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| Number 13: Jimmy Cliff: Wild World |
This would be Elvis Presley's sixth and final week at the top of the UK chart with The Wonder of You. Below him, there was a lot of upward activity with big jumps by Three Dog Night, Bread and Chairmen of the Board. Additionally, four new songs made their debuts in the Top 20: two from legendary easy-listening artists and two from massive names in the world of reggae.
Image: The Best of Jimmy Cliff
The late '60s and early '70s saw the popularity of reggae and the singer/songwriter explode, so it should have been no surprise to see a pseudo-reggae cover of a Cat Stevens song in the Top 20. Wild World jumped nine places to Number 13 this week and would eventually peak at Number 8, becoming Jimmy Cliff's second and final (to date) UK Top 10 hit.
Meanwhile, Tom Jones folllowed up Daughter of Darkness with his second chart success of the year, I (Who Have Nothing). The song is based on an Italian composition and, over the years, has been recorded by a multitude of singers. Jones's version continues to be the most popular in the United States, but a 1963 recording by Shirley Bassey sold more copies in the UK and she remains the artist most identified with the song on this side of the water.
Meanwhile, Andy Williams was on a roll in the UK charts. While his homeland was either releasing different tracks as singles at this time or generally ignoring his songs, It's So Easy became the second of four UK Top 20 hits during the space of around a year. Not a hit in the US, this song spent 14 weeks on the UK listing, ultimately recording a high position of Number 13.
Jimmy Cliff was not only a Top 20 singer this week, but also a Top 20 songwriter as his You Can Get It If You Really Want recorded by Desmond Dekker jumped nineteen places to the anchor position of Number 20. This was Dekker's first appearance on the UK chart listed as a solo artist, having previously charted with the Aces on hits such as Israelites and It Mek. This track would eventually peak at Number 2, held off the top spot by Freda Payne's Band of Gold.
- 01 (01) Elvis Presley - The Wonder Of You
- 02 (02) Smokey Robinson And The Miracles - Tears Of A Clown
- 03 (09) Three Dog Night - Mama Told Me (Not To Come)
- 04 (04) Marmalade - Rainbow
- 05 (19) Chairmen Of The Board - Give Me Just A Little More Time
- 06 (03) Hotlegs - Neanderthal Man
- 07 (15) Bread - Make It With You
- 08 (07) Chicago - 25 Or 6 To 4
- 09 (08) Shirley Bassey - Something
- 10 (11) Johnny Johnson And The Bandwagon - Sweet Inspiration
- 11 (06) Fair Weather - Natural Sinner
- 12 (05) The Kinks - Lola
- 13 (22) Jimmy Cliff - Wild World
- 14 (10) The Jackson Five - The Love You Save
- 15 (17) Hot Chocolate - Love Is Life
- 16 (25) Tom Jones - I (Who Have Nothing)
- 17 (24) Andy Williams - It's So Easy
- 18 (12) Ten Years After - Love Like A Man
- 19 (13) Jimmy Ruffin - I'll Say Forever My Love
- 20 (39) Desmond Dekker - You Can Get It If You Really Want
Image: The Best of Jimmy Cliff
The late '60s and early '70s saw the popularity of reggae and the singer/songwriter explode, so it should have been no surprise to see a pseudo-reggae cover of a Cat Stevens song in the Top 20. Wild World jumped nine places to Number 13 this week and would eventually peak at Number 8, becoming Jimmy Cliff's second and final (to date) UK Top 10 hit.
Meanwhile, Tom Jones folllowed up Daughter of Darkness with his second chart success of the year, I (Who Have Nothing). The song is based on an Italian composition and, over the years, has been recorded by a multitude of singers. Jones's version continues to be the most popular in the United States, but a 1963 recording by Shirley Bassey sold more copies in the UK and she remains the artist most identified with the song on this side of the water.
Meanwhile, Andy Williams was on a roll in the UK charts. While his homeland was either releasing different tracks as singles at this time or generally ignoring his songs, It's So Easy became the second of four UK Top 20 hits during the space of around a year. Not a hit in the US, this song spent 14 weeks on the UK listing, ultimately recording a high position of Number 13.
Jimmy Cliff was not only a Top 20 singer this week, but also a Top 20 songwriter as his You Can Get It If You Really Want recorded by Desmond Dekker jumped nineteen places to the anchor position of Number 20. This was Dekker's first appearance on the UK chart listed as a solo artist, having previously charted with the Aces on hits such as Israelites and It Mek. This track would eventually peak at Number 2, held off the top spot by Freda Payne's Band of Gold.
Until next time...
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