 (05) Perry Como - It's Impossible
06 (03) George Harrison - My Sweet Lord
07 (06) The Mixtures - Pushbike Song
08 (22) Deep Purple - Strange Kind of Woman
09 (08) Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline
10 (11) Ashton, Gardner And Dyke - Resurrection Shuffle
11 (13) Atomic Rooster - Tomorrow Night
12 (--) John Lennon & the Plastic Ono Band - Power to the People
13 (09) Judy Collins - Amazing Grace
14 (34) Ray Stevens - Bridget the Midget
15 (17) New World - Rose Garden
16 (14) Dana - Who Put the Lights Out?
17 (10) The Supremes - Stoned Love
18 (12) Chairmen of the Board - Everything's Tuesday
19 (25) Frank Sinatra - I Will Drink the Wine
20 (27) Jackie Lee - Rupert (RE)

*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red; New entries in bold
Image: Singles & E.P. Anthology '68 - '80: Deep Purple

8: Deep Purple: Strange Kind of Woman

It wasn't often that English heavy metal rock band Deep Purple appeared in the UK Singles listing, but this week in 1971 it made a massive jump into the Top 20 with the follow-up to Black Night, the classic Strange Kind of Woman. This week's Number 8 would be its peak position and, to date, it has been the last Deep Purple 45 to reach the Top 10.

12: John Lennon & the Plastic Ono Band: Power to the People

Lennon's anthemic Power to the People became his fourth UK Top 20 hit since his first post-Beatles chart entry in the summer of 1969. His appearance with this song marked one of the very few occasions that three ex-Beatles would register hits in the Top 20 at the same time. Ringo Starr's first UK hit was still a couple of weeks away, a time when all four of The Beatles would appear together, but individually, within the Top 30.

14: Ray Stevens: Bridget the Midget

It's not a secret that the UK loves a novelty song, so it's probably not surprising that Ray Stevens' Bridget the Midget stormed up the British charts in March, 1971. The song was far removed from his gospel influenced hit of 1970, Everything is Beautiful, instead recalling the sound of Fifties rock and blues tracks. Add a sped up Chipmunk-style vocal from "Bridget" and you had a fun, if not somewhat annoying, three minutes or so of nonsense. Stevens' homeland was not so impressed (No. 50), but British record buyers pushed it to Number 2.

19: Frank Sinatra: I Will Drink the Wine

While Frank Sinatra's 1969 release, My Way, was still pottering around the lower reaches of the Top 30, a new song by Ol' Blue Eyes was climbing the UK chart, making its debut at Number 19 this week. The previous November, Sinatra had introduced I Will Drink the Wine at his two-show performance at London's Royal Festival Hall. The song, written by English singer/songwriter Paul Ryan, became very popular in the UK, peaking at Number 16 and included on the album, Sinatra & Company.

The American Top 10 (W/E March 20, 1971)

01 (02) Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin
02 (05) She's A Lady - Tom Jones
03 (04) Just My Imagination (Running Away From Me) - The Temptations
04 (01) One Bad Apple - The Osmonds
05 (03) For All We Know - The Carpenters
06 (07) Proud Mary - Ike and Tina Turner
07 (09) Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Wanted? - The Partridge Family
08 (18) What's Going On? - Marvin Gaye
09 (15) Help Me Make It Through the Night - Sammi Smith
10 (10) If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot

The Number 1 album this week:

All Things Must Pass - George Harrison

UK Music Chart: March 13, 1971

Number 14: Dana

Baby Jump secured its second and final week as the UK's Number 1 song on this date in 1971, while tracks from Paul McCartney, Lynn Anderson and T.Rex were making considerable gains up the Top 20.

Otherwise the listing was relatively quiet, as only two songs managed to make headway as new entries to the listing.

