Now to those in my collection from this week . . . Their U.S. label was transitioning nomenclatures while this was in release: (Natch', I have the 'W7' version.)
Very good no. 1 in Yellow River, my favourite of the year thus far (out of a whopping seven). Mungo: well-known, kinda cute and catchy, shuffling paean to the hot season Arrival: slow-to-middling soul-ish track (with false ending), not bad Free: by now iconic rock track, probably doesn't need an introduction Cliff: upbeat bubblegummy-with-horns track that I thought might be further exploring the territory mined by the Kinks' Lola, but in reality it's just about a guy telling his friends that he's discovered girlz, and their services are no longer required Tony Joe: no mumbles or throat-clearing in this one but some decent guitar soloing, this is a cautionary tale (well, the second line of the chorus anyway) about precisely the lifestyle its title suggests Ides: kinda soulful track with a nifty horn part and a guitar solo in the middle, not really my style but always appealed to me TYA: blues-influenced nearly eight-minute-long rock song with ostinato guitar line in the early and late vocal portions, with a long guitar-riffing segment in between Single of the Week: Ides of March, Vehicle
What do you think about Mr. Richard's number being ish'd in the States on a label better known for country music (i.e. Roy Orbison) or the swamp rock of Tony Joe White? (Ditto for at least one other number previously looked at in this year, plus their putting out Brian Poole And The Tremeloes product in the mid-'60's.) This was only when they were "independently distributed"; once they went to CBS for distribution the next year, all that went out the window.
Christie - Yellow River Perfect "Pop" record with deeper lyrics than most. Great arrangement, well sung: I thought this was going to be a long running number one.
These three have hung around successfully for 50 years, Mungo Jerry and Free on numerous compilations. Goodbye Sam, Hello Samantha. Cliff's biggest hit for two years and it would be another three before he would surpass it.
I need to do some listening! It may be a bit early in the morning for my memory to have kicked in, but despite having Ten Years After and Tony Joe White albums I cannot initially recall either of these, or Ides Of March. Here goes for The Ides Of March - Vehicle Ah, I have heard it before, but couldn't put a name to it- very enjoyable. Cheers @John54!
Now for the Number One song of the year . . . #8 of 1970 (#288 in total) - "In The Summertime" by Mungo Jerry (#1 for 7 weeks - 13 June-25 July 1970) The UK single and export issue: The US single: Wikipedia entry - also NME #290 / Top Pops/Music Now #44 (both had it 4 weeks - 13 June-04 July 1970) / Melody Maker #235 (4 weeks - 20 June-11 July 1970); in the US, reached #3 in Billboard's Hot 100, #2 in Cash Box, and #1 in Record World.
