13th April 1974
It's straight in at 1 for Sparks' 2nd retro-chart entry as they grab the second USA Glam-Act slot with the fabulous This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us. I went big on the record after one hearing in 1974, it was like "OMG what on Earth is that!" and I bought it as soon as it was in the shops. 50 years on and Sparks are even more revered and current as ever, influencing many, copying few. Like ABBA and Queen, my love was immediate and long-lasting from 1974 onwards. They still sound like no-one else.
It's post-Eurovision and there are 3 acts debuting, Mouth & MacNeal's I See A Star was my 2nd-fave track on the night, it came 3rd and became a UK top 10 hit for Holland. It's also the duo's 3rd retro chart entry at 67. At 84, and second in the contest, it's the wonderful Gigliola Cinquetti with her Italian number one, Alle Porte Del Sole - her English-language version of Si will be out in a few weeks and that's the version I got to know and love, so Si is absent at the mo, but it's very nearly as good as her classic 1964 winner Non Ho L'Eta Per Amarti, a childhood fave, and still the best Eurovision winner. Probably. yet I didnt rate it that much on the night, and was glad ABBA just pipped her to the victory. That leaves Radio Luxembourg playlisted Bye Bye I Love You at 85 for Irene Sheer, which almost made the UK charts, for a 5th hit from one contest, a record until the 21st century.
Allan Clarke joins his Hollies smash with a second solo entry, Sideshow, a great song and future hit covered by the Chanter Sisters, new at 65, and at 71 a song that hasn't been heard since Radio Luxembourg stopped playing it, The Man Who Turned On The World, a sort of Christian Congregation-styled hit from Friends Of St. Francis. You wont find it on any streaming platform or download site, but it still sounds pretty good on Youtube and I havent heard it in 50 years! The Rollers are back for a 3rd year of retro chart entries, with their forthcoming TV show anthem as young girls went hysterical over them. The more hysterical they got the more I went off them, but Shang-A-Lang is singalong fluff, s'OK.
The Four Tops' hits have dried up now, but the music is still good, One Chain Don't make No Prison the latest at 75, and at 77 Andy Williams follows-up his smash Solitaire with Getting Over You, a decent version of Peter Noone's much-better 1973 original single version that went top 10 here. Finally, that leaves Christopher Rainbow at 83 who got some plays on the Johnnie Walker Radio 1 show with Solid State Brain - he had a few goes at breaking through into the charts, but never quite made it.
1 ( NEW ) THIS TOWN AIN’T BIG ENOUGH FOR BOTH OF US - Sparks # 1
2 ( 1 ) TRAVELIN’ BOY - Garfunkel # 1
3 ( 6 ) THE IMMIGRANT - Neil Sedaka # 3
4 ( 9 ) ROCK ‘N’ ROLL WINTER - Wizzard # 4
5 ( 5 ) SUMMER BREEZE - The Isley Brothers # 1
6 ( 2 ) ON THE RUN - Scorched Earth featuring Billy Ocean # 1
7 ( 7 ) I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU - Dolly Parton # 2
8 ( 3 ) THE CAT CREPT IN - Mud # 3
9 ( 11 ) BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU’VE GOT - William De Vaughan # 9
10 ( 10 ) LAUGHTER IN THE RAIN - Neil Sedaka # 10
11 ( 14 ) TIME IN A BOTTLE - Jim Croce # 1
12 ( 4 ) WATERLOO - ABBA # 4
13 ( 39 ) I’M IN LOVE - Aretha Franklin # 13
14 ( 19 ) DREAM WORLD - Don Downing # 14
15 ( 8 ) EMMA - Hot Chocolate # 1
16 ( 21 ) JOHNNY AND THE JUKEBOX - Pearly Gates # 16
17 ( 13 ) ROCK THE BOAT - The Hues Corporation # 1
18 ( 15 ) SUGAR BABY LOVE - The Rubettes # 1
19 ( 27 ) JARROW SONG - Alan Price # 19
20 ( 12 ) DANCE (WHILE THE MUSIC STILL GOES ON) - ABBA # 12
21 ( 18 ) JUDY TEEN - Cockney Rebel # 18
22 ( 22 ) A WALKIN’ MIRACLE - Limmie & The Family Cooking # 22
23 ( 16 ) HONEY HONEY - ABBA # 16
24 ( 20 ) EVERLASTING LOVE - Robert Knight # 4
25 ( 29 ) THE AIR THAT I BREATHE - The Hollies # 1
26 ( 25 ) THESE DAYS - Ian Matthews # 1
27 ( 17 ) HASTA MANANA - ABBA # 17
28 ( 40 ) THE GOLDEN AGE OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL - Mott The Hoople # 28
29 ( 23 ) ANGEL FACE - The Glitter Band # 13