The Chart:

01 (01) Mungo Jerry - Baby Jump
02 (04) Paul McCartney - Another Day
03 (02) George Harrison - My Sweet Lord
04 (10) Lynn Anderson - Rose Garden
05 (05) Perry Como - It's Impossible
06 (03) The Mixtures - Pushbike Song
07 (17) T. Rex - Hot Love
08 (09) Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline
09 (07) Judy Collins - Amazing Grace
10 (08) The Supremes - Stoned Love
11 (06) Ashton, Gardner And Dyke - Resurrection Shuffle
12 (19) Chairmen of the Board - Everything's Tuesday
13 (12) Atomic Rooster - Tomorrow Night
14 (21) Dana - Who Put the Lights Out
15 (11) Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Forget Me Not
16 (18) Clive Dunn - Grandad
17 (27) New World - Rose Garden
18 (15) Smokey Robinson and the Miracles - (Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need
19 (16) Badfinger - No Matter What
20 (13) Elton John - Your Song

*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red; New entries in bold
Image: By Nationaal Archief, Den Haag, Rijksfotoarchief: Fotocollectie Algemeen Nederlands Fotopersbureau (ANEFO), 1945-1989 - negatiefstroken zwart/wit, nummer toegang 2.24.01.05, bestanddeelnummer 923-3512 (Nationaal Archief) [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

14: Dana: Who Put the Lights Out?

I Will Follow You, Dana's immediate follow-up to her 1970 Eurovision winner All Kinds of Everything, failed to impress record buyers and tanked. However her next release, Who Put the Lights Out?, saw her back in the UK Top 20, as well as Ireland's Top 10. Written by Paul Ryan, and originally an album track by Barry Ryan, this song would be Dana's last to chart until her fortunes revived in 1974.

17: New World: Rose Garden

New World was an Australian act which transferred to the UK in the late 1960s, where they were picked up by record producer Mickie Most and signed to his RAK record label. This was the guy's first release under his stewardship, their version of the Lynn Anderson hit, Rose Garden (currently at Number 4 this week). In fact, there were three competing recordings of the song around at the same time. Both Anderson's and New World's versions cracked the UK Top 20, but England's Sandie Shaw could only manage Number 41.

The American Top 10

The UK Number 1 album this week:

All Things Must Pass - George Harrison

UK Music Chart: March 6, 1971

Paul McCartney

Buy This at Allposters.com

All change at the top of the UK Top 20 this week as George Harrison finally relinquished the Number 1 position in favour of the latest 45 from Mungo Jerry: Baby Jump.

That track was among only four that climbed within the Top 20, but another four made their debuts into the listing this week. Probably the most significant among them was a future Number 1 from T.Rex and the first solo single from Paul McCartney.

The Chart:

01 (07) Mungo Jerry - Baby Jump
02 (01) George Harrison - My Sweet Lord
03 (02) The Mixtures - Pushbike Song
04 (24) Paul McCartney - Another Day
05 (04) Perry Como - It's Impossible
06 (03) Ashton, Gardner And Dyke - Resurrection Shuffle
07 (06) Judy Collins - Amazing Grace
08 (05) The Supremes - Stoned Love
09 (11) Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline
10 (23) Lynn Anderson - Rose Garden
11 (15) Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Forget Me Not
12 (22) Atomic Rooster - Tomorrow Night
13 (08) Elton John - Your Song
14 (14) Jackie Lee - Rupert
15 (13) Smokey Robinson and the Miracles - (Come 'Round Here) I'm The One You Need
16 (10) Badfinger - No Matter What
17 (31) T. Rex - Hot Love
18 (12) Clive Dunn - Grandad
19 (20) Chairmen of the Board - Everything's Tuesday
20 (09) Dawn - Candida

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

4: Paul McCartney: Another Day

With Paul McCartney jumping twenty places to Number 4, there were now two ex-Beatles occupying places in the Top 5. Like George Harrison's My Sweet Lord, this was McCartney's first release as a solo artist. Another Day is probably one of my favourite of McCartney's post Beatles songs. A big fan of Eleanor Rigby, this is reminiscent of that classic tune: using the sadness and drudgery of everyday life to paint a picture of despair. Linda was probably at her most useful on this one too.

10: Lynn Anderson: Rose Garden

I'm not much of a country music fan. In fact, I really don't like it at all. However, there's always an exception to the rule and this is one of them. Lynn Anderson's Rose Garden is touted as a country song but, to me, the arrangement is much more pop than it is Nashville. Perhaps this is the reason why it was so successful. Already a Top 3 hit in the States, the track was about to repeat the feat in the UK, as well as top the charts in several countries around the world. While Anderson continued to appear on the Country charts in the States, she was not able to follow up this song either on the US or UK pop charts.