Week Ending 13 June 1970 02 - 13 - 01 - Mungo Jerry - IN THE SUMMERTIME 07 - 01 - 02 - Christie - YELLOW RIVER 09 - 02 - 03 - England World Cup Squad "70" - BACK HOME 06 - 07 - 04 - Mr. Bloe - GROOVIN' WITH MR. BLOE 06 - 04 - 05 - Glen Campbell - HONEY COME BACK 07 - 03 - 06 - The Moody Blues - QUESTION 05 - 12 - 07 - The Beach Boys - COTTONFIELDS 07 - 10 - 08 - The Supremes - UP THE LADDER TO THE ROOF 05 - 06 - 09 - Ray Stevens - EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL 05 - 08 - 10 - The Jackson 5 - ABC 04 - 25 - 11 - Gerry Monroe - SALLY 10 - 11 - 12 - Roger Whittaker - I DON'T BELIEVE IN IF ANY MORE 04 - 17 - 13 - Fleetwood Mac - THE GREEN MANALISHI (WITH THE TWO PRONG CROWN) 06 - 14 - 14 - Marvin Gaye - ABRAHAM, MARTIN AND JOHN 13 - 09 - 15 - Norman Greenbaum - SPIRIT IN THE SKY 09 - 05 - 16 - Tom Jones - DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS 07 - 18 - 17 - Butterscotch - DON'T YOU KNOW (SHE SAID HELLO) 08 - 15 - 18 - The Move - BRONTOSAURUS 12 - 16 - 19 - Frijid Pink - HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN 02 - 37 - 20 - Cliff Richard - GOODBYE SAM, HELLO SAMANTHA 07 - 29 - 21 - Status Quo - DOWN THE DUSTPIPE 04 - 24 - 22 - Herman's Hermits - BET YER LIFE I DO 02 - 34 - 23 - Arrival - I WILL SURVIVE 03 - 31 - 24 - Four Tops - IT'S ALL IN THE GAME 09 - 19 - 25 - White Plains - I'VE GOT YOU ON MY MIND 05 - 22 - 26 - Elvis Presley - KENTUCKY RAIN 02 - 36 - 27 - Free - ALL RIGHT NOW 05 - 30 - 28 - The Guess Who - AMERICAN WOMAN / NO SUGAR TONIGHT 11 - 27 - 29 - Dana - ALL KINDS OF EVERYTHING 09 - 23 - 30 - Julie Felix - (EL CONDOR PASA) IF I COULD 10 - 20 - 31 - Rufus Thomas - DO THE FUNKY CHICKEN 04 - 21 - 32 - Johnny Cash - WHAT IS TRUTH 02 - 46 - 33 - The Ides Of March - VEHICLE 11 - 33 - 34 - Creedence Clearwater Revival - TRAVELIN' BAND 02 - 38 - 35 - Tony Joe White - GROUPY GIRL 1 - NEW - 36 - Nicky Thomas - LOVE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE 04 - 35 - 37 - Richard Barnes - TAKE TO THE MOUNTAINS 12 - 40 - 38 - Mary Hopkin - KNOCK KNOCK WHO'S THERE 03 - 47 - 39 - Engelbert Humperdinck - MY MARIE 09 - 26 - 40 - The Hollies - I CAN'T TELL THE BOTTOM FROM THE TOP 02 - 48 - 41 - Ten Years After - LOVE LIKE A MAN 14 - 32 - 42 - Andy Williams - CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE 05 - 50 - 43 - Barry Ryan - KITSCH 17 - 28 - 44 - Simon And Garfunkel - BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER 16 - 45 - 45 - Jimmy Ruffin - FAREWELL IS A LONELY SOUND 11 - 39 - 46 - The Who - THE SEEKER 12 - 42 - 47 - Stevie Wonder - NEVER HAD A DREAM COME TRUE 1 - NEW - 48 - Joni Mitchell - BIG YELLOW TAXI 14 - 43 - 49 - The Cuff Links - WHEN JULIE