UK Top 20: May 13, 1972 Ft. T. Rex

We have now arrived at the UK Top 20 of May 13, 1972 which features Metal Guru by T. Rex as the highest new entry of the week.

The band was one of the most successful in the United Kingdom during the early 1970s, so it was no surprise to see this latest single jump straight into the chart at Number 9.

Just two other discs were new to the twenty this week: the current release by record producer and recording engineer Hurricane Smith and the latest in a string of football club songs - this time from Leeds United.

In all, seven records within the Top 10 were climbers but, as yet, none of them were able to topple The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards from the summit of the chart, as the military band's record achieved its fifth straight week at Number 1 with Amazing Grace.

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards at Number 1

The Chart: 

• 01 (01) The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards - Amazing Grace 
• 02 (03) Vicky Leandros - Come What May 
• 03 (04) David Cassidy - Could It Be Forever 
• 04 (07) Johnny Cash and the Evangel Temple Choir - A Thing Called Love 
• 05 (14) The Rolling Stones - Tumbling Dice 
• 06 (09) Marmalade - Radancer 
• 07 (12) Elton John - Rocket Man 
• 08 (06) Jo Jo Gunne - Run Run Run 
• 09 (**) T. Rex - Metal Guru 
• 10 (05) The Chiffons - Sweet Talking Guy 
• 11 (02) Ringo Starr - Back Off Boogaloo 
• 12 (08) Tyrannosaurus Rex - Debora / One Inch Rock 
• 13 (11) Tom Jones - The Young New Mexican Puppeteer 
• 14 (15) Johnny Nash - Stir It Up 
• 15 (10) Nilsson - Without You 
• 16 (13) Elvis Presley - Until It's Time For You to Go 
• 17 (16) The Temptations - Take A Look Around 
• 18 (27) Hurricane Smith - Oh Babe, What Would You Say? 
• 19 (20) The Drifters - At the Club / Saturday Night at the Movies 
• 20 (42) Leeds United F.C. - Leeds United

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

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09: T. Rex: Metal Guru

The latest release from T. Rex proved to be yet another winner on the UK Singles Chart as Metal Guru stormed into the Top 10 at Number 9.

Its popularity was such that, in a week, it would climb to the top of the chart, just three months after the band's Telegram Sam had achieved the same feat.

Both songs were included on the group's album The Slider, which charted well in the UK (#4) and was their highest placed long-player in the US (#17).  Strangely, however, Metal Guru would make no impression on the Billboard Hot 100.

Nevertheless, in the UK, the band's singles continued to make impressive inroads into the Top 20, although this single would prove to be the band's final Number 1.

18: Hurricane Smith: Oh Babe, What Would You Say?

Famed for his role as the engineer of many of The Beatles' studio recordings, Hurricane Smith turned to recording himself during the early '70s.

Having enjoyed a UK Number 2 hit with his ecologically-themed Don't Let It Die, he was back on the chart with what would pan out to be a transatlantic hit.

Oh Babe, What Would You Say? would climb to Number 4 in Britain, but American record buyers also took it to their hearts and sent it to Number 3 in the US charts.

Although his follow-up managed a Top 30 placing, this would be the last time Smith appeared in the 20.

20: Leeds United F.C.: Leeds United

Leeds United FC had fought their way to the 100th FA Cup Final, so it seemed a foregone conclusion that they would record an official team song.

In fact, with different lyrics, the track had been released the previous year under the title Sally Sunshine, but failed to chart for either Miki Antony or The Mills Brothers.

However, with new words, the Leeds United team singing and an army of fans behind it, the song finally raced up the UK Chart, peaking at Number 10 following the team's 1-0 victory over Arsenal.

The UK Number 1 album this week:

• Deep Purple: Machine Head

The American Top 10 (Click to play tracks)