Week Ending 08 October 1977 07 - 02 - 01 - David Soul - SILVER LADY 09 - 01 - 02 - Elvis Presley - WAY DOWN 06 - 08 - 03 - La Belle Epoque - BLACK IS BLACK 05 - 07 - 04 - Emotions - BEST OF MY LOVE 09 - 03 - 05 - Space - MAGIC FLY 05 - 09 - 06 - Patsy Gallant - FROM NEW YORK TO L.A. 04 - 16 - 07 - Yes - WONDEROUS STORIES 04 - 11 - 08 - Danny Mirror - I REMEMBER ELVIS PRESLEY 07 - 06 - 09 - Meri Wilson - TELEPHONE MAN 08 - 05 - 10 - Donna Summer - DOWN DEEP INSIDE 07 - 04 - 11 - Jean Michel Jarre - OXYGENE (PART 4) 08 - 10 - 12 - Elkie Brooks - SUNSHINE AFTER THE RAIN 03 - 20 - 13 - The Stranglers - NO MORE HEROES 04 - 24 - 14 - Baccara - YES SIR, I CAN BOOGIE 07 - 14 - 15 - The Boomtown Rats - LOOKIN' AFTER NO. 1 05 - 18 - 16 - Ram Jam - BLACK BETTY 03 - 21 - 17 - Donna Summer - I REMEMBER YESTERDAY 09 - 15 - 18 - Rods - DO ANYTHING YOU WANNA DO 09 - 13 - 19 - The Dooleys - THINK I'M GONNA FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU 10 - 12 - 20 - Carly Simon - NOBODY DOES IT BETTER 09 - 17 - 21 - Yvonne Elliman - I CAN'T GET YOU OUTA MY MIND 05 - 25 - 22 - Leo Sayer - THUNDER IN MY HEART 04 - 27 - 23 - David Essex - COOL OUT TONIGHT 02 - 44 - 24 - Meco - STAR WARS THEME / CANTINA BAND 03 - 30 - 25 - Giorgio - FROM HERE TO ETERNITY 07 - 23 - 26 - The Adverts - GARY GILMORE'S EYES 05 - 28 - 27 - Bob Marley And The Wailers - WAITING IN VAIN 1 - NEW - 28 - The Clash - COMPLETE CONTROL 03 - 34 - 29 - George Benson - THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL 03 - 35 - 30 - Rose Royce - DO YOUR DANCE 03 - 37 - 31 - Nazareth - LOVE HURTS 1 - NEW - 32 - Status Quo - ROCKIN' ALL OVER THE WORLD 05 - 32 - 33 - Stevie Wonder - ANOTHER STAR 03 - 43 - 34 - Dr. Feelgood - SHE'S A WINDUP 03 - 41 - 35 - Gladys Knight And The Pips - HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS 12 - 19 - 36 - Candi Staton - NIGHTS ON BROADWAY 09 - 26 - 37 - The Jacksons (Featuring Michael Jackson) - DREAMER 02 - 49 - 38 - Pratt And McClain With Brother Love - HAPPY DAYS 11 - 31 - 39 - Deniece Williams - THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR 04 - 40 - 40 - Kenny Rogers - DAYTIME FRIENDS 1 - NEW - 41 - Commodores - BRICK HOUSE / SWEET LOVE 03 - 45 - 42 - The Motors - DANCING THE NIGHT AWAY 10 - 29 - 43 - The Steve Gibbons Band - TULANE 04 - 38 - 44 - Generation X - YOUR GENERATION 1 - NEW - 45 - Stardust - ARIANA 1 - NEW - 46 - Peter Blake - LIPSMACKIN' ROCK 'N ROLLIN' 1 - NEW - 47 - Golden Earring - RADAR LOVE 1 - NEW - 48 - Mary Mason - ANGEL OF THE MORNING / ANY WAY THAT YOU WANT ME 1 - NEW - 49 - Carpenters - CALLING OCCUPANTS OF INTERPLANETARY CRAFT (THE RECOGNIZED ANTHEM OF WORLD CONTACT DAY) 03 - 48 - 50 - Camouflage Featuring 'Mysti' - BEE STING Week Ending 15 October 1977 08 - 