COMES AROUND 1 - NEW - 50 - The Temptations - PSYCHEDELIC SHACK Week Ending 20 June 1970 03 - 01 - 01 - Mungo Jerry - IN THE SUMMERTIME 08 - 02 - 02 - Christie - YELLOW RIVER 07 - 04 - 03 - Mr. Bloe - GROOVIN' WITH MR. BLOE 03 - 27 - 04 - Free - ALL RIGHT NOW 06 - 07 - 05 - The Beach Boys - COTTONFIELDS 07 - 05 - 06 - Glen Campbell - HONEY COME BACK 05 - 11 - 07 - Gerry Monroe - SALLY 06 - 09 - 08 - Ray Stevens - EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL 10 - 03 - 09 - England World Cup Squad "70" - BACK HOME 05 - 13 - 10 - Fleetwood Mac - THE GREEN MANALISHI (WITH THE TWO PRONG CROWN) 07 - 14 - 11 - Marvin Gaye - ABRAHAM, MARTIN AND JOHN 08 - 06 - 12 - The Moody Blues - QUESTION 08 - 08 - 13 - The Supremes - UP THE LADDER TO THE ROOF 06 - 10 - 14 - The Jackson 5 - ABC 03 - 20 - 15 - Cliff Richard - GOODBYE SAM, HELLO SAMANTHA 03 - 23 - 16 - Arrival - I WILL SURVIVE 04 - 24 - 17 - Four Tops - IT'S ALL IN THE GAME 08 - 21 - 18 - Status Quo - DOWN THE DUSTPIPE 11 - 12 - 19 - Roger Whittaker - I DON'T BELIEVE IN IF ANY MORE 10 - 16 - 20 - Tom Jones - DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS 06 - 26 - 21 - Elvis Presley - KENTUCKY RAIN 14 - 15 - 22 - Norman Greenbaum - SPIRIT IN THE SKY 05 - 32 - 23 - Johnny Cash - WHAT IS TRUTH 08 - 17 - 24 - Butterscotch - DON'T YOU KNOW (SHE SAID HELLO) 06 - 28 - 25 - The Guess Who - AMERICAN WOMAN / NO SUGAR TONIGHT 09 - 18 - 26 - The Move - BRONTOSAURUS 05 - 22 - 27 - Herman's Hermits - BET YER LIFE I DO 10 - 25 - 28 - White Plains - I'VE GOT YOU ON MY MIND 02 - 36 - 29 - Nicky Thomas - LOVE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE 13 - 19 - 30 - Frijid Pink - HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN 04 - 39 - 31 - Engelbert Humperdinck - MY MARIE 03 - 41 - 32 - Ten Years After - LOVE LIKE A MAN 1 - NEW - 33 - Creedence Clearwater Revival - UP AROUND THE BEND 03 - 35 - 34 - Tony Joe White - GROUPY GIRL 11 - 31 - 35 - Rufus Thomas - DO THE FUNKY CHICKEN 12 - 29 - 36 - Dana - ALL KINDS OF EVERYTHING 10 - 30 - 37 - Julie Felix - (EL CONDOR PASA) IF I COULD 18 - 44 - 38 - Simon And Garfunkel - BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER 02 - 50 - 39 - The Temptations - PSYCHEDELIC SHACK 03 - 33 - 40 - The Ides Of March - VEHICLE 05 - 37 - 41 - Richard Barnes - TAKE TO THE MOUNTAINS 12 - 34 - 42 - Creedence Clearwater Revival - TRAVELIN' BAND 15 - 42 - 43 - Andy Williams - CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE 13 - 38 - 44 - Mary Hopkin - KNOCK KNOCK WHO'S THERE 06 - 43 - 45 - Barry Ryan - KITSCH 02 - 48 - 46 - Joni Mitchell - BIG YELLOW TAXI 19 - RE - 47 - Lee Marvin / Clint Eastwood - WAND'RIN' STAR / I TALK TO THE TREES 1 - NEW - 48 - Shirley Bassey - SOMETHING 10 - 40 - 49 - The Hollies - I CAN'T TELL THE BOTTOM FROM THE TOP 25 - RE - 50 - Rolf Harris - TWO LITTLE BOYS Week Ending 27 June 1970 04 - 01 - 01 - Mungo Jerry - IN THE SUMMERTIME 08 - 03 - 02 - Mr. Bloe - GROOVIN' WITH MR. BLOE 04 - 04 - 03 - Free - ALL RIGHT NOW 09 - 02 - 04 - Christie - YELLOW RIVER 06 - 07 - 05 - Gerry Monroe - SALLY 07 - 05 - 06 - The Beach Boys - COTTONFIELDS 04 - 15 - 07 - Cliff Richard - GOODBYE SAM, HELLO SAMANTHA 08 - 06 - 08 - Glen Campbell - HONEY COME BACK 08 - 11 - 09 - Marvin Gaye - ABRAHAM, MARTIN AND JOHN 06 - 10 - 10 - Fleetwood Mac - THE GREEN MANALISHI (WITH THE TWO PRONG CROWN) 07 - 08 - 11 - Ray Stevens - EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL 09 - 13 - 12 - The Supremes - UP THE LADDER TO THE ROOF 05 - 17 - 13 - Four Tops - IT'S ALL IN THE GAME 09 - 18 - 14 - Status Quo - DOWN THE DUSTPIPE 11 - 09 - 15 - England World Cup Squad "70" - BACK HOME 04 - 16 - 16 - Arrival - I WILL SURVIVE 09 - 12 - 17 - The Moody Blues - QUESTION 02 - 33 - 18 - Creedence Clearwater Revival - UP AROUND THE BEND 12 - 19 - 19 - Roger Whittaker - I DON'T BELIEVE IN IF ANY MORE 09 - 24 - 20 - Butterscotch - DON'T YOU KNOW (SHE SAID HELLO) 03 - 29 - 21 - Nicky Thomas - LOVE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE 07 - 21 - 22 - Elvis Presley - KENTUCKY RAIN 04 - 34 - 23 - Tony Joe White - GROUPY GIRL 07 - 14 - 24 - The Jackson 5 - ABC 15 - 22 - 25 - Norman Greenbaum - SPIRIT IN THE SKY 07 - 25 - 26 - The Guess Who - AMERICAN WOMAN / NO SUGAR TONIGHT 06 - 27 - 27 - Herman's Hermits - BET YER LIFE I DO 11 - 20 - 28 - Tom Jones - DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS 14 - 30 - 29 - Frijid Pink - HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN 04 - 32 - 30 - Ten Years After - LOVE LIKE A MAN 04 - 40 - 31 - The Ides Of March - VEHICLE 02 - 48 - 32 - Shirley Bassey - SOMETHING 13 - 36 - 33 - Dana - ALL KINDS OF EVERYTHING 06 - 23 - 34 - Johnny Cash - WHAT IS TRUTH 10 - 26 - 35 - The Move - BRONTOSAURUS 03 - 39 - 36 - The Temptations - PSYCHEDELIC SHACK 1 - NEW - 37 - Cat Stevens - LADY D'ARBANVILLE 16 - 43 - 38 - Andy Williams - CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE 11 - 37 - 39 - Julie Felix - (EL CONDOR PASA) IF I COULD 19 - 38 - 40 - Simon And Garfunkel - BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER 06 - 41 - 41 - Richard Barnes - TAKE TO THE MOUNTAINS 58 - RE - 42 - Frank Sinatra - MY WAY 12 - 35 - 43 - Rufus Thomas - DO THE FUNKY CHICKEN 05 - 31 - 44 - Engelbert Humperdinck - MY MARIE 11 - 28 - 45 - White Plains - I'VE GOT YOU ON MY MIND 1 - NEW - 46 - Thunderclap Newman - ACCIDENTS 22 - RE - 47 - Sacha Distel - RAIN DROPS KEEP FALLIN' ON MY HEAD 14 - 44 - 48 - Mary Hopkin - KNOCK KNOCK WHO'S THERE 03 - 46 - 49 - Joni Mitchell - BIG YELLOW TAXI 20 - 47 - 50 - Lee Marvin / Clint Eastwood - WAND'RIN' STAR / I TALK TO THE