REMEMBER WHEN
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REMEMBER WHEN - My Golden Days of Music
WEEK ENDING 6TH JULY 1974
TOP 40 SINGLES
Last weeks position in Brackets
1-(-1)----Charles Aznavour--------------She
2-(-8)----Drifters----------------------------Kissing In The Back row Of The Movies
3-(-2)----Gary Glitter-----------------------Always Yours
4-(---)----Slade-------------------------------Bangin' Man
5-(-4)----Showaddywaddy---------------Hey Rock And Roll
6-(-7)----Lobo--------------------------------I'd Love You To Want Me
7-(-3)----Ray Stevens----------------------The Streak
8-(-6)----Leo Sayer--------------------------One Man Band
9-(21)----Gary Pucket And The Union Gap--------Young Girl
10(13)----Pearls-------------------------------Guilty
11(19)----10C.C.-------------------------------Wall Street Shuffle
12(24)----Wombles---------------------------Banana Rock
13(-9)----Arrows------------------------------Touch Too Much
14(11)----Scaffold-----------------------------Liverpool Lou
15(---)----George McCrae-------------------Rock Your Baby
16(14)----Roy Wood-------------------------Going Down The Road
17(-5)-----R. Dean Taylor--------------------There's A Ghost In My House
18(16)----Elton John--------------------------Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
19(12)----Cockney Rebel--------------------Judy Teen
20(10)----Alan Price--------------------------The Jarrow Song
21(23)----First Class--------------------------Beach Baby
22(17)----Isely Brothers----------------------Summer Breeze
23(18)----Cozy Powell------------------------The Man In Black
24(27)----Suzi Quatro-------------------------Too Big
25(40)----Neil Sedaka-------------------------Laughter In The Rain
26(---)----Terry Jacks-------------------------If You Go Away
27(---)----Wings-------------------------------Band On The Run
28(28)----David Bowie-----------------------Diamond Dogs
29(25)----Lynsey De Paul-------------------Ooh I Do
30(38)----Thunderthighs--------------------Central Park Arrest
31(16)----Bad Company---------------------Can't Get Enough
32(20)----Scotland World Cup Squad--------Easy Easy
33(26)----Rubettes----------------------------Sugar Baby Love
34(33)----Mott The Hoople-----------------Foxy Foxy
35(37)----Hudson Ford----------------------Floating In The Wind
36(---)----Maria Muldaur--------------------Midnight At The Oasis
37(---)----Main Ingredient-------------------Just Don't Want To Be Lonely
38(35)----Peters And Lee-------------------Don't Stay Away Too Long
39(30)----Sparks------------------------------This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us
40(32)----Paper Lace-------------------------The Night Chicago Died
1-(-1)----Charles Aznavour--------------She
This was one of those strange number ones. Top Of The Pops, was off the air due to a strike at the BBC. So, as the TV show was very influential in those days, it's absence had a strange effect on the chart. "She" was featured on TV every Sunday evening as the opening titles and end credits rolled for a popular show called 'The Seven Faces Of Women' (or was it Six Faces ?). That was enough to push it quickly up to number one for a four week stay. His only other hit was "The Old Fashioned Way" which reached number 38 the previous October.
2-(-8)----Drifters----------------------------Kissing In The Back row Of The Movies
Good climb for the Drifters, but they didn't make the expected small step higher and had to settle for three weeks at number two. This was the second occasion that they'd had to settle for a long running number two, as in 1960 "Save The Last Dance For Me" spent four weeks at number two. They never had a number one single in the UK.
3-(-2)----Gary Glitter-----------------------Always Yours
Two weeks previous, this had been Gary's last number one. When it had shot straight in at number five three weeks ago, it had been the highest new entry of 1974 to date, but had unexpectedly only spent one week on top. This was no doubt due to the limited TV exposure. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people don't remember this at all. That's a shame, because it was a typical energetic romp from Gary that fully deserved it's number one placing.
4-(---)----Slade-------------------------------Bangin' Man
Just three weeks after Gary's high new entry, Slade had the highest new entry since they themselves had entered at number one with "Merry Xmas Everybody" the previous December. Only one single was destined to debut higher than this in 1974, the band-------'Slade' again !
