UK Music Chart: February 26, 1972 Ft. Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson at Number 8

Having secured the No. 1 spot the previous week, Chicory Tip's Son of My Father continued as the best selling single in the UK this week in 1972. 

Further down the chart, several acts were lining up to try and knock the group off the summit, among them Don McLean with American Pie, Nilsson's Without You and the highest new entry in the Top 20, Michael Jackson's solo debut, Got to Be There.

Jackson was not the only act with a new release to hit the upper reaches of the British chart at this point. 

Like Jackson, Paul Simon was logging his first UK solo success, while The Sweet's latest recording was among a long string of big selling singles the glam rock band enjoyed throughout the 1970s.

All of this was topped off by, what was considered at the time, something of a novelty record. It would soon become a customary ingredient in the buildup to big soccer events: the football song. One of the earliest came courtesy of Chelsea FC, becoming the highest new entry in the Top 50 this week.  

Chicory Tip at Number 1

The Chart: 

• 01 (01) Chicory Tip - Son Of My Father 
• 02 (02) T. Rex - Telegram Sam 
• 03 (06) Don McLean - American Pie 
• 04 (04) Slade - Look Wot You Dun 
• 05 (16) Nilsson - Without You 
• 06 (03) The Chi-Lites - Have You Seen Her? 
• 07 (09) The Fortunes - Storm in a Teacup 
• 08 (22) Michael Jackson - Got to Be There 
• 09 (05) Neil Reid - Mother of Mine 
• 10 (13) Badfinger - Day After Day 
• 11 (08) Sonny and Cher - All I Ever Need is You 
• 12 (10) Al Green - Let's Stay Together 
• 13 (07) The New Seekers - I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony) 
• 14 (26) The Sweet - Poppa Joe 
• 15 (**) The Chelsea Football Team - Blue is the Colour 
• 16 (17) The Bee Gees - My World 
• 17 (28) Paul Simon - Mother and Child Reunion 
• 18 (14) Melanie - Brand New Key 
• 19 (11) America - Horse With No Name 
• 20 (20) Stevie Wonder - If You Really Love Me

*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red; New entries in bold
*Intro Image: Rolling Stone Cover: Michael Jackson at Amazon

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08: Michael Jackson: Got to Be There

As lead singer with The Jackson 5, it was inevitable that the young Michael Jackson would become the focal point of the group.

On the back of the family's astounding success, Michael's solo career was launched with this single, the soulful pop ballad, Got to Be There.

It was an immediate smash in both North America and the UK, settling in the Top 5 in the US and Canada, while it leapt up the British charts to No. 8 this week in 1972, to eventually peak at No. 5.

14: The Sweet: Poppa Joe

After the relative failure of The Sweet's previous single - Alexander Graham Bell could only manage a peak position of No. 33 in the UK - the band was back in the the British Top 20 with its latest release, Poppa Joe.

Another bubblegum confection written by composers Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, the track featured vocals by the group but, yet again, session musicians provided all the instrumentation.

The 45 went on to earn The Sweet another silver disc in the UK, but stalled just shy of the Top 10 by reaching No.11. Elsewhere across Europe, the popularity of the band saw the record in the Top 3 of seven countries, including No. 1 in both Denmark and Finland.

15: The Chelsea Football Team: Blue is the Colour

The song that has since become Chelsea Football Club's main signature tune made its debut in the British Top 20 this week in 1972.

Blue is the Colour - sung by the squad - was released to coincide with the team's appearance in the League Cup final of this year, albeit Chelsea ultimately lost to their opponents, Stoke City.

Written by Daniel Boone (who had enjoyed a minor UK hit with Beautiful Sunday) and Rod McQueen, the disc ultimately reached No. 5 and has since become one of football's most recognised songs.

17: Paul Simon: Mother and Child Reunion

Mother and Child Reunion was Paul Simon's first solo release following his split with Art Garfunkel and included on his sophomore eponymous album released in January, 1972.

Unlike any of Simon's previous output, the single was an uptempo soft rock number, recorded in Jamaica, and heavily influenced by the island's reggae preferences.

It appears to be an early venture by the singer into his emerging proclivity for world music, which would be ultimately fulfilled by the 1986 release of Simon's album, Graceland.

The public in the UK, the US and Australia loved this single though, sending it into the Top 5 in all three territories, even if its lyrics and title have been the subject of much misinterpretation over the years.

The UK Number 1 album this week:

• Neil Reid: Neil Reid

The American Top 10 (Click to play tracks)

The Number 7 song, The Lion Sleeps Tonight by Robert John, is unavailable. Everything I Own by Bread ranks at Number 8, American Pie by Don McLean is at Number 9 and Sweet Seasons, the new entry by Carole King, is at Number 10 in the above US Top 10.

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