12: Atomic Rooster: Tomorrow Night

Progressive rock band Atomic Rooster is probably one of those groups that turns up occasionally in a pub quiz, but little else is heard of them. Possibly not surprising as their most successfully commercial period was during this year. Both Death Walks Behind You and In Hearing of Atomic Rooster peaked in the Top 20 on the UK Album Chart during 1971, as did two singles, the first of which was this one, Tomorrow Night.

17: T.Rex: Hot Love

A quick follow-up to Ride A White Swan - which was still within the Top 40 at this point - was this T.Rex classic, Hot Love. With this song, Marc Bolan had found the formula that would turn him into a rock superstar in the UK. The addition of some glitter under his eyes for his Top of the Pops rendition created a totally new genre in pop music: glam rock. Many bands followed the trend, but it can be safely said that Bolan was its king. Hot Love would soon climb to Number 1 and, by the end of the year, rank as the fifth best selling song of 1971.

The American Top 10 (W/E March 6, 1971)

01 (01) One Bad Apple - The Osmonds
02 (02) Mama's Pearl - The Jackson Five
03 (10) Me & Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin
04 (16) Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) - The Temptations
05 (05) If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot
06 (17) She's A Lady - Tom Jones
07 (12) For All We Know - The Carpenters
08 (08) Amos Moses - Jerry Reed
09 (09) Mr. Bojangles - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
10 (07) Sweet Mary - Wadsworth Mansion

The Number 1 album this week:

All Things Must Pass - George Harrison

UK Music Chart: February 27, 1971

Neil Diamond

Buy This at Allposters.com

My Sweet Lord by George Harrison was enjoying its fifth and final week as the UK Number 1 song, while its successor had just taken a seven place move into the Top 10 at Number 7.

Further down the listing, some of the older tracks were starting to disappear as five songs made their first appearances within the Top 20.

The Chart:

01 (01) George Harrison - My Sweet Lord
02 (02) The Mixtures - Pushbike Song
03 (03) Ashton, Gardner And Dyke - Resurrection Shuffle
04 (07) Perry Como - It's Impossible
05 (04) The Supremes - Stoned Love
06 (05) Judy Collins - Amazing Grace
07 (14) Mungo Jerry - Baby Jump
08 (08) Elton John - Your Song
09 (10) Dawn - Candida
10 (06) Badfinger - No Matter What
11 (30) Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline
12 (09) Clive Dunn - Grandad
13 (17) Smokey Robinson And The Miracles - (Come 'Round Here) I'm The One You Need
14 (16) Jackie Lee - Rupert
15 (22) Martha Reeves And The Vandellas - Forget Me Not
16 (13) Tom Jones - She's A Lady
17 (11) The Kinks - Apeman
18 (35) The Partridge Family - I Think I Love You
19 (38) The Byrds - Chestnut Mare
20 (26) Chairmen Of The Board - Everything's Tuesday

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

11: Neil Diamond: Sweet Caroline

One of the first 45s I remember buying was Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline. This week in 1971, it climbed nineteen places to land in the Top 20 at Number 11. I often flipped this one over too, as in the UK it was backed with Brother Loves Travelling Salvation Show. Both tracks had already been significant hits during 1969 in the US: Sweet Caroline peaking at Number 4 while Brother... stalled at Number 22.

15: Martha Reeves & the Vandellas: Forget Me Not

Spurred on by the popularity of the Northern Soul scene, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas returned to the UK Top 20 with a re-release of a song from 1967. Never a hit then, Forget Me Not was the vocal group's first significant British success since the re-release of Dancing in the Street in 1969. However, it would be their last UK Top 20 hit before the break-up of the trio. Only Bless You was left to crack the Top 40 in early 1972.

18: The Partridge Family: I Think I Love You

Hot on the heels of its success in the US, where it hit Number 1 for three weeks, I Think I Love You was regarded as a shoe-in to repeat the feat in the UK. However, even though The Partridge Family included the next big heartthrob in the shape of David Cassidy, the song could only peak at this week's Number 18. While the TV show that featured the group was huge Stateside, its popularity was slower to catch on in the UK. Nevertheless, David Cassidy and his Partridge Family buddies would be around for a few years yet.

