 |
| T. Rex: The Complete Studio Albums: Buy at Amazon UK |
Slade's Coz I Luv You continued as the UK's Number 1 song for a second week on this date in November 1971.
The band was easing very smoothly into the burgeoning glam rock styling of the era, as was the group with the week's biggest mover into the Top 20, T. Rex. Their song, Jeepster, was just one of three new entries into the listing this week.
Other tracks making their debuts came courtesy of both comedy star Benny Hill and Motown songstress Diana Ross.
Slade at Number 1
The Chart:
- 01 (01) Slade - Coz I Luv You
- 02 (04) Tom Jones - Till
- 03 (07) The Piglets - Johnny Reggae
- 04 (02) Rod Stewart - Maggie May
- 05 (08) Springwater - I Will Return
- 06 (11) Olivia Newton-John - Banks of the Ohio
- 07 (16) Cher - Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves
- 08 (37) T. Rex - Jeepster
- 09 (06) Al Green - Tired of Being Alone
- 10 (09) Joan Baez - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
- 11 (03) Redbone - Witch Queen of New Orleans
- 12 (05) The Four Tops - Simple Game
- 13 (13) Vince Hill - Look Around (And You'll Find Me There)
- 14 (20) The Newbeats - Run Baby Run
- 15 (10) Titanic - Sultana
- 16 (12) Scott English - Brandy
- 17 (29) Benny Hill - Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)
- 18 (22) Diana Ross - Surrender
- 19 (18) The Carpenters - Superstar / For All We Know
- 20 (14) Shirley Bassey - For All We Know
*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red; New entries in bold
08: T. Rex: Jeepster
What looked likely to be the third Number 1 single of the year by T. Rex was kept off the top of the charts by the disc that climbed 12 places to this week's Number 17.
Jeepster was a last gasp attempt by Marc Bolan's former record company to cash in on his band's huge success. Although Bolan was not happy about the release, it turned out well for both parties as the record made short work of eventually reaching the Number 2 position.
The track was an almost direct lift of a Willie Dixon composition called You'll Be Mine, recorded by iconic Blues singer Howlin' Wolf. Bolan turned it into a sexually-charged glam rock anthem, only later acknowledging his inspiration.
Jeepster was a last gasp attempt by Marc Bolan's former record company to cash in on his band's huge success. Although Bolan was not happy about the release, it turned out well for both parties as the record made short work of eventually reaching the Number 2 position.
The track was an almost direct lift of a Willie Dixon composition called You'll Be Mine, recorded by iconic Blues singer Howlin' Wolf. Bolan turned it into a sexually-charged glam rock anthem, only later acknowledging his inspiration.
17: Benny Hill: Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)
Christmas was only just around the corner and so the Silly Season was upon us. Always a good excuse for a novelty record and, in 1971, it was comedian Benny Hill who supplied it.
Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West) was an innuendo-laden comedy song, delivered in Hill's famously cheeky style, having already been performed on his highly popular television show. The public response to it had been hugely positive.
It was no surprise, then, that Hill should record it and release it as a single. What was surprising was the way in which the record flew off the shelves, pushing its sales ever higher and giving Benny Hill the coveted UK Christmas Number 1 spot. It eventually remained at the top of the chart for four weeks in total.
Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West) was an innuendo-laden comedy song, delivered in Hill's famously cheeky style, having already been performed on his highly popular television show. The public response to it had been hugely positive.
It was no surprise, then, that Hill should record it and release it as a single. What was surprising was the way in which the record flew off the shelves, pushing its sales ever higher and giving Benny Hill the coveted UK Christmas Number 1 spot. It eventually remained at the top of the chart for four weeks in total.
18: Diana Ross: Surrender
Diana Ross was back in the UK Top 20 this week with the follow-up to her UK Number 1 song, I'm Still Waiting.
Surrender was written by Nick Asford and Valerie Simpson, a songwriting duo which would supply many of the Motown stable with some of their biggest hits. This song, with a more soulful uptempo R'n'B feel to it, was the title track to Ross's third album and became her fourth straight British Top 10 hit.
The album went Top 10 too, although chartwise, both the single and the album fared less well in America: peaking at Number 38 and Number 56 respectively.
Surrender was written by Nick Asford and Valerie Simpson, a songwriting duo which would supply many of the Motown stable with some of their biggest hits. This song, with a more soulful uptempo R'n'B feel to it, was the title track to Ross's third album and became her fourth straight British Top 10 hit.
The album went Top 10 too, although chartwise, both the single and the album fared less well in America: peaking at Number 38 and Number 56 respectively.
The American Top 10 (w/e November 20, 1971)
- 01 (02) Theme From 'Shaft' - Isaac Hayes
- 02 (01) Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves - Cher
- 03 (04) Imagine - John Lennon
- 04 (11) Baby, I'm A-Want You - Bread
- 05 (08) Have You Seen Her? - The Chi-Lites
- 06 (04) Maggie May / Reason to Believe - Rod Stewart
- 07 (07) Peace Train - Cat Stevens
- 08 (21) Family Affair - Sly & the Family Stone
- 09 (13) Got to Be There - Michael Jackson
- 10 (06) Yo-Yo - The Osmonds
The UK Number 1 album this week:
- Rod Stewart - Every Picture Tells A Story
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for taking the time to visit. Your comment will be verified shortly.