Surprisingly though, "Bangin' Man" was only to climb one more place, Slade's number one days were over.
5-(-4)----Showaddywaddy---------------Hey Rock And Roll
This first hit for Showaddywaddy had been to number two. For those of you who only remember (and despise) them for the 50's covers that they kept having hits with, they were quite different for their first year of chart life. This and the next three singles were original compositions, and were quite good. I believe they were once contestants on either 'Opportunity Knocks' or 'New Faces', but I can't remember them appearing.
6-(-7)----Lobo--------------------------------I'd Love You To Want Me
One week away from it's peak of number five, this single had previously been released in late 1972, but had made no impression on the charts. He had previously had a number four hit with "Me And You And A Dog Named Boo" in the summer of 1971. But, he was never heard of again after this.
7-(-3)----Ray Stevens----------------------The Streak
This was a former number one, and had been so the world over due to the current streaking craze. At the time I thought it was funny, but now it's a song that I'd prefer not to admit liking. It certainly won't go down in history as a classic. It was though, Ray's 4th UK hit single and his second 'novelty' hit following 'Bridget The Midget' in 1971, but surprisingly his classic 'Turn Your Radio On' had only got as high as number 33 in 1972.
8-(-6)----Leo Sayer--------------------------One Man Band
Leo was having his second hit with this number six peaking song. It wasn't as instant as "The Show Must Go On", and the novelty of his appearance also seemed to wearing a little, but his real face would be seen with the release of his next single.
9-(21)----Gary Pucket And The Union Gap--------Young Girl
Why this was a hit again I don't know. It had spent four weeks at number one in 1968, but here it was again, and would rise to number six. Compared with the standard of the other singles around at the time, I would say that it was just an average song. The follow up single to the original release was "Lady Willpower" (a song that was almost identical), was also released as a follow up to this release. Thankfully, it didn't chart a second time.
10(13)----Pearls-------------------------------Guilty
This was their best ever week in the chart. They had previously had three minor hits, none rising above number 31, but this was their biggie. They also released a follow up single that sounded almost identical in "Wizard Of Love", but neither that or any further releases charted.
11(19)----10C.C.-------------------------------Wall Street Shuffle
I like 10 C.C., but I could never really decide whether I thought this was a good single or not. I had much preferred their previous single "Worst Band In The World" which had failed to chart at all. Maybe it was because I'd been spoiled by the quality of their previous few singles that I found "Wall Strret Shuffle" to be a slight disappointment. Or maybe it was because I didn't know what the hell they were singing about, I'd never heard of Wall Street. Anyway, it rose one more place the following week before falling
12(24)----Wombles---------------------------Banana Rock
When the Wombles had hit five months previous with the title song from their daily 5-10 minute children's TV show, I don't think anyone expected them to have any further hits (and they certainly didn't expect it to re-chart 24 years later). Yet, here they were about to reach number nine with their third hit. And, they still had more to come !
13(-9)----Arrows------------------------------Touch Too Much
The Arrows had been to number eight with this single. It was one of those singles that everyone remembers, but hardly anyone remembers who performed it. They followed it with "Toughen Up", a fine single that failed to chart before having their second and final hit with "My Last Night With You". Although they did later have their own TV show in the UK, and one of their songs "I Love Rock And Roll" was covered and taken to number one in the USA by Joan Jett And The Blackhearts. I couldn't remember the names of the individual members, but my friend Susan Jacks has informed me just in time that they were Alan, Jake and Paul.
14(11)----Scaffold-----------------------------Liverpool Lou
The first hit in five years for the band that included Paul McCartney's brother 'Mike McGear' had been to number seven. It was their fifth hit in all, but also their last following such classics as "Lily The Pink" (?????).
15(---)----George McCrae-------------------Rock Your Baby
The song that is universally accepted as the first disco number one (in the UK at least). It would reach the coveted position in three weeks time, and maybe the BBC strike could have also played some part in this. If people weren't hearing music on TV, where else would they have heard music other than on the radio ?