Number 19: The Byrds: Chestnut Mare

The last time The Byrds had seen a significant hit in the UK was back in 1965 when All I Really Want to Do hit Number 4. In between times there had been several minor breakthroughs, but Chestnut Mare was significant in that it was the last time the American outfit achieved a UK Top 20 placing. Taken from the band's (untitled) album, the track was intended for use in a stage production called Gene Tryp, but it never appeared. As a single it peaked at this week's Number 19 in the UK and could only manage Number 121 in the States.

Number 20: Chairmen of the Board: Everything's Tuesday

For the third time in the matter of six months, Chairmen of the Board were back in the UK Top 20, this time with another Holland-Dozier-Holland composition, Everything's Tuesday. Featuring the wonderful vocals of the now late lamented General Johnson, the song would peak at Number 12 in the UK and only just scrape into the the Billboard Top 40. It was also backed with the much more soulful and original version of Patches, a hit for Clarence Carter.

The American Top 10 (W/E February 27, 1971)

01 (01) One Bad Apple - The Osmonds
02 (06) Mama's Pearl - The Jackson Five
03 (02) Knock Three Times - Dawn
04 (03) Rose Garden - Lynn Anderson
05 (05) If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot
06 (04) I Hear You Knocking - Dave Edmunds
07 (08) Sweet Mary - Wadsworth Mansion
08 (12) Amos Moses - Jerry Reed
09 (09) Mr. Bojangles - The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
10 (25) Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin

The Number 1 album this week:

All Things Must Pass - George Harrison

UK Music Chart: February 20, 1971

Number 14: Mungo Jerry

George Harrison's My Sweet Lord had now clocked up four weeks as the UK Number 1 song this week in 1971.

The track that would replace it had just entered the Top 20 as one of three new entries into the listing. However, it would be a couple more weeks before Mungo Jerry would claim the top spot as their own.

The Chart:

01 (01) George Harrison - My Sweet Lord
02 (02) The Mixtures - Pushbike Song
03 (04) Ashton, Gardner And Dyke - Resurrection Shuffle
04 (03) The Supremes - Stoned Love
05 (05) Judy Collins - Amazing Grace
06 (06) Badfinger - No Matter What
07 (13) Perry Como - It's Impossible
08 (07) Elton John - Your Song
09 (09) Clive Dunn - Grandad
10 (10) Dawn - Candida
11 (08) The Kinks - Apeman
12 (14) T. Rex - Ride A White Swan
13 (15) Tom Jones - She's A Lady
14 (RE) Mungo Jerry - Baby Jump
15 (12) Frankie Valli - You're Ready Now
16 (16) Jackie Lee - Rupert
17 (24) Smokey Robinson And The Miracles - (Come 'Round Here) I'm The One You Need
18 (18) Elvis Presley - You Don't Have To Say You Love Me
19 (22) Cliff Richard - Sunny Honey Girl
20 (25) Glen Campbell - It's Only Make Believe (RE)

*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red; New entries in bold
Image: Baby Jump: Mungo Jerry, The Definitive Collection
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14: Mungo Jerry: Baby Jump

Mungo Jerry had just had one of the biggest hits of 1970 with In the Summertime and, this week, the band was set to repeat the feat. Two weeks previously Baby Jump had entered the charts at Number 32 but, because of a the shortage of sales data due to a national postal strike, the song had fallen off the listing. Nevertheless, the track leapt back into the chart at Number 14 this week, heading towards Number 1.

17: Smokey Robinson and the Miracles: (Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need

The success of Tears of A Clown meant that this Miracles' song, which had not charted well on its original release in the UK in 1966, had now earned a re-release. In the US, (Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need had been a Top Twenty hit, but had struggled to Number 45 on this side of the pond. This time around, it did much better, peaking at Number 13.

19: Cliff Richard: Sunny Honey Girl

Peaking at this week's Number 19 was Cliff Richard's second Top 20 song of the decade, Sunny Honey Girl. Compared to his 1960s output, this was quite a lean period for major hit records for the singer. It wouldn't be until his Eurovision entry in 1973 that he would land inside the Top 10 once again. Given the standard of songs such as this one, it's not surprising he had to wait a while.

