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| Number 6: Band of Gold: Freda Payne |
All change at the top of the UK charts this week in 1970 as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles finally claimed the Number 1 spot with Tears of a Clown after two weeks at Number 2. The track was among 60% of those in the Top 20 which were on their way up, including four new entries, one of which was to be a future Number 1.
Image: Band of Gold - Freda Payne
The greatest gainer on the chart this week was the highest new entry into the Top 20. Freda Payne had been recording for several years, but not with too much commercial success. She was then offered Band of Gold, authored by the legendary songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland, which she initially turned down. Once she was persuaded to record it, she soon found herself with a major hit on her hands. As well as climbing to Number 1 in the UK, it peaked at Number 3 on the Billboard chart in the US and Number 20 on the US Black Singles.
Freda Payne's Band of Gold is often cited as a One Hit Wonder (a Number 1 hit and nothing else), but she did manage to register two further UK Top 50 hits. However, the track at this week's Number 11 - which had climbed thirteen places - was the only instance of The Poppy Family appearing on the British charts. While not a Number 1 hit, Which Way You Goin' Billy? did manage to venture into the Top 10 (No.7) before the duo was relegated to UK chart history. In fact, The Poppy Family was Terry and Susan Jacks and we would be seeing him at Number 1 later in the decade.
Meanwhile, up ten places to Number 19 was only a third UK Top 20 hit for the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. Don't Play That Song (You Lied) was a cover of a Ben E. King song from 1962 and included on Franklin's album, Spirit in the Dark. The single peaked at Number 13 in the UK and Number 11 in the US.
Someone else who appeared on the UK listing with just one massive hit song was the late Bobby Bloom. A combination of pop with calypso was Montego Bay's trademark and with the summer season coming to an end, it seemed that record buyers wanted to keep the sun shining for just a little while longer. Bloom was no stranger to the pop charts, however. He co-wrote the song Mony, Mony, as well as a minor US hit for The Archies called Sunshine. The follow-up to Montego Bay, Heavy Makes You Happy was a UK Number 31 hit for him, but sadly, he lost his life in 1974 following an accident with his gun.
Until next time...
- 01 (02) Smokey Robinson And The Miracles - Tears Of A Clown
- 02 (01) Elvis Presley - The Wonder Of You
- 03 (03) Three Dog Night - Mama Told Me Not To Come
- 04 (05) Chairmen Of The Board - Give Me Just A Little More Time
- 05 (07) Bread - Make It With You
- 06 (36) Freda Payne - Band Of Gold
- 07 (08) Chicago - 25 Or 6 To 4
- 08 (13) Jimmy Cliff - Wild World
- 09 (04) Marmalade - Rainbow
- 10 (15) Hot Chocolate - Love Is Life
- 11 (24) Poppy Family Ft. Susan Jacks - Which Way You Goin' Billy?
- 12 (10) Johnny Johnson And The Bandwagon - Sweet Inspiration
- 13 (06) Hotlegs - Neanderthal Man
- 14 (20) Desmond Dekker - You Can Get It If You Really Want
- 15 (09) Shirley Bassey - Something
- 16 (17) Andy Williams - It's So Easy
- 17 (11) Fair Weather - Natural Sinner
- 18 (12) The Kinks - Lola
- 19 (29) Aretha Franklin - Don't Play That Song (You Lied)
- 20 (30) Bobby Bloom - Montego Bay
Image: Band of Gold - Freda Payne
The greatest gainer on the chart this week was the highest new entry into the Top 20. Freda Payne had been recording for several years, but not with too much commercial success. She was then offered Band of Gold, authored by the legendary songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland, which she initially turned down. Once she was persuaded to record it, she soon found herself with a major hit on her hands. As well as climbing to Number 1 in the UK, it peaked at Number 3 on the Billboard chart in the US and Number 20 on the US Black Singles.
Freda Payne's Band of Gold is often cited as a One Hit Wonder (a Number 1 hit and nothing else), but she did manage to register two further UK Top 50 hits. However, the track at this week's Number 11 - which had climbed thirteen places - was the only instance of The Poppy Family appearing on the British charts. While not a Number 1 hit, Which Way You Goin' Billy? did manage to venture into the Top 10 (No.7) before the duo was relegated to UK chart history. In fact, The Poppy Family was Terry and Susan Jacks and we would be seeing him at Number 1 later in the decade.
Meanwhile, up ten places to Number 19 was only a third UK Top 20 hit for the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. Don't Play That Song (You Lied) was a cover of a Ben E. King song from 1962 and included on Franklin's album, Spirit in the Dark. The single peaked at Number 13 in the UK and Number 11 in the US.
Someone else who appeared on the UK listing with just one massive hit song was the late Bobby Bloom. A combination of pop with calypso was Montego Bay's trademark and with the summer season coming to an end, it seemed that record buyers wanted to keep the sun shining for just a little while longer. Bloom was no stranger to the pop charts, however. He co-wrote the song Mony, Mony, as well as a minor US hit for The Archies called Sunshine. The follow-up to Montego Bay, Heavy Makes You Happy was a UK Number 31 hit for him, but sadly, he lost his life in 1974 following an accident with his gun.
Until next time...
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