30 ( 32 ) IT DOESN’T MATTER ANYMORE - Buddy Holly # 14
31 ( 30 ) YOU WON’T SEE ME - Anne Murray # 15
32 ( 33 ) I GET A LITTLE SENTIMENTAL OVER YOU - The New Seekers featuring Lyn Paul # 4
33 ( 44 ) DANCING MACHINE - The Jackson 5 # 33
34 ( 28 ) HEAVENLY - The Temptations # 17
35 ( 41 ) BAND ON THE RUN - Paul McCartney & Wings # 1
36 ( 36 ) YEAR OF DECISION - The Three Degrees # 2
37 ( 35 ) T.S.O.P. (THE SOUND OF PHILADELPHIA) - M.F.S.B. & The Three Degrees # 6
38 ( 46 ) IT’S BETTER TO HAVE (AND DON’T NEED) - Don Covay # 38
39 ( 58 ) TEEN WAVE - Ricky Wilde # 39
40 ( 31 ) SEVEN SEAS OF RHYE - Queen # 1
41 ( 43 ) LIFE AND DEATH IN G & A PARTS 1 & 2 - Chairmen Of The Board # 41
42 ( 45 ) MAKIN’ MUSIC - Hot Chocolate # 42
43 ( 38 ) JET - Paul McCartney & Wings # 1
44 ( 24 ) MR. NATURAL - The Bee Gees # 10
45 ( 37 ) SOUND YOUR FUNKY HORN - K.C. & The Sunshine Band # 3
46 ( 26 ) MY MAMA SAID - ABBA # 25
47 ( 50 ) WHEN THE MORNING COMES - Daryl Hall & John Oates # 7
48 ( 48 ) BLAZING SADDLES - Frankie Laine # 6
49 ( 54 ) RHINESTONE COWBOY - Larry Weiss # 49
50 ( 51 ) UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME (THAT’S WHAT I’M GONNA DO) - Aretha Franklin # 2
51 ( 52 ) LOVE’S THEME - Love Unlimited Orchestra # 1
52 ( 57 ) SCHOOL LOVE - Barry Blue # 7
53 ( 42 ) DEVIL GATE DRIVE - Suzi Quatro # 2
54 ( 34 ) WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? - Candlewick Green # 7
55 ( 55 ) GONNA SING YOU MY LOVESONG - ABBA # 33
56 ( 60 ) EVERYDAY - Slade # 56
57 ( 53 ) HOMELY GIRL - The Chi-Lites # 8
58 ( 56 ) YOU ARE EVERYTHING - Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye # 45
59 ( 72 ) MY GIRL BILL - Jim Stafford # 59
60 ( 61 ) REMEMBER YOU’RE A WOMBLE - The Wombles # 60
61 ( 47 ) TIGER FEET - Mud # 1
62 ( 78 ) GET UP - Blue Mink # 62
63 ( 49 ) WATCH OUT - ABBA # 49
64 ( 65 ) FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY - The O’Jays # 64
65 ( NEW ) SIDESHOW - Allan Clarke # 65
66 ( 59 ) JEALOUS MIND - Alvin Stardust # 3
67 ( NEW ) I SEE A STAR - Mouth & MacNeal # 67
68 ( 73 ) TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD - Rufus featuring Chaka Khan # 68
69 ( 69 ) TEENAGE RAMPAGE - The Sweet # 1
70 ( 62 ) LET ME ROLL IT - Paul McCartney & Wings # 27
71 ( NEW ) THE MAN WHO TURNED ON THE WORLD - The Friends Of St. Francis # 71
72 ( NEW ) SHANG-A-LANG - Bay City Rollers # 72
73 ( 77 ) SATISFACTION GUARANTEED - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes # 73
74 ( 74 ) THE SAME LOVE THAT MADE ME LAUGH - Bill Withers # 74
75 ( NEW ) ONE CHAIN DON’T MAKE NO PRISON - The Four Tops # 75
76 ( 71 ) DON’T YOU WORRY ‘BOUT A THING - Stevie Wonder # 71
77 ( NEW ) GETTING OVER YOU - Andy Williams # 77
78 ( 82 ) DON’T STAY AWAY TOO LONG - Peters & Lee # 78
79 ( 76 ) DAYBREAK - Nilsson # 76
80 ( 70 ) THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD - Lulu featuring David Bowie # 9
81 ( 79 ) IF YOU LOVE ME - Olivia Newton-John # 79
82 ( 80 ) LET ME PUT MY SPELL ON YOU - Merlin # 80
83 ( NEW ) SOLID STATE RAINBOW - Christopher Rainbow # 8384 ( NEW ) ALLE PORTE DEL SOLE - Gigliola Cinquetti # 8485 ( NEW ) BYE BYE I LOVE YOU - Irene Sheer # 859th April 1974
The manic, exciting pace of the music scene stepped up a pace this week with two memorable debuts, and a rare 1-2 new entry from nowhere. It was Eurovision, saturday night and as usual I was babysitting for cash at my regular’s near where I lived at RAF Innsworth. Got the kids to bed early so no interruptions (I hoped!) for a glorious evening entertainment. Olivia Newton-John and Irene Shears I already knew and had charted, but two lept right out at me, the fab Mouth & MacNeal (who had charted 2 years earlier for me on the back of a US hit) and a new act with garish clothes and a striking blonde, and a glampop stomper with a brilliant tune and lyric. It was called Waterloo and it was love at first sight. From this moment on Abba charted everything they released in my charts, and I was soooo happy they won. So good it became an American hit.. Mouth & MacNeal also charted at 24, the 4th from the contest in 1974.