The American Top 10 (W/E February 20, 1971)

01 (01) One Bad Apple - The Osmonds
02 (02) Knock Three Times - Dawn
03 (03) Rose Garden - Lynn Anderson
04 (04) I Hear You Knocking - Dave Edmunds
05 (11) If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot
06 (10) Mama's Pearl - The Jackson 5
07 (07) Groove Me - King Floyd
08 (15) Sweet Mary - Wadsworth Mansion
09 (14) Mr. Bojangles - The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
10 (05) Lonely Days - The Bee Gees

The Number 1 album this week:

All Things Must Pass - George Harrison

UK Music Chart: February 13, 1971

Perry Como

Buy This at Allposters.com

My Sweet Lord by George Harrison had now clocked up the third of its five-week run as the UK Number 1 and there did not look to be any record to challenge its strong sales data.

Three new songs made their way into the Top 20, but none of them seemed to be likely contenders, even if two of them climbed over 15 places to get there.

The Chart:

01 (01) George Harrison - My Sweet Lord
02 (02) The Mixtures - Pushbike Song
03 (03) The Supremes - Stoned Love
04 (09) Ashton, Gardner And Dyke - Resurrection Shuffle
05 (06) Judy Collins - Amazing Grace
06 (05) Badfinger - No Matter What
07 (13) Elton John - Your Song
08 (08) The Kinks - Apeman
09 (04) Clive Dunn - Grandad
10 (12) Dawn - Candida
11 (10) The Jackson Five - I'll Be There
12 (11) Frankie Valli - You're Ready Now
13 (31) Perry Como - It's Impossible
14 (07) T. Rex - Ride A White Swan
15 (17) Tom Jones - She's A Lady
16 (30) Jackie Lee - Rupert
17 (15) The Equals - Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys
18 (14) Elvis Presley - You Don't Have To Say You Love Me
19 (21) The Weathermen - It's The Same Old Song
20 (18) Neil Diamond - Cracklin' Rosie

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

Number 13: Perry Como: It's Impossible

Perry Como was the artist who'd had the first Number 1 on the UK Singles Chart back in late 1952, but he had not made an appearance in the Top 10 since 1960 when Delaware made Number 3. There was suddenly a renewed interest in his output and It's Impossible was proof that, despite a previous decade of youth driven music, an old crooner never really dies. Como was nearly 60 when this song became a hit and his appearances in the Singles Chart were not yet at an end, as he returned five more times over the next couple of years.

Number 16: Jackie Lee: Rupert

Jackie Lee (as Jacky) had appeared in the UK charts three years earlier when White Horses had peaked at Number 10. That was the theme to a children's TV series, as was Rupert which entered the Top 20 this week at Number 16. While these were the only two occasions that her name appeared as a solo artist, Jackie Lee was a much respected session singer as well. She not only sang on Number 1 hits by both Tom Jones and Englebert Humperdinck but, perhaps more surprisingly, on Hey Joe by Jimi Hendrix.

Number 19: The Weathermen: It's the Same Old Song

Back in the early to mid 1970s, Jonathan King was well-known for re-recording European or American hits under a group or solo pseudonym for release in the British market. This was the first of them: a reworking of The Four Tops US hit, It's the Same Old Song from 1965. King was The Weathermen and there was some irony emanating from the title of the song and his arrangement of it. Missing that distinctive Motown sound, King gave it an English country feel and almost succeeded in making it a completely different song. It fared a little better than the original in the UK, peaking at this week's Number 19 position.

The American Top 10: (W/E February 13, 1971)

01 (02) One Bad Apple - The Osmonds
02 (01) Knock Three Times - Dawn
03 (05) Rose Garden - Lynn Anderson
04 (06) I Hear You Knocking - Dave Edmunds
05 (04) Lonely Days - The Bee Gees
06 (03) My Sweet Lord - George Harrison
07 (07) Groove Me - King Floyd
08 (08) Your Song - Elton John
09 (10) If I Were Your Woman - Gladys Knight & the Pips
10 (25) Mama's Pearl - The Jackson 5

The Number 1 album this week:

All Things Must Pass - George Harrison

UK Music Chart: February 6, 1971

Elton John

Buy This at Allposters.com

Completing a second week (of 5) as the UK Number 1 on this date in 1971 was George Harrison's My Sweet Lord.

