Week Ending 12 March 1977 06 - 03 - 01 - The Manhattan Transfer - CHANSON D'AMOUR 07 - 01 - 02 - Leo Sayer - WHEN I NEED YOU 07 - 02 - 03 - Heatwave - BOOGIE NIGHTS 04 - 12 - 04 - Mary MacGregor - TORN BETWEEN TWO LOVERS 05 - 04 - 05 - Mr. Big - ROMEO 04 - 15 - 06 - David Bowie - SOUND AND VISION 03 - 18 - 07 - ABBA - KNOWING ME, KNOWING YOU 12 - 05 - 08 - Julie Covington - DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA 06 - 11 - 09 - Bryan Ferry - THIS IS TOMORROW 08 - 07 - 10 - Harold Melvin And The Bluenotes Featuring Theodore Pendergrass - DON'T LEAVE ME THIS WAY 05 - 17 - 11 - Rubettes - BABY I KNOW 08 - 10 - 12 - Boz Scaggs - WHAT CAN I SAY 07 - 08 - 13 - The Brothers - SING ME 13 - 06 - 14 - David Soul - DON'T GIVE UP ON US 04 - 20 - 15 - Electric Light Orchestra - ROCKARIA! 08 - 09 - 16 - Moments - JACK IN THE BOX 06 - 13 - 17 - Thelma Houston - DON'T LEAVE ME THIS WAY 05 - 14 - 18 - Racing Cars - THEY SHOOT HORSES DON'T THEY? 02 - 50 - 19 - Showaddywaddy - WHEN 05 - 25 - 20 - Real Thing - YOU'LL NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE MISSING 05 - 22 - 21 - Earth, Wind And Fire - SATURDAY NITE 02 - 40 - 22 - Elvis Presley - MOODY BLUE 03 - 30 - 23 - Barbara Dickson - ANOTHER SUITCASE IN ANOTHER HALL 15 - 16 - 24 - Barry Biggs - SIDE SHOW 07 - 27 - 25 - Boston - MORE THAN A FEELING 05 - 24 - 26 - O'Jays - DARLIN' DARLIN' BABY (SWEET, TENDER, LOVE) 12 - 21 - 27 - Boney M - DADDY COOL 04 - 28 - 28 - Wings - MAYBE I'M AMAZED 03 - 33 - 29 - Elton John - CRAZY WATER 03 - 37 - 30 - Brotherhood Of Man - OH BOY (THE MOOD I'M IN) 02 - 42 - 31 - Ray Stevens - IN THE MOOD 04 - 32 - 32 - Kiki Dee - FIRST THING IN THE MORNING 11 - 23 - 33 - Elvis Presley - SUSPICION 09 - 19 - 34 - David Parton - ISN'T SHE LOVELY 12 - 26 - 35 - Rose Royce - CAR WASH 05 - 36 - 36 - Van McCoy - SOUL CHA CHA 03 - 34 - 37 - Les Gray - A GROOVY KIND OF LOVE 02 - 45 - 38 - Cliff Richard - MY KINDA LIFE 02 - 49 - 39 - Cerrone - LOVE IN 'C' MINOR 06 - 31 - 40 - Tavares - THE MIGHTY POWER OF LOVE (EP) 02 - 47 - 41 - Barry White - I'M QUALIFIED TO SATISFY YOU 04 - 38 - 42 - Fleetwood Mac - GO YOUR OWN WAY 02 - 41 - 43 - Suzi Quatro - TEAR ME APART 03 - 43 - 44 - Genesis - YOUR OWN SPECIAL WAY 1 - NEW - 45 - Maxine Nightingale - LOVE HIT ME 04 - 35 - 46 - Sailor - ONE DRINK TOO MANY 1 - NEW - 47 - The Fatback Band - DOUBLE DUTCH 1 - NEW - 48 - Boney M - SUNNY 1 - NEW - 49 - Mass Production - WELCOME TO OUR WORLD (OF MERRY MUSIC) 07 - 44 - 50 - Silver Convention - EVERYBODY'S TALKING 'BOUT LOVE Week Ending 19 March 1977 07 - 01 - 01 - The Manhattan Transfer - CHANSON D'AMOUR 04 - 07 - 02 - ABBA - KNOWING ME, KNOWING YOU 08 - 03 - 03 - Heatwave - BOOGIE NIGHTS 06 - 05 - 04 - Mr. Big - ROMEO 05 - 06 - 05 - David Bowie - SOUND AND VISION 03 - 19 - 06 - Showaddywaddy - WHEN 08 - 02 - 07 - Leo Sayer - WHEN I NEED YOU 05 - 04 - 08 - Mary MacGregor - TORN BETWEEN TWO LOVERS 05 - 15 - 09 - Electric Light Orchestra - ROCKARIA! 