UK Top 20: May 20, 1972 Ft. Lindisfarne

We have now reached the UK Top 20 of May 20, 1972 which features Lady Eleanor by Lindisfarne as the highest new entry of the week at Number 19.

Although three songs had dropped out since last week, their replacements were made up of two re-entries - in addition to the single by Lindisfarne.

Judy Collins' version of Amazing Grace had already enjoyed an extended chart life when it began a 32-week run during 1971 - peaking at Number 5. It never really went away, continuing to bounce in and out of the Top 50 over subsequent weeks. However, because of the immense success of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards' recording of the same song, Judy Collins' interpretation gained new momentum, selling enough copies to bring it back to Number 20 this week. It would eventually appear on the British charts for an interrupted 67 weeks over a two year period.

Sly and the Family Stone's chart run was less distinguished, however. Runnin' Away had first appeared in the 20 just two weeks previously when it hit Number 19. Having dropped off the listing, it was back this week at its peak of Number 17, only to disappear for good next week.

One act which had no intention of fading away just yet was T. Rex. Not content with entering the album chart at Number 1 with Bolan Boogie - dethroning Deep Purple in the process - the band also leapt eight places to the top of the singles chart with Metal Guru, its fourth Number 1 in two years

T. Rex at Number 1

The Chart: 

• 01 (09) T. Rex - Metal Guru 
• 02 (01) The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards - Amazing Grace 
• 03 (03) David Cassidy - Could It Be Forever 
• 04 (02) Vicky Leandros - Come What May 
• 05 (07) Elton John - Rocket Man 
• 06 (04) Johnny Cash and the Evangel Temple Choir - A Thing Called Love 
• 07 (05) The Rolling Stones - Tumbling Dice 
• 08 (19) The Drifters - At The Club / Saturday Night at the Movies 
• 09 (06) Marmalade - Radancer 
• 10 (08) Jo Jo Gunne - Run Run Run 
• 11 (10) The Chiffons - Sweet Talking Guy 
• 12 (11) Ringo Starr - Back Off Boogaloo 
• 13 (17) The Temptations - Take A Look Around 
• 14 (20) Leeds United FC - Leeds United 
• 15 (18) Hurricane Smith - Oh Babe, What Would You Say? 
• 16 (12) Tyrannosaurus Rex - Debora / One Inch Rock 
• 17 (21) Sly and the Family Stone - Runnin' Away (Re-entry)
• 18 (14) Johnny Nash - Stir It Up 
• 19 (29) Lindisfarne - Lady Eleanor 
• 20 (23) Judy Collins - Amazing Grace (Re-entry)

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

19: Lindisfarne: Lady Eleanor

Following the huge success of Lindisfarne's previous single, Meet Me on the Corner, the band decided to re-release Lady Eleanor as the follow-up.

Included on the band's début 1970 album Nicely Out of Tune, it was originally released in 1971, but proved to be unsuccessful.

Its fortunes changed second time around, mainly due to the spectacular success of the group's second album, Fog on the Tyne - and because it was (and still is) a fantastic song finally given the airplay it deserved.

It continued to climb the chart, eventually peaking at Number 3, but proved to be the band's last single to hit the Top 20 for six years.

The UK Number 1 album this week:

• T. Rex: Bolan Boogie

The American Top 10 (Click to play tracks)