It was at a time when the UK chart was compiled by postal returns from a panel of 250 record shops. However, a national postal strike which had begun on January 20 meant that chart data had to be collected by phone. It was not an ideal situation and, as a result, the Top 50 shrunk to a Top 40. This may also explain why there was only one new entry to the Top 20 this week, albeit by an artist who would become one of the most successful in popular music.

The Chart:

01 (01) George Harrison - My Sweet Lord
02 (03) The Mixtures - Pushbike Song
03 (19) The Supremes - Stoned Love
04 (02) Clive Dunn - Grandad
05 (13) Badfinger - No Matter What
06 (08) Judy Collins - Amazing Grace
07 (04) T. Rex - Ride A White Swan
08 (05) The Kinks - Apeman
09 (15) Ashton, Gardner And Dyke - Resurrection Shuffle
10 (06) The Jackson Five - I'll Be There
11 (12) Frankie Valli - You're Ready Now
12 (20) Dawn - Candida
13 (30) Elton John - Your Song
14 (14) Elvis Presley - You Don't Have To Say You Love Me
15 (09) The Equals - Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys
16 (17) McGuinness Flint - When I'm Dead And Gone
17 (16) Tom Jones - She's A Lady
18 (10) Neil Diamond - Cracklin' Rosie
19 (07) Dave Edmunds - I Hear You Knocking
20 (11) Johnny Johnson And The Bandwagon - Blame It On The Pony Express

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

13: Elton John: Your Song

Welcome to the UK Top 20 for the first time, Elton John. He was about to repeat what he had just achieved in America and secure his debut UK Top 10 hit - the first of 33 (to date). In the US, Your Song was originally the B-Side of the single, with Take Me to the Pilot the given A-Side. However, a favourable reaction to the former by disc jockeys meant that the tracks were flipped and Your Song became the hit. It peaked at Number 8 there and managed one place better in the UK at Number 7.

The American Top 10: (W/E February 6, 1971)

01 (01) Knock Three Times - Dawn
02 (09) One Bad Apple - The Osmonds
03 (02) My Sweet Lord - George Harrison
04 (03) Lonely Days - The Bee Gees
05 (05) Rose Garden - Lynn Anderson
06 (07) I Hear You Knocking - Dave Edmunds
07 (06) Groove Me - King Floyd
08 (08) Your Song - Elton John
09 (04) One Less Bell to Answer - The 5th Dimension
10 (11) If I Were Your Woman - Gladys Knight & the Pips

The Number 1 album this week:

All Things Must Pass - George Harrison

UK Music Chart: January 30, 1971

Number 15: Ashton & Gardner (with Mick Liber)

After crashing into the Top 10 last week, George Harrison's first solo single, My Sweet Lord, sped its way to Number 1 for the first of five weeks.

Elsewhere, four new songs entered the Top 20, each of them becoming major hits.

Talking of hits, a new feature from this post onward is the inclusion of the American Top 10, when it is available.

The Charts:

01 (07) George Harrison - My Sweet Lord
02 (01) Clive Dunn - Grandad
03 (13) The Mixtures - Pushbike Song
04 (02) T. Rex - Ride A White Swan
05 (05) The Kinks - Apeman
06 (04) The Jackson Five - I'll Be There
07 (06) Dave Edmunds - I Hear You Knocking
08 (08) Judy Collins - Amazing Grace
09 (10) The Equals - Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys
10 (14) Neil Diamond - Cracklin' Rosie
11 (11) Johnny Johnson And The Bandwagon - Blame It On The Pony Express
12 (18) Frankie Valli - You're Ready Now
13 (16) Badfinger - No Matter What
14 (09) Elvis Presley - You Don't Have To Say You Love Me
15 (26) Ashton, Gardner And Dyke - Resurrection Shuffle
16 (21) Tom Jones - She's A Lady
17 (03) McGuinness Flint - When I'm Dead And Gone
18 (12) Glen Campbell - It's Only Make Believe
19 (24) The Supremes - Stoned Love
20 (22) Dawn - Candida

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

15: Ashton, Gardner & Dyke: Resurrection Shuffle

Memories of carefree days come flooding back when I hear Ashton, Gardner and Dyke's Resurrection Shuffle. It was one of those songs that seemed to be everywhere and, in the process, became an instant classic of its genre. Most people tend to forget the name of the artists, but have no trouble in recalling what an absolutely storming pop single it was (or is)! Unfortunately, AG&D were unable to follow-up the track with another hit - the retread of this, Can You Get It, flopped. They recorded four albums in total, but none of the material came close to Resurrection Shuffle, leaving AG&D as One Hit Wonders.

