UK Top 20: November 18, 1972 Ft. The Osmonds

The Osmond Family raid the UK Top 10

Presenting the UK Top 20 music chart for the week ending 18 November, 1972

Under increased pressure, Gilbert O'Sullivan managed to maintain his grip on the UK Singles Chart with his affectionate composition for his manager's daughter, Clair.

Further down the chart, Osmondmania was responsible for the two highest new entries as both Donny and his brothers claimed neighbouring spots within the Top 10. Just two other "new" songs slipped into the listing (one a re-release, the other a cover song) as singles by Judge Dread, Elvis Presley, Gary Glitter and Peter Skellern fell out of the Top 20.

Read on...

Gilbert O'Sullivan at Number 1

The Chart: 

• 01 (01) Gilbert O'Sullivan - Clair 
• 02 (06) Chuck Berry - My Ding-A-Ling 
• 03 (08) The Shangri-Las - Leader of the Pack 
• 04 (05) Shag - Loop Di Love 
• 05 (02) Lieutenant Pigeon - Mouldy Old Dough 
• 06 (21) Donny Osmond - Why 
• 07 (27) The Osmonds - Crazy Horses 
• 08 (20) Elton John - Crocodile Rock 
• 09 (15) Chris Montez - Let's Dance 
• 10 (19) The Stylistics - I'm Stone in Love With You 
• 11 (04) Alice Cooper - Elected 
• 12 (07) Python Lee Jackson - In a Broken Dream 
• 13 (03) 10cc - Donna 
• 14 (11) Archie Bell and the Drells - Here I Go Again 
• 15 (09) The Carpenters - Goodbye to Love 
• 16 (13) Family - Burlesque 
• 17 (10) Junior Campbell - Hallelujah Freedom 
• 18 (12) Johnny Nash - There Are More Questions Than Answers 
• 19 (23) Harley Quinne - New Orleans 
• 20 (22) Jeff Beck - Hi Ho Silver Lining

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

Stream This Week's New Hits:




06: Donny Osmond: Why

Osmondmania in the UK continued to gather pace as Donny returned to the British Top 10 for the third time in a row, this time with yet another cover song: Why.

Originally a Number 1 hit in the USA for Frankie Avalon at the cusp of the 1960s and topping the UK chart for Anthony Newley in January 1960, Osmond revived the song for his adoring fans - most of whom would have never heard the original(s).

The result was a UK Number 3 hit - achieving a 20-week run on the listing - while it stalled at Number 13 in the singer's homeland.

07: The Osmonds: Crazy Horses

Even though Donny's much more sugary solo offering only just beat his brothers (and himself) into the Top 10 this week, The Osmonds' rockier Crazy Horses would finally become the bigger British hit peaking at Number 2.

Instantly recognisable by its 'wah! wah!' intro, the song's subject matter now seems more than a little ahead of its time: the environment, ecology and particularly, large petrol-thirsty cars harming the planet with choking fumes.

It became the brothers' debut British hit, while it peaked at Number 14 in the States to become their sixth Top 20 entry there.

19: Harley Quinne: New Orleans

A group of session musicians was brought together to promote a production from the Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway songwriting team - namely New Orleans.

When the song began to climb the charts on the back of the glam rock phenomenon, faces had to be added for TV appearances. Thus, Harley Quinne was born.

While New Orleans managed a Top 20 placing (this week's No.19 peak), its two follow-ups failed to ignite public interest and the Harley Quinne venture was ditched.

20: Jeff Beck: Hi Ho Silver Lining

Some might call this a cover version as a band called The Attack released this song in March 1967, a few days earlier than the Jeff Beck rendition.

In a year full of re-releases, Hi Ho Silver Lining was another single revisiting the British charts, this time managing a peak position of No.17 (originally No.14 in 1967).

It would make yet another sojourn to the listing in 1982, but failed to make much headway on that occasion (No.62).

For comparison, here's The Attack's version.


The UK Number 1 album this week:

• Various Artists: 20 All Time Greats of the 50s

The American Top 10 (Click to play tracks)




The song at Number 8 in the USA this week was by The Delegates and called Convention '72, a parody record about the American Presidential contenders - and unavailable to stream.