UK Music Chart: November 27, 1971 Featuring The Who

Number 19: The Who

As the end of November 1971 approached, Slade's Coz I Luv You continued its dominance over the UK Top 20, securing a third week as the nation's Number 1 song.

Making impressive progress towards the top of the chart were two singles, one from glam rockers T. Rex and the other from comedy star Benny Hill, the latter who would soon knock Slade off their perch.

Further down the listing, three tracks made their first appearances in the Top 20, including new entries from chart veterans Cliff Richard and The Who.



Slade at Number 1

The Chart: 

• 01 (01) Slade - Coz I Luv You 
• 02 (08) T. Rex - Jeepster 
• 03 (17) Benny Hill - Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West) 
• 04 (07) Cher - Gypsies, Tramps And Thieves 
• 05 (03) The Piglets - Johnny Reggae 
• 06 (02) Tom Jones - Till 
• 07 (05) Springwater - I Will Return 
• 08 (06) Olivia Newton-John - Banks of the Ohio 
• 09 (04) Rod Stewart - Maggie May 
• 10 (18) Diana Ross - Surrender 
• 11 (09) Al Green - Tired of Being Alone 
• 12 (14) The Newbeats - Run Baby Run 
• 13 (13) Vince Hill - Look Around (And You'll Find Me There) 
• 14 (28) John Kongos - Tokoloshe Man 
• 15 (10) Joan Baez - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down 
• 16 (11) Redbone - Witch Queen of New Orleans 
• 17 (16) Scott English - Brandy 
• 18 (29) Cliff Richard - Sing A Song of Freedom 
• 19 (24) The Who - Let's See Action 
• 20 (12) The Four Tops - Simple Game

*Previous week in brackets; Climbers denoted in red; New entries in bold
 
14: John Kongos: Tokoloshe Man

Six months after his first UK Top 10 hit with He's Gonna Step On You Again, South African singer John Kongos was back in the British chart with the follow-up, Tokoloshe Man.

Like its predecessor, it would go on to peak at Number 4 and would later be covered by Kongos fans, The Happy Mondays, a band which had also recorded their version of his first hit.

Although John Kongos released several excellent follow-up singles, all of them failed to make any impression on the UK chart.

18: Cliff Richard: Sing A Song of Freedom

After several uncharacteristic chart flops, Cliff Richard was back in the Top 20 with this Guy Fletcher/Doug Flett composed track, Sing A Song of Freedom.

Richard recorded several of the duos songs over the years, including the UK's Top 10 1973 Eurovision Song Contest entry, Power to All Our Friends.

However, this one fizzled out at Number 13, but would nevertheless become one of Cliff Richard's more substantial hits of the early 1970s.

19: The Who: Let's See Action

When The Who's intended follow-up to the rock opera Tommy was abandoned, songs already written for Lifehouse were instead included on the band's album, Who's Next.

One of those that did not make that album (or any other traditional non-compilation release) was Let's See Action, a salute to the teachings of the Indian spiritualist Meher Baba who claimed he was God in human form.

Entering the Top 20 at this week's Number 19, the single would rise to a peak of Number 16. Unusually though, it was not released in the USA at the time. Consequently, the first time American fans could buy it was when it was included on the band's 1981 "70s-centric" compilation album called Hooligans.



The American Top 10 (w/e November 27, 1971)

• 01 (01) Theme From 'Shaft' - Isaac Hayes
• 02 (02) Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves - Cher
• 03 (04) Baby, I'm-A Want You - Bread
• 04 (05) Have You Seen Her? - The Chi-Lites
• 05 (08) Family Affair - Sly & the Family Stone
• 06 (03) Imagine - John Lennon
• 07 (09) Got to Be There - Michael Jackson
• 08 (07) Peace Train - Cat Stevens
• 09 (15) Rock Steady - Aretha Franklin
• 10 (13) Desiderata - Les Crane

The UK Number 1 album this week:

• Various Artists - Top of the Pops Vol. 20