16: Tom Jones: She's A Lady

Tom Jones recorded his own version of Resurrection Shuffle which failed to impress in the UK, but managed a respectable Number 38 in the US. It was included on his album She's A Lady, the title track of which entered the Top 20 this week in January, 1971. It peaked at Number 13 in the UK, but still remains Jones's highest charting single in the US where it rose to Number 2.

Number 19: The Supremes: Stoned Love

The Supremes' previous single, Everybody's Got the Right to Love, failed to impress British listeners and as a result missed out on a chart placing. However the splendid follow-up, Stoned Love, hit all the right buttons and saw Jean Terrell, Cindy Birdsong and Mary Wilson cruise into and up the UK Top 20. Peaking at Number 3, it also proved to be The Supremes' most successful post-Diana Ross hit in the US, where some radio stations had to be coerced into playing it. There was a belief the song was about drug abuse, rather than its intended message of love and peace at a time when the Vietnam War was still raging.

Number 20: Dawn: Candida

Dawn would become one of the most successful MOR vocal groups of the 1970s and Candida was the first in a string of hit singles that featured the vocals of Tony Orlando. At this point, the Dawn which we came to know did not exist as the vocalists were essentially a studio creation. Once the hits started to accumulate, Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson were invited to join Orlando, and thus Dawn was born. Candida was a worldwide hit, peaking at Number 9 in the UK and Number 3 in the US.

The American Top 10 (W/E January 30, 1971)

01 (01) Knock Three Times - Dawn
02 (02) My Sweet Lord - George Harrison
03 (04) Lonely Days - The Bee Gees
04 (03) One Less Bell to Answer - The 5th Dimension
05 (09) Rose Garden - Lynn Anderson
06 (07) Groove Me - King Floyd
07 (16) I Hear You Knocking - Dave Edmunds
08 (08) Your Song - Elton John
09 (34) One Bad Apple - The Osmonds
10 (06) Stoney End - Barbra Streisand

The Number 1 album this week:

Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel

UK Music Chart: January 23, 1971

George Harrison

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Grandad by Clive Dunn completed its third and final week at Number 1 this week in January 1971, but would nevertheless remain in the listing for a little over six months. However, Dunn would never appear on the British charts again, making him a true One Hit Wonder: A Number 1 and then nothing else.

Grandad would make room at the top of the charts for this week's highest new entry My Sweet Lord, one of three songs making their debuts on this Top 20.

The Chart:

01 (01) Clive Dunn - Grandad
02 (04) T. Rex - Ride A White Swan
03 (03) McGuinness Flint - When I'm Dead And Gone
04 (05) The Jackson Five - I'll Be There
05 (11) The Kinks - Apeman
06 (02) Dave Edmunds - I Hear You Knocking
07 (--) George Harrison - My Sweet Lord
08 (19) Judy Collins - Amazing Grace
09 (17) Elvis Presley - You Don't Have To Say You Love Me
10 (15) The Equals - Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys
11 (08) Johnny Johnson And The Bandwagon - Blame It On The Pony Express
12 (06) Glen Campbell - It's Only Make Believe
13 (24) The Mixtures - Pushbike Song
14 (07) Neil Diamond - Cracklin' Rosie
15 (09) Andy Williams - Home Lovin' Man
16 (34) Badfinger - No Matter What
17 (10) Gilbert O'Sullivan - Nothing Rhymed
18 (13) Frankie Valli - You're Ready Now
19 (12) Chairmen Of The Board - You've Got Me Dangling On A String
20 (16) Ken Dodd - Broken Hearted

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

7: George Harrison: My Sweet Lord

It had already completed four weeks as the US Number 1 song and My Sweet Lord was about to repeat that feat in the UK. Bounding into the British charts at Number 7, it was Harrison's first solo single release and one which would cause him plenty of legal hassles over the next few years, following the successful copyright infringement suit over the song He's So Fine by The Chiffons. Nevertheless, it became the biggest selling single of 1971, returned to Number 1 in early 2002 following Harrison's death and is estimated to have sold over 10 million copies.