01 - 01 - David Soul - SILVER LADY 07 - 03 - 02 - La Belle Epoque - BLACK IS BLACK 05 - 14 - 03 - Baccara - YES SIR, I CAN BOOGIE 05 - 08 - 04 - Danny Mirror - I REMEMBER ELVIS PRESLEY 06 - 04 - 05 - Emotions - BEST OF MY LOVE 10 - 02 - 06 - Elvis Presley - WAY DOWN 1 - NEW - 07 - Rod Stewart - YOU'RE IN MY HEART 06 - 06 - 08 - Patsy Gallant - FROM NEW YORK TO L.A. 04 - 13 - 09 - The Stranglers - NO MORE HEROES 08 - 09 - 10 - Meri Wilson - TELEPHONE MAN 10 - 05 - 11 - Space - MAGIC FLY 06 - 16 - 12 - Ram Jam - BLACK BETTY 03 - 24 - 13 - Meco - STAR WARS THEME / CANTINA BAND 05 - 07 - 14 - Yes - WONDEROUS STORIES 09 - 10 - 15 - Donna Summer - DOWN DEEP INSIDE (THEME FROM THE DEEP) 04 - 17 - 16 - Donna Summer - I REMEMBER YESTERDAY 02 - 32 - 17 - Status Quo - ROCKIN' ALL OVER THE WORLD 08 - 11 - 18 - Jean Michel Jarre - OXYGENE (PART 4) 10 - 21 - 19 - Yvonne Elliman - I CAN'T GET YOU OUTA MY MIND 09 - 12 - 20 - Elkie Brooks - SUNSHINE AFTER THE RAIN 04 - 25 - 21 - Giorgio - FROM HERE TO ETERNITY 10 - 19 - 22 - The Dooleys - THINK I'M GONNA FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU 11 - 20 - 23 - Carly Simon - NOBODY DOES IT BETTER 06 - 22 - 24 - Leo Sayer - THUNDER IN MY HEART 05 - 23 - 25 - David Essex - COOL OUT TONIGHT 02 - 49 - 26 - Carpenters - CALLING OCCUPANTS OF INTERPLANETARY CRAFT (THE RECOGNIZED ANTHEM OF WORLD CONTACT DAY) 1 - NEW - 27 - David Bowie - HEROES 04 - 31 - 28 - Nazareth - LOVE HURTS 04 - 29 - 29 - George Benson - THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL 04 - 30 - 30 - Rose Royce - DO YOUR DANCE 03 - 38 - 31 - Pratt And McClain With Brother Love - HAPPY DAYS 02 - 28 - 32 - The Clash - COMPLETE CONTROL 06 - 27 - 33 - Bob Marley And The Wailers - WAITING IN VAIN 08 - 15 - 34 - The Boomtown Rats - LOOKIN' AFTER NO. 1 02 - 41 - 35 - Commodores - BRICK HOUSE / SWEET LOVE 10 - 18 - 36 - Rods - DO ANYTHING YOU WANNA DO 02 - 48 - 37 - Mary Mason - ANGEL OF THE MORNING / ANY WAY THAT YOU WANT ME 04 - 35 - 38 - Gladys Knight And The Pips - HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS 04 - 34 - 39 - Dr. Feelgood - SHE'S A WINDUP 02 - 46 - 40 - Peter Blake - LIPSMACKIN' ROCK 'N ROLLIN' 1 - NEW - 41 - Barry White - IT'S ECSTASY WHEN YOU LAY DOWN NEXT TO ME 02 - 45 - 42 - Stardust - ARIANA 1 - NEW - 43 - Deep Purple - NEW LIVE AND RARE (EP) 02 - 47 - 44 - Golden Earring - RADAR LOVE 04 - 42 - 45 - The Motors - DANCING THE NIGHT AWAY 1 - NEW - 46 - Dorothy Moore - I BELIEVE YOU 1 - NEW - 47 - Pete Mac Junior / Godiego - THE WATER MARGIN 1 - NEW - 48 - Smokie - NEEDLES AND PINS 1 - NEW - 49 - Rita Coolidge - (YOUR LOVE HAS LIFTED ME) HIGHER AND HIGHER 1 - NEW - 50 - Santana - SHE'S NOT THERE Week Ending 22 October 1977 09 - 01 - 01 - David Soul - SILVER LADY 