That's right, Discos, and no doubt this would have been heavily played in them. A great record all the same, and it's a pity about the cover version by Nottingham band KWS in '92. They may have done OK with "Please Don't Go", but their treatment of this classic was disgraceful.
George had earlier recorded with his wife Gwen, but after their lack of success he opted to manage a solo career for Gwen instead. Two years later he began to regret his decision, and after he heard a new song that had been written by Richard Finch and Harry Casey (of K.C. And The Sunshine Band), he desperately wanted to record it. The rest as they say is history.
I have a book that informs me George played a sell-out British tour in 1996, but I'm pretty sure that I remember reading of George's death sometime in the late 80's. Can anyone help with that ?
16(14)----Roy Wood-------------------------Going Down The Road
Roy was taking time out from Wizzard to have his third solo hit in under a year. Despite him dropping two places this week, he would rise back up to number 13 the following week before falling again. In truth I found it the weakest of his solo hits.
17(-5)-----R. Dean Taylor--------------------There's A Ghost In My House
Here was another strange release. This single had been recorded some years before, and maybe even released in the UK without success. For whatever reason it was released again and became a number three hit (who else can remember Pans People on Top Of The Pops dancing to it before the strike ?). It was his third hit in three years following "Gotta See Jane" and "Indiana Wants Me". The success of this prompted two further single releases in the next two months, "Window Shopping" on his new record label Polydor, which just crept into the bottom end of the 40, and was so good it was a shame people missed it. Then Motown keen to make as much as they could out of their former artist re-released "Gotta See Jane", but it peaked at number 41.
18(16)----Elton John--------------------------Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
It was a crime that this single could only reach number 16. Strange fact that Elton was going through a five year period in which he released 16 singles, yet out of those he only made it into the top ten with two cover versions (Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds & Pinball Wizard) and a collaboration with Kiki Dee (Don't Go Breaking My Heart). Of course this song finally had it's time at number one when Elton re-recorded it with the help of George (I want to sing with all the big stars) Michael in 1991. That release was a long time coming, as they had first sang it together at the show that somehow seemed to mark the end of the greatest years in music, Live Aid in 1985.
19(12)----Cockney Rebel--------------------Judy Teen
The critics favourites of that time had been to number five with this, their first hit. Unfortunately being critics favourite usually means a short career, and this was again the case with Cockney Rebel. Just over two years later they were having their last hit, though Steve Harley did briefly return to have a top ten hit in a duet with Sarah Brightman called "The Phantom Of The Opera" in 1986.
20(10)----Alan Price--------------------------The Jarrow Song
This was Alan's first hit for three years and his last for another five years. This was also the week that he dropped out of the top ten for the last time. "The Jarrow Song" had peaked at number six, and was a very good song with strong lyrics if it is listened to carefully. In spite of that, it will probably go down in history as a song that didn't appeal to teenagers.
21(23)----First Class--------------------------Beach Baby
If this song came out today, it would no doubt be described as a crap song sang by a talentless 'made' group. At least that would be the opinion of the 'right on' people who are fans of bands that I'd best not mention (or haven't even heard of), and spend most of their newsgroup time slagging off anything commercial because their own favourite bands are no doubt 'too dull' to talk about (sorry, getting carried away there). The truth is, this was a brilliantly catchy song, and had all the right ingredients to make it a number 13 hit and enable it to spend 10 weeks in the chart. If things had been normal with Top Of The Pops, I have no doubts that this single would have had the audacity to reach the top three (probably number one), such was it's commercial appeal. THIS IS WHAT WE WANT !
22(17)----Isely Brothers----------------------Summer Breeze
Wonderful ! The softer sound of summer, another one that reminds me of the smell of Summer. I always used to pin the top 50 charts from the Record Mirror on my wall in those days, and I remember looking at it one day with the radio on, this song playing and the smell and sounds of Summer drifting through the open window. There was always one thing that puzzled me though about this song, and that was why Ronald claimed he had Jasmine in his mind, very strange thing to say I thought. Anyway, it had reached number 16.
