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| New at Number 15: The Moody Blues |
Presenting the UK Top 20 music chart for the week ending 16 December, 1972
With the festive season of 1972 now in full swing, the British charts began to reflect the celebrations with the appearance of one of the first classic Christmas pop songs to show in the listing: Happy Xmas (War is Over) courtesy of John Lennon, Yoko Ono and the Harlem Community Choir. The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards also contributed to the Yuletide festivities with their rendition of Little Drummer Boy.
Elsewhere, Chuck Berry was enjoying his fourth and final week at Number 1 as Little Jimmy Osmond waited in the wings to claim the crown the following week.
The Moody Blues made a welcome return to the UK hit parade as did The Four Tops with their first hit single on their new record label.
These four new entries meant that it was farewell to singles by The Shangri-Las, Gilbert O'Sullivan, The Stylistics and Shag.
Read on...
Image: Nationaal Archief, Den Haag, Rijksfotoarchief: Fotocollectie Algemeen Nederlands Fotopersbureau (ANEFO), 1945-1989 - negatiefstroken zwart/wit, nummer toegang 2.24.01.05, bestanddeelnummer 923-9509 [CC BY-SA 3.0 nl], via Wikimedia Commons
Chuck Berry at Number 1
The Chart:
- 01 (01) - Chuck Berry - My Ding-A-Ling
- 02 (03) - Slade - Gudbuy T'Jane
- 03 (02) - The Osmonds - Crazy Horses
- 04 (08) - T. Rex - Solid Gold Easy Action
- 05 (09) - Little Jimmy Osmond - Long Haired Lover From Liverpool
- 06 (06) - Donny Osmond - Why
- 07 (05) - Elton John - Crocodile Rock
- 08 (07) - Michael Jackson - Ben
- 09 (04) - Rod Stewart - Angel / What Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Loser Out of Me)
- 10 (16) - Roy C - Shotgun Wedding
- 11 (13) - Blue Mink - Stay With Me
- 12 (10) - The Jackson Five - Lookin' Through the Windows
- 13 (11) - David Cassidy - Rock Me Baby
- 14 (12) - The Strawbs - Lay Down
- 15 (21) - The Moody Blues - Nights in White Satin
- 16 (23) - John and Yoko/Plastic Ono Band With the Harlem Community Choir - Happy Xmas (War is Over)
- 17 (17) - Jeff Beck - Hi-Ho Silver Lining
- 18 (25) - The Four Tops - Keeper of the Castle
- 19 (18) - Gladys Knight and the Pips - Help Me Make It Through the Night
- 20 (28) - The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards - Little Drummer Boy
15: The Moody Blues: Nights in White Satin
Having previously peaked at Number 19, the track had already surpassed that position and was about to crack the Top 10 at Number 9.
In the States, it would perform even better. The 1967 release didn't even break into the Hot 100, but on this occasion it would manage to climb all the way to Number 2 for a couple of weeks - only kept off the top by Johnny Nash's hit, I Can See Clearly Now.
16: John and Yoko/Plastic Ono Band: Happy Xmas (War is Over)
Originally released in the USA the previous December, Happy Xmas (War is Over) had to wait until December 1972 before it could be released, due to a disagreement with Northern Songs, a music publisher.
It was an instant success, eventually reaching Number 4 and turning into a Christmas classic in the process. Apart from its appearance in the charts of 1972, it has resurfaced on numerous occasions over the years - most notably following Lennon's death when it peaked at Number 2 in 1980. Of course, it has also featured on many Christmas compilations over the years helping it to remain in the public conscience.
18: The Four Tops: Keeper of the Castle
It performed respectably, as well. In the States, it was their first Top Ten hit since 1967's Bernadette - which, incidentally, had reappeared on the British chart to fair success just months earlier.
This week's Number 18 would be its high point in the UK before hastily falling away.
20: Royal Scots Dragoon Guards: Little Drummer Boy
This time, to help celebrate the Christmas season, they were on point with their rendition of the oft recorded, Little Drummer Boy.
Although this would reach Number 13, it is probably best remembered sung in duet by David Bowie and Bing Crosby as part of a medley coupling it with Peace on Earth.
The UK Number 1 album this week:
- Various Artists: 25 Rockin' and Rollin' Greats
's days at the top of the pile were now numbered. 
was a stand alone single release by the group, not having been featured on any album up to this point.
.
family, the 
family, 
and - from the 1950s and 1960s - 
and 
all featuring.
, 
, Junior Campbell and 
was the group's fifth consecutive Top 20 hit - a slow, melodic ballad which would eventually peak at Number 11 during an initial 15-week run on the charts.
and 
.
which took Jackson to the top of the charts in the USA and into the UK Top 10 for the fourth consecutive time.
, a horror film about a young boy and his pet rat.It was nominated for an Oscar in 1973 for Best Original Song (losing out to Maureen McGovern's 
), but won a Golden Globe for Best Song.
were not quite as enthusiastic as they had been for his previous two solo singles - probably due to the fact that it was the title track to his latest album and that it was not the syrupy ballad that fans had come to expect from him.
back into the listing for the first time since it peaked at Number 3 in 1959/60.
(No.7, 1962) and 
(No.9, 1961) - all well-known songs from Sedaka's back catalogue.
relinquished the top spot in favour of Chuck Berry the artist with the nation's new best seller: 
, Family, 
and 
as the latest releases from The Strawbs, 
, 
and 
entered the top section of the charts
.
, 
was Slade's fifth consecutive Top 5 UK hit and one of a few of the group's single releases during this period not to make Number 1.
.
(included on his Number 1 album, 
) with another cover - the country flavoured 
) 
, had failed to make an appearance on the British listings but the the title track from their latest album had no such problem.
marked a change in Michael's voice, moving from the boyish soprano to the more recognisable tenor of his later career.
in late 1970 - eventually reaching a peak placing of Number 9.
to appear on the singles listing.
