UK Top 20: May 27, 1972 Ft. Don McLean

We have now arrived at the British Top 20 of May 27, 1972 which spotlights six new entries, the highest of which at Number 11 was the latest single by Don McLean: Vincent. 

He was joined by some of the biggest pop and rock names of the day including the latest singles by the likes of Paul Simon, The Moody Blues and The Move.

However, as seemed the norm in 1972, re-releases continued to dominate the chart. Another reappeared this week: the enduring classic A Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum made a renewed attempt to capture a Top 10 placing.

Meanwhile, Marc Bolan's T. Rex continued to dominate the Top 20 - both the singles and albums charts. Not even heartthrob David Cassidy could dislodge the group, having to settle for the runners-up position on both listings.

T. Rex at Number 1

The Chart: 

• 01 (01) T. Rex - Metal Guru 
• 02 (03) David Cassidy - Could It Be Forever 
• 03 (02) The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards - Amazing Grace 
• 04 (04) Vicky Leandros - Come What May 
• 05 (05) Elton John - Rocket Man 
• 06 (15) Hurricane Smith - Oh Babe, What Would You Say? 
• 07 (06) Johnny Cash and the Evangel Temple Choir - A Thing Called Love 
• 08 (08) The Drifters - At the Club / Saturday Night at the Movies 
• 09 (07) The Rolling Stones - Tumbling Dice 
• 10 (14) Leeds United FC - Leeds United 
• 11 (29) Don McLean - Vincent 
• 12 (19) Lindisfarne - Lady Eleanor 
• 13 (09) Marmalade - Radancer 
• 14 (22) Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade of Pale 
• 15 (23) Paul Simon - Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard 
• 16 (27) New World - Sister Jane 
• 17 (10) Jo Jo Gunne - Run Run Run 
• 18 (13) The Temptations - Take A Look Around 
• 19 (24) The Moody Blues - Isn't Life Strange? 
• 20 (34) The Move - California Man

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

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11: Don McLean: Vincent

Although the classic American Pie had stalled at Number 2 in the UK, Don McLean's follow-up, Vincent, was destined to go one better within the next couple of weeks.

Now as equally recognisable as American Pie, the song was a tribute to painter Vincent van Gogh written by McLean after having read a biography of the artist's life.

It has gone on to be covered by a wide range of music artists, from punk outfit NOFX to Rick Astley to Dame Julie Andrews.

However, McLean's original version remains the ultimate recording of the song - a Number 12 hit in the USA and a Number 1 in the UK for two weeks.

14: Procol Harum: A Whiter Shade of Pale

It had been three years since Procol Harum had appeared on the UK Singles Chart - and then only a lowly Number 44 for the track, A Salty Dog.

It was the re-release of this song, coupled with the more recognisable Homburg (#6, 1967) and A Whiter Shade of Pale (#1, 1967) which brought the group back into the UK Top 20.

The latter received the majority of the radio play, helping it to eventually peak at Number 13 and add to its current sales tally of more than ten million copies.

15: Paul Simon: Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard

By this time, the Simon and Garfunkel partnership was over and Paul Simon was enjoying a commercially successful solo career.

His second solo album was selling well and saw him sitting in the Top 5 of both the US and the UK chart. The lead single, Mother and Child Reunion, had done great business for Simon as well, peaking in the Top 10s on both sides of the Atlantic.

Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard followed that single into both charts. However, its impact was less potent, only managing a Number 22 peak in the States and this week's Number 15 in Britain.

16: New World: Sister Jane

After three successive Top 20 hits, Australian band New World was back in the British charts with another Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman composition, Sister Jane.

Although not the biggest of their four major hits, the track did manage to break into the Top 10 (#9), but would prove to be the last time the group bothered the top of the UK charts.

Apart from Rooftop Singing (#50), all of the group's follow-up releases failed to chart at all.



19: The Moody Blues: Isn't Life Strange?

Taken from the album Seventh Sojourn, Isn't Life Strange? was The Moody Blues' first UK hit in two years when Question went all the way to Number 2.

Written by John Lodge, the track is based on Pachebel's Canon in D and in its unedited version lasts for over six minutes.

In Britain, the track steadily climbed the Top 20 reaching Number 13, but stalled at Number 29 in the USA.




20: The Move: California Man

With both Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne involved with the birth of The Electric Light Orchestra, it was no surprise to learn that California Man would become The Move's final single release.

Recorded with a nod and a wink towards the early years of rock'n'roll, the single proved very popular in the UK and eventually rose to a chart peak of Number 7.

Lynne and Wood would eventually split. The former would lead ELO to world dominance throughout the 1970s, while the latter immersed himself in the burgeoning glam rock scene and created classic tunes with Wizzard.

The UK Number 1 album this week:

• T. Rex: Bolan Boogie

The American Top 10 (Click to play tracks)