Number 13: The Mixtures: Pushbike Song

The Mixtures was an Australian group which had already made its name in its homeland with a hit cover version of Mungo Jerry's In the Summertime. The follow-up, a similarly constructed The Pushbike Song, received extensive airplay in the UK and, as a result, copies of this undeniably catchy track began to sell like hot cakes. It eventually peaked at Number 2, staying there for four consecutive weeks and becoming the sixth best selling single of the year.

Number 16: Badfinger: No Matter What

Another Beatles connection this week in 1971, as Apple recording artists Badfinger entered the Top 20 for the second time, on this occasion with No Matter What. Written by the late band member Pete Ham, the song was as equally successful in the US, ultimately climbing into the Top 10 in both countries.

The Number 1 album this week:

Bridge Over Troubled Water

The Number 1 Song in the USA:
Knock Three Times - Tony Orlando & Dawn

UK Music Chart: January 16, 1971

Frankie Valli

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Clive Dunn's Grandad completed a second week as the UK's Number One song on this date in 1971 and a challenge by another record for the top of the charts appeared remote.

Three records progressed into the Top 20, however, but would they be able to maintain their momentum towards the upper reaches of the listing?

The Chart:

01 (01) Clive Dunn - Grandad
02 (02) Dave Edmunds - I Hear You Knocking
03 (03) McGuinness Flint - When I'm Dead And Gone
04 (04) T. Rex - Ride A White Swan
05 (05) The Jackson Five - I'll Be There
06 (09) Glen Campbell - It's Only Make Believe
07 (06) Neil Diamond - Cracklin' Rosie
08 (07) Johnny Johnson And The Bandwagon - Blame It On The Pony Express
09 (10) Andy Williams - Home Lovin' Man
10 (08) Gilbert O'Sullivan - Nothing Rhymed
11 (12) The Kinks - Apeman
12 (11) Chairmen Of The Board - You've Got Me Dangling On A String
13 (25) Frankie Valli - You're Ready Now
14 (13) Peter Noone And Herman's Hermits - Lady Barbara
15 (18) The Equals - Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys
16 (15) Ken Dodd - Broken Hearted
17 (23) Elvis Presley - You Don't Have To Say You Love Me
18 (14) Gerry Monroe - My Prayer
19 (21) Judy Collins - Amazing Grace
20 (17) Elvis Presley - I've Lost You

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

13: Frankie Valli: You're Ready Now

The Northern Soul scene in the UK had a wonderful way of plucking otherwise forgotten, or originally unsuccessful, soul tracks from obscurity and putting some of them into the British charts. You're Ready Now by Frankie Valli was an example of this. Originally put out in the Spring of 1966, it bombed in both the US and the UK, but its support in the dance clubs saw a UK-only re-release. Consequently, its popularity saw the record climb the charts to a peak of Number 11.

17: Elvis Presley: You Don't Have To Say You Love Me

As his previous hit, I've Lost You, continued to descend the charts to Number 20, Elvis Presley's latest release was already following it into the Top 20. You Don't Have to Say You Love Me had already been a UK Number 1 hit for Dusty Springfield back in 1966 and Presley's cover version saw him in the UK Top 10 once again where it peaked at Number 9.

19: Judy Collins: Amazing Grace

Judy Collins' second appearance in the UK Top 20 was with her folk version of the traditional hymn Amazing Grace, with words written by John Newton in the Eighteenth century. The composition had adopted political tones during the 1960s in America, primarily by those opposing the Vietnam War and those involved with the Civil Rights Movement. Collins was very much an advocate against the US involvement in Vietnam and decided to record Amazing Grace to demonstrate her opposition.

The disc peaked at Number 15 in her homeland but, to this day, holds the record for the single with most weeks on the UK chart for a female artist. The tally was 42 straight weeks, but her rendition re-entered the listing on two further occasions, bringing the total to 67. It peaked at Number 5 on its first run.

The Number 1 album this week:

Bridge Over Troubled Water

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

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