TREES Week Ending 04 July 1970 05 - 01 - 01 - Mungo Jerry - IN THE SUMMERTIME 05 - 03 - 02 - Free - ALL RIGHT NOW 09 - 02 - 03 - Mr. Bloe - GROOVIN' WITH MR. BLOE 07 - 05 - 04 - Gerry Monroe - SALLY 08 - 06 - 05 - The Beach Boys - COTTONFIELDS 05 - 07 - 06 - Cliff Richard - GOODBYE SAM, HELLO SAMANTHA 10 - 04 - 07 - Christie - YELLOW RIVER 06 - 13 - 08 - Four Tops - IT'S ALL IN THE GAME 03 - 18 - 09 - Creedence Clearwater Revival - UP AROUND THE BEND 07 - 10 - 10 - Fleetwood Mac - THE GREEN MANALISHI (WITH THE TWO PRONG CROWN) 09 - 08 - 11 - Glen Campbell - HONEY COME BACK 10 - 14 - 12 - Status Quo - DOWN THE DUSTPIPE 09 - 09 - 13 - Marvin Gaye - ABRAHAM, MARTIN AND JOHN 08 - 11 - 14 - Ray Stevens - EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL 04 - 21 - 15 - Nicky Thomas - LOVE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE 03 - 32 - 16 - Shirley Bassey - SOMETHING 05 - 16 - 17 - Arrival - I WILL SURVIVE 10 - 12 - 18 - The Supremes - UP THE LADDER TO THE ROOF 08 - 26 - 19 - The Guess Who - AMERICAN WOMAN / NO SUGAR TONIGHT 10 - 17 - 20 - The Moody Blues - QUESTION 08 - 24 - 21 - The Jackson 5 - ABC 1 - NEW - 22 - The Kinks - LOLA 07 - 27 - 23 - Herman's Hermits - BET YER LIFE I DO 12 - 15 - 24 - England World Cup Squad "70" - BACK HOME 08 - 22 - 25 - Elvis Presley - KENTUCKY RAIN 05 - 23 - 26 - Tony Joe White - GROUPY GIRL 13 - 19 - 27 - Roger Whittaker - I DON'T BELIEVE IN IF ANY MORE 02 - 37 - 28 - Cat Stevens - LADY D'ARBANVILLE 05 - 30 - 29 - Ten Years After - LOVE LIKE A MAN 07 - 34 - 30 - Johnny Cash - WHAT IS TRUTH 04 - 49 - 31 - Joni Mitchell - BIG YELLOW TAXI 16 - 25 - 32 - Norman Greenbaum - SPIRIT IN THE SKY 10 - 20 - 33 - Butterscotch - DON'T YOU KNOW (SHE SAID HELLO) 04 - 36 - 34 - The Temptations - PSYCHEDELIC SHACK 12 - 28 - 35 - Tom Jones - DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS 05 - 31 - 36 - The Ides Of March - VEHICLE 15 - 29 - 37 - Frijid Pink - HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN 14 - 33 - 38 - Dana - ALL KINDS OF EVERYTHING 1 - NEW - 39 - Pickettywitch - (IT'S LIKE A) SAD OLD KINDA' MOVIE 06 - 44 - 40 - Engelbert Humperdinck - MY MARIE 59 - 42 - 41 - Frank Sinatra - MY WAY 21 - 50 - 42 - Lee Marvin / Clint Eastwood - WAND'RIN' STAR / I TALK TO THE TREES 23 - 47 - 43 - Sacha Distel - RAIN DROPS KEEP FALLIN' ON MY HEAD 1 - NEW - 44 - The Brotherhood Of Man - WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO MY LOVE 1 - NEW - 45 - Jimmy Ruffin - I'LL SAY FOREVER MY LOVE 13 - RE - 46 - Creedence Clearwater Revival - TRAVELIN' BAND 17 - 38 - 47 - Andy Williams - CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE 1 - NEW - 48 - Hotlegs - NEANDERTHAL MAN 1 - NEW - 49 - The Dave Clark Five - HERE COMES SUMMER 1 - NEW - 50 - Joe Cocker - THE LETTER Week Ending 11 July 1970 