06 - 11 - 10 - Rubettes - BABY I KNOW 09 - 12 - 11 - Boz Scaggs - WHAT CAN I SAY 13 - 08 - 12 - Julie Covington - DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA 07 - 09 - 13 - Bryan Ferry - THIS IS TOMORROW 03 - 22 - 14 - Elvis Presley - MOODY BLUE 07 - 17 - 15 - Thelma Houston - DON'T LEAVE ME THIS WAY 08 - 13 - 16 - The Brothers - SING ME 06 - 21 - 17 - Earth, Wind And Fire - SATURDAY NITE 06 - 18 - 18 - Racing Cars - THEY SHOOT HORSES DON'T THEY 09 - 10 - 19 - Harold Melvin And The Bluenotes Featuring Theodore Pendergrass - DON'T LEAVE ME THIS WAY 03 - 38 - 20 - Cliff Richard - MY KINDA LIFE 14 - 14 - 21 - David Soul - DON'T GIVE UP ON US 02 - 48 - 22 - Boney M - SUNNY 06 - 20 - 23 - Real Thing - YOU'LL NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE MISSING 02 - 45 - 24 - Maxine Nightingale - LOVE HIT ME 09 - 16 - 25 - Moments - JACK IN THE BOX 04 - 30 - 26 - Brotherhood Of Man - OH BOY (THE MOOD I'M IN) 04 - 29 - 27 - Elton John - CRAZY WATER 04 - 23 - 28 - Barbara Dickson - ANOTHER SUITCASE IN ANOTHER HALL 1 - NEW - 29 - Berni Flint - I DON'T WANT TO PUT A HOLD ON YOU 03 - 43 - 30 - Suzi Quatro - TEAR ME APART 03 - 39 - 31 - Cerrone - LOVE IN 'C' MINOR 04 - 37 - 32 - Les Gray - A GROOVY KIND OF LOVE 03 - 31 - 33 - Ray Stevens - IN THE MOOD 06 - 26 - 34 - O'Jays - DARLIN' DARLIN' BABY (SWEET, TENDER, LOVE) 1 - NEW - 35 - Graham Parker And The Rumour - HOLD BACK THE NIGHT / (LET ME GET) SWEET ON YOU 05 - 28 - 36 - Wings - MAYBE I'M AMAZED 03 - 41 - 37 - Barry White - I'M QUALIFIED TO SATISFY YOU 02 - 47 - 38 - The Fatback Band - DOUBLE DUTCH 05 - 32 - 39 - Kiki Dee - FIRST THING IN THE MORNING 16 - 24 - 40 - Barry Biggs - SIDESHOW 1 - NEW - 41 - Brendon - GIMME SOME 1 - NEW - 42 - Queen - TIE YOUR MOTHER DOWN 06 - 36 - 43 - Van McCoy - SOUL CHA CHA 02 - 49 - 44 - Mass Production - WELCOME TO OUR WORLD (OF MERRY MUSIC) 1 - NEW - 45 - Smokie - LAY BACK IN THE ARMS OF SOMEONE 1 - NEW - 46 - Demis Roussos - BECAUSE 1 - NEW - 47 - Marilyn McCoo And Billy Davis, Jr. - YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A STAR (TO BE IN MY SHOW) 1 - NEW - 48 - Billy Ocean - RED LIGHT SPELLS DANGER 08 - 25 - 49 - Boston - MORE THAN A FEELING 1 - NEW - 50 - Bonnie Tyler - MORE THAN A LOVER Week Ending 26 March 1977 08 - 01 - 01 - The Manhattan Transfer - CHANSON D'AMOUR 05 - 02 - 02 - ABBA - KNOWING ME, KNOWING YOU 06 - 05 - 03 - David Bowie - SOUND AND VISION 04 - 06 - 04 - Showaddywaddy - WHEN 1 - NEW - 05 - David Soul - GOING IN WITH MY EYES OPEN 06 - 08 - 06 - Mary MacGregor - TORN BETWEEN TWO LOVERS 09 - 03 - 07 - Heatwave - BOOGIE NIGHTS 04 - 14 - 08 - Elvis Presley - MOODY BLUE 07 - 04 - 09 - Mr. Big - ROMEO 06 - 09 - 10 - Electric Light Orchestra - ROCKARIA! 