23(18)----Cozy Powell------------------------The Man In Black
This was Cozy's second hit and had peaked at number 18. I didn't buy it at the time, but looked for it for years afterwards Two years ago in Blackpool (A few days before the bastard bouncers episode), I saw a poster advertising a flea market just along the street from where I was standing, so I thought I'd take a look. First I got charged one pound to go in to some grubby building, then when I got inside there was hardly anything there, it was like a very poorly stocked second hand shop. I thought I may as well take a look through what was there, and I found this single. So I took it to the only person who seemed to be taking money (the schoolgirl I'd paid my admission to) and asked could I have it (I expected to pay 10 pence or 20 at the most as is common in these places). I should have known better considering some of the bad luck I've had in Blackpool, she charged me one pound fifty. Worse than that, when I played it, I realised that it wasn't as good as I'd fondly remembered it to be.
24(27)----Suzi Quatro-------------------------Too Big
About to become Suzi's fifth consecutive top 20 hit when it peaked at number 14, this was completely different to the previous four. The memory I most associate with this, is the week we spent at the pub owned by Auntie and Uncle in Leicester. I bought this single in one of the nearby stores (I think it was Lewis's), and while there I noticed a billboard advertising 'Limmie And The Family Cookin' ' appearing there later that week. I pleaded to go, but to no avail as it was in a club and 18 was the minimum age for admittance.
25(40)----Neil Sedaka-------------------------Laughter In The Rain
Another one with summer memories, but those of sheltering under trees from sudden downpours and thunderstorms during walks in the country. When it reached number 15, it became Neil's biggest hit for 12 years.
26(---)----Terry Jacks-------------------------If You Go Away
Yet again a perfect Summer sound. Terry Jacks just seemed to have a voice that has a kind of Summer sound to it. His previous release "Seasons In The Sun" had been a number one, and this one would peak at number Eight. In my opinion he made a trilogy of excellent singles. The Third was "Rock And Roll (I Gave You The Best Years Of My Life)" in early 1975, but sadly he didn't have the hit version of that, Kevin Johnson did.
27(---)----Wings-------------------------------Band On The Run
Another true classic, from a classic album. It was the second single release from the album, but the biggest hit peaking at number three. I suppose it was what is often described as an epic in the way it changes from one tempo to another, making it seem as though there are two different songs in there.
28(28)----David Bowie-----------------------Diamond Dogs
I don't know what RCA were up to, but they were making some strange decisions concerning David's career. The previous year they had released an old track as a single ("Life On Mars") instead of one of his newer ones, and luckily it paid off. But this year it didn't. In April instead of releasing "Diamond Dogs" as a single (if it wasn't ready, "1984" would have been a good choice), they released another old track "Rock 'N' Roll Suicide". A good track yes, but not the kind of thing that the casual record buyer would rush out to buy, while most Bowie fans would have already had it on the Ziggy Stardust album. As a result, it struggled to number 22. "Diamond Dogs" was released quickly afterwards, but it seemed by now that due to overkill, interest in David was waning (just a little, and not for long) and it peaked at a lowly 21.
29(25)----Lynsey De Paul-------------------Ooh I Do
Lynsey's fourth hit had peaked at number 25 the previous week. It wasn't the best single she ever released, but it was OK. Again, this is one that not many people would know, but if you see a second hand copy somewhere, if you pick it up, you may be pleasantly surprised.
30(38)----Thunderthighs--------------------Central Park Arrest
This was peaking this week and was their only hit, complete with police sirens, police radios and whatever else they could throw in. They did release a single later in the year, that I think was called "Dracula's Tango" but got nowhere with it. Whether they did have thunderthighs, I don't know, I never saw them. That is, unless they were the girls on Mott The Hoople's "Roll Away The Stone", anyone ?
31(16)----Bad Company---------------------Can't Get Enough
This first hit for Bad Company was also the biggest of the three that they had, peaking at number 15. At the time, I thought of it as that boring song that I hoped would drop quickly out of the chart. Now of course, I see it in a different light and am sorry that I didn't appreciate it more at the time.