08 - 02 - 02 - La Belle Epoque - BLACK IS BLACK 06 - 03 - 03 - Baccara - YES SIR, I CAN BOOGIE 02 - 07 - 04 - Rod Stewart - YOU'RE IN MY HEART 06 - 04 - 05 - Danny Mirror - I REMEMBER ELVIS PRESLEY 07 - 05 - 06 - Emotions - BEST OF MY LOVE 04 - 13 - 07 - Meco - STAR WARS THEME / CANTINA BAND 05 - 09 - 08 - The Stranglers - NO MORE HEROES 07 - 12 - 09 - Ram Jam - BLACK BETTY 11 - 06 - 10 - Elvis Presley - WAY DOWN 03 - 17 - 11 - Status Quo - ROCKIN' ALL OVER THE WORLD 07 - 08 - 12 - Patsy Gallant - FROM NEW YORK TO L.A. 06 - 14 - 13 - Yes - WONDEROUS STORIES 05 - 16 - 14 - Donna Summer - I REMEMBER YESTERDAY 1 - NEW - 15 - Sex Pistols - HOLIDAYS IN THE SUN 05 - 21 - 16 - Giorgio - FROM HERE TO ETERNITY 09 - 10 - 17 - Meri Wilson - TELEPHONE MAN 03 - 26 - 18 - Carpenters - CALLING OCCUPANTS OF INTERPLANETARY CRAFT (THE RECOGNIZED ANTHEM OF WORLD CONTACT DAY) 11 - 19 - 19 - Yvonne Elliman - I CAN'T GET YOU OUT OF MY MIND 1 - NEW - 20 - ABBA - THE NAME OF THE GAME 11 - 11 - 21 - Space - MAGIC FLY 02 - 48 - 22 - Smokie - NEEDLES AND PINS 05 - 28 - 23 - Nazareth - LOVE HURTS 07 - 24 - 24 - Leo Sayer - THUNDER IN MY HEART 09 - 34 - 25 - The Boomtown Rats - LOOKIN' AFTER NO. 1 02 - 27 - 26 - David Bowie - HEROES 05 - 29 - 27 - George Benson - THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL 03 - 37 - 28 - Mary Mason - ANGEL OF THE MORNING / ANY WAY THAT YOU WANT ME 1 - NEW - 29 - Roxy Music - VIRGINIA PLAIN 1 - NEW - 30 - Queen - WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS 02 - 43 - 31 - Deep Purple - NEW LIVE AND RARE (EP) 05 - 30 - 32 - Rose Royce - DO YOUR DANCE 10 - 15 - 33 - Donna Summer - DOWN DEEP INSIDE (THEME FROM THE DEEP) 04 - 31 - 34 - Pratt And McClain With Brother Love - HAPPY DAYS 09 - 18 - 35 - Jean Michel Jarre - OXYGENE (PART 4) 12 - 23 - 36 - Carly Simon - NOBODY DOES IT BETTER 1 - NEW - 37 - Tom Robinson Band - 2-4-6-8 MOTORWAY 02 - 46 - 38 - Dorothy Moore - I BELIEVE YOU 06 - 25 - 39 - David Essex - COOL OUT TONIGHT 03 - 35 - 40 - Commodores - BRICK HOUSE / SWEET LOVE 02 - 47 - 41 - Pete Mac Junior / Godiego - THE WATER MARGIN 03 - 40 - 42 - Peter Blake - LIPSMACKIN' ROCK 'N ROLLIN' 02 - 50 - 43 - Santana - SHE'S NOT THERE 03 - 42 - 44 - Stardust - ARIANA 02 - 41 - 45 - Barry White - IT'S ECSTASY WHEN YOU LAY DOWN NEXT TO ME 1 - NEW - 46 - Stella Parton - THE DANGER OF A STRANGER 1 - NEW - 47 - Fleetwood Mac - YOU MAKE LOVING FUN 1 - NEW - 48 - Rokotto - BOOGIE ON UP 05 - 39 - 49 - Dr. Feelgood - SHE'S A WINDUP 03 - 44 - 50 - Golden Earring - RADAR LOVE
Now, as to those which I'd have . . . Mr. White's last U.S. Top 10 pop single; peaked at #4 in Billboard, #7 in Cash Box and #5 in Record World, but missed the Top 10 of Radio & Records, only getting as high as #13 there.