09 - 07 - 11 - Leo Sayer - WHEN I NEED YOU 07 - 10 - 12 - Rubettes - BABY I KNOW 05 - 26 - 13 - Brotherhood Of Man - OH BOY (THE MOOD I'M IN) 02 - 29 - 14 - Berni Flint - I DON'T WANT TO PUT A HOLD ON YOU 03 - 22 - 15 - Boney M - SUNNY 07 - 23 - 16 - Real Thing - YOU'LL NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE MISSING 08 - 13 - 17 - Bryan Ferry - THIS IS TOMORROW 05 - 28 - 18 - Barbara Dickson - ANOTHER SUITCASE IN ANOTHER HALL 07 - 17 - 19 - Earth, Wind And Fire - SATURDAY NITE 02 - 48 - 20 - Billy Ocean - RED LIGHT SPELLS DANGER 03 - 24 - 21 - Maxine Nightingale - LOVE HIT ME 14 - 12 - 22 - Julie Covington - DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA 04 - 20 - 23 - Cliff Richard - MY KINDA LIFE 02 - 35 - 24 - Graham Parker And The Rumour - HOLD BACK THE NIGHT / (LET ME GET) SWEET ON YOU 02 - 45 - 25 - Smokie - LAY BACK IN THE ARMS OF SOMEONE 02 - 41 - 26 - Brendon - GIMME SOME 02 - 47 - 27 - Marilyn McCoo And Billy Davis, Jr. - YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A STAR (TO BE IN MY SHOW) 05 - 27 - 28 - Elton John - CRAZY WATER 04 - 30 - 29 - Suzi Quatro - TEAR ME APART 10 - 11 - 30 - Boz Scaggs - WHAT CAN I SAY 03 - 38 - 31 - The Fatback Band - DOUBLE DUTCH 09 - 16 - 32 - The Brothers - SING ME 15 - 21 - 33 - David Soul - DON'T GIVE UP ON US 10 - 19 - 34 - Harold Melvin And The Bluenotes Featuring Theodore Pendergrass - DON'T LEAVE ME THIS WAY 04 - 31 - 35 - Cerrone - LOVE IN 'C' MINOR 08 - 15 - 36 - Thelma Houston - DON'T LEAVE ME THIS WAY 02 - 50 - 37 - Bonnie Tyler - MORE THAN A LOVER 02 - 42 - 38 - Queen - TIE YOUR MOTHER DOWN 04 - 33 - 39 - Ray Stevens - IN THE MOOD 05 - 32 - 40 - Les Gray - A GROOVY KIND OF LOVE 07 - 18 - 41 - Racing Cars - THEY SHOOT HORSES DON'T THEY? 02 - 46 - 42 - Demis Roussos - BECAUSE 1 - NEW - 43 - Michael Nesmith - RIO 1 - NEW - 44 - O. C. Smith - TOGETHER 03 - 44 - 45 - Mass Production - WELCOME TO OUR WORLD (OF MERRY MUSIC) 1 - NEW - 46 - Dead End Kids - HAVE I THE RIGHT 1 - NEW - 47 - Lynsey De Paul And Mike Moran - ROCK BOTTOM 1 - NEW - 48 - The Stylistics - $7000 AND YOU 04 - 37 - 49 - Barry White - I'M QUALIFIED TO SATISFY YOU 1 - NEW - 50 - Glen Campbell - SOUTHERN NIGHTS
And for those I'd have . . . The biggest hit for the alumni of The 5th Dimension; was the first new U.S. #1 of 1977, peaking at three of the four charts (Billboard Hot 100 #410 - 1 week, 08 January 1977; Cash Box - 2 weeks, 01 January-08 January 1977; and Record World - 1 week, 01 January 1977) except Radio & Records where it could only get up to #3. As with the McCoo/Davis number Radio & Records was the odd one out, peaking this too at #3; Billboard (Hot 100 #422), Cash Box and Record World all had this at #1 for the same 1 week (30 April 1977). His last pop Top 30 hit, also his last to top the US country charts.