32(20)----Scotland World Cup Squad--------Easy Easy
Once again I get to mention a Scots football song. This was their first hit, and had peaked at number 20 the previous week. It had actually climbed ten places the previous week, so I can only imagine the sharp decline in fortunes was again due to their elimination from the World Cup competition.
33(26)----Rubettes----------------------------Sugar Baby Love
The first hit for the Rubettes had spent 4fourweeks at number one, and had then fallen quickly down the chart. They never managed another number one, but many more good singles followed over the next three years. I remember getting a flexi single by them called "Saturday Night" free with a magazine. For quite a while, I've been intending to look for it and see if still playable, but I still haven't got around to it..
34(33)----Mott The Hoople-----------------Foxy Foxy
This number 33 peaking song was a major disappointment after two years of great singles from Mott. It wasn't up to their usual standard and was quickly forgotten about. The following release by them, "Saturday Gigs" was one of their finest moments, but it stalled at number 41, and they had no more hits.
35(37)----Hudson Ford----------------------Floating In The Wind
Again, a disappointment from a band who had recorded two great singles over the last year. As it turned out, this single was peaking in the band's last ever week in the chart.
36(---)----Maria Muldaur--------------------Midnight At The Oasis
Another good summer single (even if it did have dodgy lyrics) that would peak at number 21. What happened to Maria after this, I don't know, but my guess is, one hit single and eight weeks in the chart was quite enough of that voice for many. Twenty years later, Brand New Heavies covered the song (quite well actually) and had the biggest hit of their career (up to then) when it reached number 13.
37(---)----Main Ingredient-------------------Just Don't Want To Be Lonely
This seemed to be around for a while, but it only actually reached number 27. They didn't have any more hits, but the song re-appeared in 1987 when Freddie McGregor also had his only top 40 hit, taking it to number nine.
38(35)----Peters And Lee-------------------Don't Stay Away Too Long
This wasn't the first or last we heard of the gruesome twosome, but it was probably the most bearable of their singles. It had been to number three and spent 12 weeks in the 40.
39(30)----Sparks------------------------------This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us
This was the first hit for the Mael brothers, and was also their biggest (to date) reaching number two. On the first few listens, I wasn't sure if Russell was singing in a foreign tongue, but this was not the case. They recorded this with the help of Faith No More last year, but it did little chartwise, just creeping into the bottom end of the 40. There is also a different version that is currently being used in a car ad on British TV.
40(32)----Paper Lace-------------------------The Night Chicago Died
The second hit for Paper Lace had been to number three, but was more successful worldwide than their British number one hit "Billy Don't Be A Hero". It hit number one in the US, and I didn't get annoyed with it after a while as I had done with Billy.
In the weeks gone by since I last featured 1974 there were hits for Wizzard (Rock & Roll Winter #6), Osmonds (I Can't Stop #12), Bay City Rollers (Shang A Lang #2), Intruders (I'll Always Love My Mama #32), Jim Stafford (Spiders And Snakes #14), MFSB (The Sound Of Philadelphia #22), Status Quo (Break The Rules #8), Alvin Stardust (Red Dress #7), David Cassidy (If I Didn't Care #9), Diana Ross (Last time I Saw Him #35), Gigiola Cinquetti (Go #8), Mouth & McNeal (I See A Star #8), David Essex (America #32), Cliff Richard ( (You Keep Me) Hanging On #13), Millican And Nesbitt (For Old Times Sake #38), Act One (Tom The Peeper #40), Harry Chapin (W.O.L.D. #34), Perry Como (I Want To Give #31), Andy Williams (Getting Over You #35), Lena Zavaroni (Personality #33), Carpenters (I Won't Last A Day Without You #32), Staple Singers (If You're Ready (Come Go With Me) #34), Ronnie Lane (The Poacher #36).
Disclaimer
All comments concerning the quality of the songs in this and any other chart, are purely my opinion and not a statement of fact. Unlike some, I do not believe that I hold the monopoly on deciding what makes a bad song. Neither do I believe that good songs have to be serious or dull. I subscribe to the notion that if a single sells many copies, then many people like it, so it must be good whether I like it or not. Good music is everything YOU like, but it's also everything I like.
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