Now for the other 'newies': Two different singles in the States, two different results: Would reach #5 in US Billboard, #6 in Cash Box, #9 in Record World, and #10 in Radio & Records. Was their first vocal Top 10 U.S. hit in Spring 1976, reaching #5 in Billboard, #9 in Cash Box, #6 in Record World, and #16 in Radio & Records. A live version of their 1974 hit; in the U.S. it came out as part of a promo-only 12" 33⅓ RPM ish:
One of their more unorthodox records, but didn't do that much good chart-wise, only going so far high as #32 in US Billboard, #24 in Cash Box, and #37 in Record World. Also notice how they had the title; Klaatu's own original version was just known as "Calling Occupants." Period.
So does this single have We Will Rock You on the B-side? I always thought this was a double-A sided single but according to the charts it looks like We Are the Champions is the only A-side.
Could only get to #68 in US Billboard, #93 in Cash Box, and #90 in Record World. Ms. Coolidge's first Top 10 hit in the States, its peak positions were #3 in Billboard and Record World, #1 in Cash Box (1 week - 10 September 1977; in which exact same week "We're All Alone" entered that chart), and #2 in Radio & Records. (I'll take Jackie Wilson in mono, thank you.)
One of several comeback attempts for the legendary guitarist over the next several years, this cover of The Zombies' late 1964 hit made #27 in US Billboard, #20 in Cash Box, #25 in Record World and #28 in Radio & Records.
An oldie . . . As usual, three different label variants: In the U.S., this was their highest-charted single up to this point, reaching #1 in Record World (3 weeks - 14 January-28 January 1978), #4 in Billboard and Radio & Records, and #3 in Cash Box. Everywhere but Cash Box, this was charted in tandem with its flip, "We Will Rock You" (which will be examined in another post), as a double-sided hit, to the point where to this day radio stations usually play this as a medley, with "We Will Rock You" before "We Are The Champions."
Dolly's sister, for those wondering. The fourth and last single off their massively-selling Rumours LP, this made it to #9 in US Billboard, #7 in Cash Box, #8 in Record World, and #4 in Radio & Records.
Now to the flip of "We Are The Champions," "We Will Rock You," which charted in tandem together in US Billboard, Record World and Radio & Records (but not Cash Box):
Also, within the three weeks Mr. Soul's number charted, there was yet another death within the world of pop music, the third in two months - Bing Crosby, of a heart attack on a golf course in Spain, on 14 October, aged 74. His musical chart peak in the States was from the 1930's into the '50's, and he made some appearances on the charts in Britain after NME started theirs in 1952 (the most recent, in 1975, for which he put in an appearance on Top Of The Pops), as well as his success in films; but also, he was a very shrewd businessman, and especially a key proponent for, and main financier of, the development of magnetic tape as a viable medium in both audio and video, for which everybody in some way owes him a great debt. Just as with Marc Bolan very near the end of his life, David Bowie (whose "Heroes" entered the chart in this period) crossed paths with Der Bingle on television. It was for Mr. Crosby's final Christmas special, which was taped before but aired after his passing. Their key moment together wouldn't come out as a single until a couple years later, but here it is: . . . showing that, even towards the end of his life, Bing had a degree of progressivism in who he worked with - dating to the 1930's when he and Louis Armstrong became lifelong friends. This would make Elvis the only one with whom Mr. Bowie never worked either in concert or the studio, of the three giants of music who passed away in that two-month stretch in Summer-Fall 1977.
Oh, the UK had "We Will Rock You" on the flip too: Evidently BMRB, NME and Melody Maker all took to adopting US Cash Box' stance. Notice how Billboard, Record World and Radio & Records listed both as "double A sided." Also notice how different the UK vs. US pic sleeves are (never mind the labels).