Bar some exceptions, the beginning of 1977 was as uninspiring as late 1976. This one, although performed nicely, it's very weak and bland to be considered a decent number one. Charts were more interesting in the lower reaches of the spectrum than with some number ones. I guess the 1930s throwback ended here... 2/5
Here are the new entries of the weeks Manhattan Transfer were topping the charts... Mass Production - Disco creeps here for this release of the American band. This is much more danceable than the hard-funky releases of past weeks. It only got to number 44, but it is nice to see a much more palatable disco sound, bordering on funky. Boney M - The Boney M machine started to be in full swing, releasing an even better follow-up to Daddy Cool. A discofied version of the Bobby Hebb song may not be the greatest thing on Earth, but by 1977 is an absolute belter. Another hit and more fame in the UK and in Europe. Fatback Band - It very much sounds like the Bus Stop (same rhythm and beats!), but otherwise it's more of the disco Fatback we were being treated in past times. Almost cracked the Top 30, but it got stopped at number 31. A good hit, nonetheless (if a bit reptitive in the end) Maxine Nightingale - She had to wait more than a year to have another hit, but the wait was over with yet another ubpeat song. It's easy to see why this was a success, because people wanted to dance with songs like this. Unfortunately, the good times were ending for her. Bonnie Tyler - Bonnie's second hit was a bit more intimate than Lost in France and we are starting to hear her trademark raspy voice. It's the sort of soft-rock/pop hit that was a decnt follow-up to her first hit. It could have been better, however. Billy Ocean - Another number two by Billy in what is a much more pop attempt than the previous ones, but which is as good as all the previous entries: a magnificent song by a great singer. It could have been a start of a glorious year, yet... he would stay silent well into the 80s. Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr - Cute pop from the old Fifth Dimension singers: a song that has something to charm even somebody who is very sad. One of the best hits of the year and a magnificent Top 10 hit in the UK. Demis Roussos - People fell in love with Demis in 76... in 77 the bubble burst. First was this single: much more in the way of Roussos, but this time with a touch of orchestra and a certain space-y feel. Not the usual MOR fare of the Greek and people made him know. But I like it anyway, it's very pleasant and relaxing. Smokie - More of the soft-rock/pop material by the Chinnichap new toy. They were doing extremely well in the charts all over Europe and this was more of the same: Chris Norman in the fake Rod Stewart outfit and some decent chorus helped them to continue the happy march on the charts. Queen - One of the most rockier songs Queen ever released and the reaction of the buying people was lukewarm. It didn't reach the Top 30 in which was a small dissappointment. The boys could rock, and this is a fantastic example: one of the best examples of hard rock by Mercury et al. Totally undeserved this position. Brendon - The first (and last) hit by Brendon, a guy which I have no recollection of. Basically is the sort of vapid pop that from time to time has a hit in the charts. Nothing extremely awful, but at the same time, nothing fantastic. Graham Parker and The Rumour - The very first hit from The Pink Parker is a very audacious cover of a soul single: it works perfectly. That pop-rock treatment (with saxophones) the band gives is top notch. A hit that was one of the first "new" songs to enter the charts. The future started to be a bit better now... Berni Flint - And another moustache is in the charts. What can we expect here? Well, he won one of those talent shows of the 70s and his style basically is the sort of soft pop with guitars and all that stuff. Again: a bit naff, but a pleasant song to listen from time to time. Glen Campbell - Number one in America, a small hit here: we have a mixture of pop and country (with female chorus!) all into one. It isn't as great as Rhinestone Cowboy (or any of his early 70s output), but it gave him a decent hit. Great to see Glen once again in the charts. Stylistics - The writing was on the wall since they re-released the old hits: The Stylistics were in decline. This was their last hit after a potted career of 6 years. And, shock! It's an upbeat fun song... about love, but never mind! It's a fine way to say goodbye to the Philly band, another of those casualties of the disco wave. Lynsey de Paul and Mike Moran - Following Save Your Kisses For Me at the Eurovision Song Contest was a hard task. What we have here is another of those underrated songs that proved that the UK still could have a chance of winning the contest: a bit of a critique of the era (the contest was delayed because of strikes and the country was economically broken), the piano of Lynsey and Mike was flawless (as well as de Paul's voice) and a bit of cheery rhythm. It almost won, but it was a hit all over Europe. And the UK stopped having that success until the 80s... Dead End Kids - The worst of 1977 was here. The name may be tempting... might be a punk band? No. It was a pop-rock version of the Honeycombs classic. And it sounds like one of those boybands of 1976... well, they chart run stopped there. It's easy to see why. OC Smith - What we find here is one of the most lovely songs of the batch. It's Smith at his best, with a touch of that soul he was accustomed to do in those times. A song which will be enjoyed by those more mature, but the young people seemed not to care. Michael Nesmith - Pop from the USA right here. Pop-country with a certain Brazilian rhythm, it seemed to appeal the average BBC Radio listener, because it's quite pleasant to listen. On repeated listens, I get the feeling that it's one of the most different singles of the lot, but it's certainly enjoyable. David Soul - The king of weak pop ballads is back with yet another of those songs which you don't know how they are so successful. Peaking at number 2, this is much more of the same: pure pop by a guy who was becoming even more famous because of music than by acting. Tolerable, at best.