In a normal week, the headline would have been all about Sparks, a quirky American duo of brothers from out of this universe. Tagged along with glam rock, but actually they were (and remain) unique in sound and unclassifiable. This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us came on the radio and blew my mind instantly with it’s insistent keyboard synth sound, the relentless quirky lyrics and flowing melody, and the crescendo of guitars interrupting that manic Russell Mael falsetto vocal. Not to mention brother Ron’s alien staring face when they finally got on telly. OMG! Brilliant.
This was all bad news for my 2nd fave pop group (after Wizzard) Mud, who had to settle for 3 with all my other faves pushed down 3 places. In at 9, though, a Swedish rock version of Jonathan KIng’s 1971 number one Hooked On A Feeling. It went to the top in the States, where they knew it as a bizarre cover of B.J.Thomas’ country pop original. JK added the ooga cha ga’s and it now seems immortality of sorts beckons as it’s selling well ahead of the release of big movie Guardians Of The Galaxy, in which it features prominently. It recharted in my chart a few weeks back. Just remember, ya heard it here first!
In at 16, a track no-one recalls, a Radio Luxembourg fave, The Friends Of St Francis with the joyous The Man Who Turned On The World. I’ve been trying to get hold of a copy of this for 40 years, with no luck. Come on itunes! Sweeping strings and choruses of voices over a mediaeval-style soloist. Fab. Elsewhere, another great Stevie Wonder (UK only) single, a solo hit from former Hollies, and Crosby Stills & Nash man, Graham Nash, On The Line, a minor entry for wannabee pop star Simon Jones, and a great Philly soul record from The Intruders. I really really needed to have done a Top 50 minimum by now, but that was still months away!
1 ( NEW ) WATERLOO Abba
2 ( NEW ) THIS TOWN AIN'T BIG ENOUGH FOR BOTH OF US Sparks
3 ( 6 ) THE CAT CREPT IN Mud
4 ( 1 ) SEVEN SEAS OF RHYE Queen
5 ( 2 ) THE YEAR OF DECISION The Three Degrees
6 ( 3 ) SUGAR BABY LOVE The Rubettes
7 ( 4 ) DOCTOR'S ORDERS Sunny
8 ( 5 ) SEASONS IN THE SUN Terry Jacks
9 ( NEW ) HOOKED ON A FEELING Blue Swede
10 ( 21 ) ON THE RUN Scorched Earth
11 ( 8 ) I KNOW WHAT I LIKE (IN YOUR WARDROBE) Genesis
12 ( 7 ) HELP ME Joni Mitchell
13 ( 14 ) LET ME PUT MY SPELL ON YOU Merlin
14 ( 10 ) JET Paul McCartney & Wings
15 ( 24 ) REMEMBER (YOU'RE A WOMBLE) The Wombles
16 ( NEW ) THE MAN WHO TURNED ON THE WORLD Friends Of St Francis
17 ( 17 ) MR NATURAL The Bee Gees
18 ( 9 ) I GET A LITTLE SENTIMENTAL The New Seekers
19 ( 26 ) TEEN WAVE Ricky Wilde
20 ( 20 ) A WALKIN' MIRACLE Limmie & The Family Cooking
21 ( 18 ) THE GOLDEN AGE OF ROCK 'N' ROLL Mott The Hoople
22 ( 28 ) HOMELY GIRL The Chi-Lites
23 ( 12 ) ANGEL FACE The Glitter Band
24 ( NEW ) I SEE A STAR Mouth and MacNeal
25 ( 25 ) BYE BYE I LOVE YOU Irene Shears
26 ( 19 ) EVERLASTING LOVE Robert Knight
27 ( NEW ) MISSTRA KNOW IT ALL Stevie Wonder
28 ( NEW ) ON THE LINE Graham Nash
29 ( NEW ) SHE WAS JUST A YOUNG GIRL Simon Jones
30 ( NEW ) I'LL ALWAYS LOVE MY MAMA The Intruders
31 ( 11 ) LISTEN TO THE MUSIC The Doobie Brothers
32 ( 13 ) THE STING The Ragtimers
33 ( 15 ) I SHALL SING Art Garfunkel
34 ( 16 ) BENNY AND THE JETS Elton John
35 ( 22 ) MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN THE WORLD Charlie Rich
36 ( 23 ) DREAM WORLD Don Downing
37 ( 27 ) THE AIR THAT I BREATHE The Hollies
38 ( 29 ) I'LL TAKE YOU HOME AGAIN KATHLEEN Lieutenant Pigeon
39 ( 30 ) W.O.L.D. Harry Chapin
40 ( 31 ) EMMA Hot Chocolate