Clash: I've often called Story in Your Eyes by the Moody Blues the most exciting song of the '70s, but this must be second, as it's a complete and total rave-up. I was wondering why the printed lyrics didn't match the vocals, but then I realized I had inadvertently put on a live version! Which was excellent, and I like it better than the studio version (very unusual for me). Anyway, great guitar-rockin' tune Quo: standard rocker, no outstanding great features but no lousy ones either, pales a bit in the light of the preceding Commodores: (i) funky track with plenty of horns and weird (heavily nasalized?) vocals. The rhythm is impeccable but otherwise it doesn't do much for me (ii) mellower and less funky pop / soul track, a slightly better listen but the lead vocals are over-egged a bit, some of the production flourishes don't quite fit and the six-minute length could be tightened up significantly. It's far from the worst example but it gives the impression of being designed by a committee Stardust: this is European, right? It sure sounds like it. It comes on as tired second-rate '70s pop at best, although it improves as it goes on. Quick of pace, fair-to-middling of rating Peter: '50s-style rocker with raging sax hinting at '60s R & B, also improved as it went along Earring: re-release of iconic, moody motorin' track Mary: slow ballad medley of '60s songs by Evie Sands and Merrilee Rush (they show up in this order), both with quiet, light verses and much more strenuous choruses, kinda like the originals Carpenters: well-known, even more slowed-down (and doubled in length) cover of the song by Klaatu, the band everyone thought was the Beatles but who weren't. All the usual Carpenters musical characteristics and some brand new ones, slower and faster sections and overall quite alright, but personally I'm still more partial to Starman or the Martian Hop Rod: slightly jaunty paean to footie in 6/8 time. It's alright, but nothing as miraculous as Zlatan Ibrahimovic's fourth goal in the friendly against England a few years back David: insistent guitar-rockin' tune whose vocals are both low and high register, although they mostly seem to have the same cadence. And now we know where the Cocteau Twins might have got their backing for Aikea-Guinea from? Barry: this is alright but not a patch on his classics and it certainly doesn't sound ecstatic, particularly in the chord changes with too many sevenths Purple: (i) Black Night live in Japan, '72 (anybody else catch that near-We Ain't Got Nothing Yet Blues Magoos riff?) (ii) studio outtake, '72 (iii) non-album version, '71, slow and bluesy Dorothy: R & B ballad, pleasant arrangement and her usual fine vocals make for a decent listen Pete: two versions of the same song, a minor-key musical theme for a TV show (i) lyrics sung in Japanese that aren't as smooth as the music. A pleasant listen but it's fairly static, i. e. it finds its groove and settles in (ii) lyrics sung in English, the vocals actually seem to fit the music less than on Side 1, the music isn't nearly as smooth here either, and it's even a bit discofied. I prefer Side 1 Smokie: decent cover of the Jackie de Shannon classic from '63, which the Searchers also had out fairly soon thereafter. Done in a style more '60s than '70s Rita: cover of the Jackie Wilson high-energy hit from '67, mid-paced but the arrangement is kind of a snoozer and the ostinato guitar lines detract from the listening Santana: cover of the Zombies' classic from '64, both jazzed up (a little, because the original already leaned that way) and rocked up, with guitar solo, squalling guitar riffs, and ugly destruction of the intro and several other good features of the song. The best I can muster is that it's not quite in "What were they thinking?" territory Pistols: more of the same from them, but I'd say this is the fourth single off the LP because it's the fourth-best option Abba: another weak intro miraculously turns into a decent pop track, not quite top echelon but they do quite a bit of work to embellish a plodding beat Roxy: re-release of their first single (with their second single Pyjamarama on the flip, says Wiki) Queen: good example of how to turn a piano ballad intro into a rockin' song, and as a bonus you get Freddy Mercury's vocals Tom: drivin' / truckin' lyrics, I can't tell if they're supposed to be a metaphor for something else. Very solid beat in any case Stella: Dolly's little sister performs this light pop / country tune with percolating percussion F Mac: another okay song with a weak intro, which seems to be a '70s trademark. Derivative of Say You Love Me, I'd guess. The lovin' may have been fun but the listening is something less, and clavinets are always annoying Rokotto: fast-paced disco track with angular chord sequences that throw the listening off a bit, and the countdowns featuring a slow 5-4 and a fast 3-2-1 are just silly. At least the danceability quotient is pretty high Single of the Week: the Clash are in Complete Control. Next up are Davie Bowie, Heroes, Queen, We are the Champions, Abba, The Name of the Game, and the Carpenters, Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft, and maybe give a listen and see what you think of the Pete Mac Junior side of The Water Margin
I like Silver Lady. Pleasant ballad; pleasant vocal. The Clash drafted in Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry to produce Complete Control, but the end product sounds more of a punk-metal mess. I find it underwhelming. Holidays In The Sun - Jackboots; vocal paranoia; instrumental pandemonium; plus a 'borrowed' In The City intro. Final epic from The Sex Pistols. The Tom Robinson Band go for the pogo air-punch with Motorway. Simple; catchy; good. Berlin Bowie lets rip with a passionate vocal on Heroes, complimented by Robert Fripp’s soaring guitar. Very good. Rod’s You’re In My Heart sounds like it was phoned in from the pool lounger. Quo’s Rockin’ swaps boogie & metal for a Chas & Dave-like knees up. And Queen’s snail-paced terrace anthem, Champions, is far too overblown. I like The Carpenters' Klaatu cover though; it possesses an elegant 'otherness'.
