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| Number 11: Cilla Black |
This was due to a certain, much-loved comedian who was about to unexpectedly conquer the top of the British charts and not relinquish it until after the end of the Christmas season. More about that next time.
Further down the chart, Cilla Black was back - joining other MOR artists such as Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey and Vince Hill in a Top 20 that appeared top heavy with easy listening singles.
Gilbert O'Sullivan returned too, but the trend was broken by the highly influential funk and soul of Isaac Hayes' only appearance on the UK singles listing.
Slade at Number 1
The Chart:
- 01 (01) Slade - Coz I Luv You
- 02 (03) Benny Hill - Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)
- 03 (02) T. Rex - Jeepster
- 04 (04) Cher - Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves
- 05 (05) The Piglets - Johnny Reggae
- 06 (14) John Kongos - Tokoloshe Man
- 07 (08) Olivia Newton-John - Banks of the Ohio
- 08 (06) Tom Jones - Till
- 09 (07) Springwater - I Will Return
- 10 (12) The Newbeats - Run Baby Run
- 11 (21) Cilla Black - Something Tells Me (Something's Gonna Happen Tonight)
- 12 (10) Diana Ross - Surrender
- 13 (18) Cliff Richard - Sing A Song of Freedom
- 14 (09) Rod Stewart - Maggie May
- 15 (44) Gilbert O'Sullivan - No Matter How I Try
- 16 (**) Isaac Hayes - Theme From 'Shaft'
- 17 (23) Shirley Bassey - For All We Know (Re: see post here)
- 18 (15) Joan Baez - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
- 19 (13) Vince Hill - Look Around (And You'll Find Me There)
- 20 (19) The Who - Let's See Action
11: Cilla Black: Something Tells Me
Something Tells Me (Something's Gonna Happen Tonight) was written by Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway and became Cilla's biggest selling single of the 1970s. Rising to Number 3 in both the UK and Ireland, it became her most commercially successful hit since both Surround Yourself With Sorrow and Conversations made the Top 10 in 1969.
The song last came to public attention as part of a television advertising campaign for Ferrero Rocher chocolates in 2006.
15: Gilbert O'Sullivan: No Matter How I Try
Eventually peaking at Number 5, No Matter How I Try became his highest charting song to date, before his next single stormed to the top of America's Billboard Hot 100 and brought him Top 3 success in the UK.
16: Isaac Hayes: Theme From 'Shaft'
Having just spent two weeks as the US Number 1 song, the track did not waste any time entering the British listing, registering its first week in the chart at Number 16.
'Shaft' (the movie) is probably the quintessential illustration of the 'blaxploitation' genre of film making of the era and Isaac Hayes' funky soundtrack music fits it perfectly.
As well as topping the Billboard Hot 100, the theme also won the Oscar for Best Original Song in 1972 and, in the same year, the Grammys for Best Instrumental Arrangement and Best Engineered Recording. In the UK, the single peaked at Number 4.
The American Top 10 (w/e December 4, 1971)
- 01 (05) Family Affair - Sly & the Family Stone
- 02 (01) Theme From 'Shaft' - Isaac Hayes
- 03 (03) Baby, I'm-A Want You - Bread
- 04 (04) Have You Seen Her? - The Chi-Lites
- 05 (02) Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves - Cher
- 06 (07) Got to Be There - Michael Jackson
- 07 (14) An Old Fashioned Love Song - Three Dog Night
- 08 (10) Desiderata - Les Crane
- 09 (09) Rock Steady - Aretha Franklin
- 10 (06) Imagine - John Lennon
The UK Number 1 album this week:
- Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV
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