As with all US Elektra singles of the time . . . Could only muster #47 in Billboard, #54 in Cash Box, and #65 (?) in Record World.
Mr. Smith's biggest hit - and "calling card" - in the States was "Little Green Apples" . . . . . . which back in Fall 1968, made #2 in US Billboard and Record World, and #3 in Cash Box - but didn't do a lick o' business in the UK.
In the UK, his biggest hit was The Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp, reaching number 2 during the summer of 1968 (number 40 in America).
I am 100% sure that sometimes, what works in America, doesn't work in Britain. Maybe it wasn't properly promoted by the radio stations: posisbly it was played non-stop on Radio Luxembourg and the BBC didn't pay enough attention (in other words: play enough). It happened a lot: many US hits went unnoticed in the UK despite hours and hours of playing in other radio stations.
This EP turned up in my wholesaler in Harlesden and I bought a copy because it had “Hanging Around” on it, which I really liked. I think that my copy (which is 250 miles away as I type) is in coloured vinyl. Going to have to dig it out when I get home.
Well, pirate radio was no excuse that time out because this was after 1967 - and I know, up to then, the BBC wasn't hot to promote any records that were played on "pirate radio" stations (i.e. Radio Caroline).
Chanson D’Amour – Stylish, but not my cup of tea. Graham Parker & The Rumour’s cover of The Trammps' Hold Back The Night swaps disco for an earthier, rock & soul, rendition. And Queen ditch most of their trademark OTT pomp for a heads down, no nonsense, rocker. Thumbs up, for both 45s. And blow me down with a feather, I really like Brendon’s Glitterbeat-meets-KC & Sunshine Band Gimme Some. A poptastic stomper; lyrically minimalist! Worst? Demis. The gift that keeps on giving, re rotten reords. And.......A&M signed, then promptly sacked, The Sex Pistols, after a number of 'incidents'. Re the 25,000 copies of God Save The Queen already pressed, almost all were destroyed! Another pay-out, and off to Virgin. By now Matlock had quit, and been replaced by the highly unstable Vicious. McLaren's puppet master antics would ultimately destroy the band, but for the moment they were reaping big dividends. The holy grail of punk records.......
Radio Luxembourg wasn't a pirate radio: it broadcasted from the Grand Duchy to Britain on Medium Wave, and it was 100% legal (although the sound quality left much to be desired; only at night and in a specific place of your bedroom)
That's what I meant; the BBC didn't have the excuse they had pre-1967. Radio Luxembourg, as you said, was legit. Unlike Radio Caroline, Radio London etc. So who knows why 'Auntie Beeb' passed the ball on "Little Green Apples" other than what you'd hypothesised. As for what you mentioned about sound quality, I could attest to it from far-away places with stations like CKLW ("The Big 8") in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, beaming to NYC. Could only hear that station at night. This was in the same period as this timeline.
Look closer and you’ll see that the Brendon single was produced by someone with the initials “JK”. The Graham Parker single was called “The Pink Parker” because early pressings were pressed in pink vinyl.... and I have one of those. Chanson D’Amour was a winner at mobile gigs since all of the really old guests, i.e. more than 40 years old (lol) loved it. A great track to gently sway to.
The David Soul single got a massive push from EMI but couldn’t quite repeat the success of its predecessor. In short, it wasn’t as good. This push included handing out lots of white label copies, of which I have two or three.
“Together” is a classy track that I’ve never seen available on CD. Caribou was pressed and distributed by CBS and, as a consequence, the single was pressed off-centre. So I took my copy and dinked it before purchase using one of the wholesaler’s bench-mounted drinkers. This gave it a large centre hole and enabled me to align it correctly on the platter of my turntable before playing it.