Favs... Week Ending 08 October 1977 1 - NEW - 28 - The Clash - COMPLETE CONTROL 1 - NEW - 32 - Status Quo - ROCKIN' ALL OVER THE WORLD 1 - NEW - 47 - Golden Earring - RADAR LOVE 1 - NEW - 49 - Carpenters - CALLING OCCUPANTS OF INTERPLANETARY CRAFT (THE RECOGNIZED ANTHEM OF WORLD CONTACT DAY) Week Ending 15 October 1977 1 - NEW - 27 - David Bowie - HEROES 1 - NEW - 43 - Deep Purple - NEW LIVE AND RARE (EP) 1 - NEW - 50 - Santana - SHE'S NOT THERE Week Ending 22 October 1977 1 - NEW - 15 - Sex Pistols - HOLIDAYS IN THE SUN 1 - NEW - 20 - ABBA - THE NAME OF THE GAME 1 - NEW - 29 - Roxy Music - VIRGINIA PLAIN 1 - NEW - 30 - Queen - WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS 1 - NEW - 37 - Tom Robinson Band - 2-4-6-8 MOTORWAY 1 - NEW - 47 - Fleetwood Mac - YOU MAKE LOVING FUN
David Soul's song is pleasant, is a bit dull, but can be enjoyed without grunting or cursing. At this time, Hutch was the best pop singer in the country and everything he touched was gold (or silver). Here, as I said, he doesn't force too much and doesn't tap into unknown territory. At times, it's better to stay where you are, in your comfort zone. 3'5/5
New entries of this week, as Summer changes into Autumn. Carpenters - Certainly the most bizarre of the singles output by this band, it's an esoteric-ish single and a cover of a flop (in the UK at least) by Klaatu. A strange choice of single, but a top 10 hit after all. Sadly, it will be the last Karen would see... Mary Mason - Two songs in one single: the strong Anyway That You Want Me and the mellow Angel Of The Morning. A moderate hit by Mary, and one that is very powerful: this girl could sing, after all. Golden Earring - Not a re-release. It was live. His best hit in studio looked marvellous: live it was another matter. Raw, savage, rock and roll by those loved in Netherlands but basically a one-hit wonder elsewhere. Peter Blake - Another song taken from an advert (this time, from Pepsi). It's another throwback to the 50s, much in the way of the Fonzies or Showaddywaddy. It's decent, I think. I could have seen it charting a bit higher, though. Stardust - All the way from Sweden it's that little disco-pop single. It is very weak, in the third tier of the euro-pop spectrum. Touted as the New ABBA, they didn't get as far as... Blue Swede. Nobody could be the new ABBA, because... you know. Commodores - You know, once you go funk you can't let it go. Even if Easy was a tad soft, they went back to pure funk with this one. Perhaps not the funkiest sound on the charts this year, but this sounds fresher and more palatable to the average Joe. Not a top 30 hit, but almost. Status Quo - A pivotal point in the history of the band: the appearance of Pip Williams as producer meant a change in the band's sound. Off went the boogie-rock, in entered the American sound starting with this: a cover of the John Fogerty US hit. Perhaps not the rock and roll of old times, but there were changes coming on. Oh, and their biggest hit since 1975. The Clash - After a small hit and a non-hit, this went to the Top 30 for the first time. Pure punk and anger in one of the best songs they have done. The legend of this band was starting to get bigger and bigger. And perhaps the only instance of a top 30 hit lasting exactly 2 weeks in the charts... Santana - In America, he had quite a few hits. In the UK, this was one of his firsts. A cover of the Zombies' song, this is a fantastically great single: the smooth voice of Greg Walker, the touch of latino beat and of course, Carlos Santana's guitar. A sure winner and almost cracked the Top 10. Rita Coolidge - A smash hit in the US which bombed in the UK, this is a cover of the great (not great... FABULOUS!) hit by Jackie Wilson. Here, the cover is very sedate, very mellow... very weak in the end. Stick with the original. Smokie - What Santana didn't do, Smokie did. A cover of (among others) The Searchers was as bland and as poppy as you could imagine and hit number 10. It was full-on pop-rock by the band, and Chris Norman kept on doing his vocal impression... Pete Mac Junior/Godiego - In fact, it was Godiego whose version had charted. This is an oddity: two same songs sung in different languages by different artists (English and Japanese). Both songs are from a TV series coming soon (BBC Records will give us with some of those soundtracks). It's that japanese archetypical sound with a touch of synths and all. Quite fascinating to listen to it. Dorothy Moore - Not as big as Misty Blue, but nonetheless a superb tune. Moore's voice is equal of the one of Knight or Franklin (perhaps not so much) and her mellow and sweet voice is enough to lift this song. Sweetness! Deep Purple - Another live EP (not as successful this time) of a band who were milking their past catalogue. This one, from 1972, is the Purple at their complete best. They were rock beasts at that time. Barry White - 4 years and White's style hasn't changed anything. A long intro, a sweet voice, a love song (perhaps too sleazy this time)... all the ingredients, coupled with a disco beat, are here. His last hit for a year it's a minor one, but what a run he had! David Bowie - Perhaps the most "serene" song of the years he spent in Berlin, this is an emotional song with such a great instrumentation that blows you away. A fantastic hit that was revived (and of course, all for the good) by the time 2012 started. Rod Stewart - Rod keeps on being such a sweetheart... and to prove this, here is another love song from the formerly known as Rod the Mod. Stewart goes full into pop territory with a tear-jerker which may not be of the taste of the rock purists, but it's one of the most sincere songs: a song to dedicate to the one you love. Rokotto - Bickerton and Waddington were very absent since the end of the Rubettes... now they were funky. A touch of space is the beginning of a long single which can be described as a great effort of British disco. It's nice, unlike some of the examples shown before. Fleetwood Mac - The last of the Rumours singles to come out, this petered out at number 45. A fantastic album finished with a fantastic choice of a single. They could rock and make music fun, but the British audience weren't so keen. Why the Mac weren't so great here? Discuss. Stella Parton - And Dolly's sister was in the charts as well. She had more success in the US, obviously, but he made a dent in the charts here... As for the music... yes, it's country 100%. A bit more upbeat than some of the singles we've been hearing in the past, and maybe it has a touch of boogie. Nice! Tom Robinson Band - Another band showing that rock and roll wasn't dead. Fresh from the underground, Tom Robinson releases this absolute belter of a song, a song ideal to go on the road. Another great song of the already great 1977. Queen - Take your pick: crowd favourite or winners' favourite? Either way, these two are song played to death in the radio or any sporting event. Even if they are repeated ad nauseam, they still are classics: a call of arms to the audience and the rock anthem for the champions, those who never give up. Roxy Music - Why this was re-released? No-one knows, really. But, even if it was only 5 years old, this is one of the anthems of Glam: 3 minutes of perhaps the classiest lyrics, the great instrumentation (hi, Eno!) and Bryan Ferry. This was his first glimpse of fame. He would never look back. Sex Pistols - The Pistols' last single in what was their year is perhaps the last real punk single by them: more anger and a critique to the establishment and society of the UK. And then, John Lydon was gone... and the band descended into chaos.
It's interesting to see that Tony Bongiovi pops up here and there with production credits for such diverse tracks as "Star Wars Theme" by Meco, "Bee Sting" by Camouflage, and "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker" by The Ramones. No musical snobbery there! His cousin, John, eventually had a couple of minor hits as well, but as a writer and artist.
I believe that the Roxy Music double A-side was released to mark the switching of EG records' licensing deal from Island to Polydor.
Richard Hell's ripped t-shirt & safety pins ‘nihilism’ inspired Malcolm McLaren to form The Sex Pistols. Mr Hell’s seminal Blank Generation single had stiffed on Stiff, but was now re-released on Sire. It still didn’t chart! Nevertheless, it is one of the Year Zero’s most influential 45s.
I'm not sure if it was on this or the older thread that we were chatting about the David Essex movie Stardust. I haven't seen it since the 70's and would love to see it again. I've just noticed that it's showing on one of the free film channels in the UK on Saturday night. It's a great film for anyone that's interested.
Silver lady - easy going. I like the guitar intro. The song would set a cool mood in the opening credits of a movie.