06 - 01 - 01 - Mungo Jerry - IN THE SUMMERTIME 06 - 02 - 02 - Free - ALL RIGHT NOW 10 - 03 - 03 - Mr. Bloe - GROOVIN' WITH MR. BLOE 04 - 09 - 04 - Creedence Clearwater Revival - UP AROUND THE BEND 07 - 08 - 05 - Four Tops - IT'S ALL IN THE GAME 09 - 05 - 06 - The Beach Boys - COTTONFIELDS 08 - 04 - 07 - Gerry Monroe - SALLY 06 - 06 - 08 - Cliff Richard - GOODBYE SAM, HELLO SAMANTHA 05 - 15 - 09 - Nicky Thomas - LOVE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE 08 - 10 - 10 - Fleetwood Mac - THE GREEN MANALISHI (WITH THE TWO PRONG CROWN) 10 - 13 - 11 - Marvin Gaye - ABRAHAM, MARTIN AND JOHN 11 - 12 - 12 - Status Quo - DOWN THE DUSTPIPE 04 - 16 - 13 - Shirley Bassey - SOMETHING 10 - 11 - 14 - Glen Campbell - HONEY COME BACK 11 - 07 - 15 - Christie - YELLOW RIVER 02 - 22 - 16 - The Kinks - LOLA 06 - 17 - 17 - Arrival - I WILL SURVIVE 09 - 14 - 18 - Ray Stevens - EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL 03 - 28 - 19 - Cat Stevens - LADY D'ARBANVILLE 1 - NEW - 20 - Elvis Presley - THE WONDER OF YOU 11 - 18 - 21 - The Supremes - UP THE LADDER TO THE ROOF 06 - 26 - 22 - Tony Joe White - GROUPY GIRL 09 - 19 - 23 - The Guess Who - AMERICAN WOMAN / NO SUGAR TONIGHT 06 - 29 - 24 - Ten Years After - LOVE LIKE A MAN 05 - 31 - 25 - Joni Mitchell - BIG YELLOW TAXI 09 - 25 - 26 - Elvis Presley - KENTUCKY RAIN 02 - 39 - 27 - Pickettywitch - (IT'S LIKE A) SAD OLD KINDA' MOVIE 11 - 20 - 28 - The Moody Blues - QUESTION 08 - 23 - 29 - Herman's Hermits - BET YER LIFE I DO 02 - 45 - 30 - Jimmy Ruffin - I'LL SAY FOREVER MY LOVE 14 - 27 - 31 - Roger Whittaker - I DON'T BELIEVE IN IF ANY MORE 02 - 48 - 32 - Hotlegs - NEANDERTHAL MAN 05 - 34 - 33 - The Temptations - PSYCHEDELIC SHACK 07 - 40 - 34 - Engelbert Humperdinck - MY MARIE 02 - 44 - 35 - The Brotherhood Of Man - WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO MY LOVE 13 - 24 - 36 - England World Cup Squad "70" - BACK HOME 13 - 35 - 37 - Tom Jones - DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS 11 - 33 - 38 - Butterscotch - DON'T YOU KNOW (SHE SAID HELLO) 02 - 50 - 39 - Joe Cocker - THE LETTER 16 - 37 - 40 - Frijid Pink - HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN 17 - 32 - 41 - Norman Greenbaum - SPIRIT IN THE SKY 09 - 21 - 42 - The Jackson 5 - ABC 60 - 41 - 43 - Frank Sinatra - MY WAY 1 - NEW - 44 - Miguel Rios - SONG OF JOY 02 - 49 - 45 - The Dave Clark Five - HERE COMES SUMMER 08 - 30 - 46 - Johnny Cash - WHAT IS TRUTH 06 - 36 - 47 - The Ides Of March - VEHICLE 15 - 38 - 48 - Dana - ALL KINDS OF EVERYTHING 1 - NEW - 49 - Canned Heat - SUGAR BEE 24 - 43 - 50 - Sacha Distel - RAINDROPS KEEP FALLIN' ON MY HEAD Week Ending 18 July 1970 07 - 01 - 01 - Mungo Jerry - IN THE SUMMERTIME 07 - 02 - 02 - Free - ALL RIGHT NOW 05 - 04 - 03 - Creedence Clearwater Revival - UP AROUND THE BEND 03 - 16 - 04 - The Kinks - LOLA 08 - 05 - 05 - Four Tops - IT'S ALL IN THE GAME 09 - 07 - 06 - Gerry Monroe - SALLY 10 - 06 - 07 - The Beach Boys - COTTONFIELDS 11 - 03 - 08 - Mr. Bloe - GROOVIN' WITH MR. BLOE 07 - 08 - 09 - Cliff Richard - GOODBYE SAM, HELLO SAMANTHA 05 - 13 - 10 - Shirley Bassey - SOMETHING 06 - 09 - 11 - Nicky Thomas - LOVE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE 04 - 19 - 12 - Cat Stevens - LADY D'ARBANVILLE 02 - 20 - 13 - Elvis Presley - THE WONDER OF YOU 12 - 12 - 14 - Status Quo - DOWN THE DUSTPIPE 11 - 14 - 15 - Glen Campbell - HONEY COME BACK 09 - 10 - 16 - Fleetwood Mac - THE GREEN MANALISHI (WITH THE TWO PRONG CROWN) 12 - 15 - 17 - Christie - YELLOW RIVER 03 - 27 - 18 - Pickettywitch - (IT'S LIKE A) SAD OLD KINDA' MOVIE 03 - 30 - 19 - Jimmy Ruffin - I'LL SAY FOREVER MY LOVE 07 - 24 - 20 - Ten Years After - LOVE LIKE A MAN 03 - 32 - 21 - Hotlegs - NEANDERTHAL MAN 11 - 11 - 22 - Marvin Gaye - ABRAHAM, MARTIN AND JOHN 10 - 23 - 23 - The Guess Who - AMERICAN WOMAN / NO SUGAR TONIGHT 07 - 22 - 24 - Tony Joe White - GROUPY GIRL 10 - 18 - 25 - Ray Stevens - EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL 12 - 21 - 26 - The Supremes - UP THE LADDER TO THE ROOF 07 - 17 - 27 - Arrival - I WILL SURVIVE 06 - 25 - 28 - Joni Mitchell - BIG YELLOW TAXI 09 - 46 - 29 - Johnny Cash - WHAT IS TRUTH 03 - 35 - 30 - The Brotherhood Of Man - WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO MY LOVE 1 - NEW - 31 - Stevie Wonder - SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED I'M YOURS 1 - NEW - 32 - Fair Weather - NATURAL SINNER 02 - 44 - 33 - Miguel Rios - SONG OF JOY 07 - 47 - 34 - The Ides Of March - VEHICLE 14 - 36 - 35 - England World Cup Squad "70" - BACK HOME 15 - 31 - 36 - Roger Whittaker - I DON'T BELIEVE IN IF ANY MORE 09 - 29 - 37 - Herman's Hermits - BET YER LIFE I DO 12 - 28 - 38 - The Moody Blues - QUESTION 1 - NEW - 39 - The Marmalade - RAINBOW 18 - 41 - 40 - Norman Greenbaum - SPIRIT IN THE SKY 10 - 42 - 41 - The Jackson 5 - ABC 06 - 33 - 42 - The Temptations - PSYCHEDELIC SHACK 10 - 26 - 43 - Elvis Presley - KENTUCKY RAIN 03 - 45 - 44 - The Dave Clark Five - HERE COMES SUMMER 61 - 43 - 45 - Frank Sinatra - MY WAY 1 - NEW - 46 - Chicago - 25 OR 6 TO 4 25 - 50 - 47 - Sacha Distel - RAIN DROPS KEEP FALLIN' ON MY HEAD 14 - 37 - 48 - Tom Jones - DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS 03 - 39 - 49 - Joe Cocker - THE LETTER 1 - NEW - 50 - Diana Ross - REACH OUT AND TOUCH (SOMEBODY'S HAND) Week Ending 25 July 1970 08 - 01 - 01 - Mungo Jerry - IN THE SUMMERTIME 08 - 02 - 02 - Free - ALL RIGHT NOW 03 - 13 - 03 - Elvis Presley - THE WONDER OF YOU 04 - 04 - 04 - The Kinks - LOLA 06 - 03 - 05 - Creedence Clearwater Revival - UP AROUND THE BEND 09 - 05 - 06 - Four Tops - IT'S ALL IN THE GAME 06 - 10 - 07 - Shirley Bassey - SOMETHING 04 - 21 - 08 - Hotlegs - NEANDERTHAL MAN 07 - 11 - 09 - Nicky Thomas - LOVE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE 11 - 07 - 10 - The Beach Boys - COTTONFIELDS 05 - 12 - 11 - Cat Stevens - LADY D'ARBANVILLE 08 - 09 - 12 - Cliff Richard - GOODBYE SAM, HELLO SAMANTHA 10 - 06 - 13 - Gerry Monroe - SALLY 12 - 08 - 14 - Mr. Bloe - GROOVIN' WITH MR. BLOE 04 - 19 - 15 - Jimmy Ruffin - I'LL SAY FOREVER MY LOVE 13 - 14 - 16 - Status Quo - DOWN THE DUSTPIPE 10 - 16 - 17 - Fleetwood Mac - THE GREEN MANALISHI (WITH THE TWO PRONG CROWN) 13 - 17 - 18 - Christie - YELLOW RIVER 12 - 15 - 19 - Glen Campbell - HONEY COME BACK 07 - 28 - 20 - Joni Mitchell - BIG YELLOW TAXI 08 - 20 - 21 - Ten Years After - LOVE LIKE A MAN 11 - 25 - 22 - Ray Stevens - EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL 04 - 18 - 23 - Pickettywitch - (IT'S LIKE A) SAD OLD KINDA' MOVIE 02 - 31 - 24 - Stevie Wonder - SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED I'M YOURS 12 - 22 - 25 - Marvin Gaye - ABRAHAM, MARTIN AND JOHN 03 - 33 - 26 - Miguel Rios - SONG OF JOY 08 - 27 - 27 - Arrival - I WILL SURVIVE 04 - 30 - 28 - The Brotherhood Of Man - WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO MY LOVE 02 - 32 - 29 - Fair Weather - NATURAL SINNER 02 - 39 - 30 - The Marmalade - RAINBOW 11 - 23 - 31 - The Guess Who - AMERICAN WOMAN / NO SUGAR TONIGHT 08 - 24 - 32 - Tony Joe White - GROUPY GIRL 16 - 36 - 33 - Roger Whittaker - I DON'T BELIEVE IN IF ANY MORE 10 - 29 - 34 - Johnny Cash - WHAT IS TRUTH 07 - 42 - 35 - The Temptations - PSYCHEDELIC SHACK 02 - 50 - 36 - Diana Ross - REACH OUT AND TOUCH (SOMEBODY'S HAND) 10 - 37 - 37 - Herman's Hermits - BET YER LIFE I DO 11 - 43 - 38 - Elvis Presley - KENTUCKY RAIN 04 - 49 - 39 - Joe Cocker - THE LETTER 19 - 40 - 40 - Norman Greenbaum - SPIRIT IN THE SKY 08 - 34 - 41 - The Ides Of March - VEHICLE 11 - 41 - 42 - The Jackson 5 - ABC 02 - 46 - 43 - Chicago - 25 OR 6 TO 4 15 - 35 - 44 - England World Cup Squad "70" - BACK HOME 13 - 26 - 45 - The Supremes - UP THE LADDER TO THE ROOF 1 - NEW - 46 - Ray Morgan - THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD 16 - RE - 47 - Dana - ALL KINDS OF EVERYTHING 62 - 45 - 48 - Frank Sinatra - MY WAY 15 - 48 - 49 - Tom Jones - DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS 1 - NEW - 50 - Johnny Johnson And The Bandwagon - SWEET INSPIRATION
Now for all those in my collection from all this . . . (Both this and its flip, "Run Through The Jungle," were another double-sided US hit for this quartet.) (This they have in a Pitman, NJ typesetting variant. Not their bigger hit in this incarnation, "United We Stand." Sheesh!) (To be continued.)
Part III: (His first totally self-produced record, and a major hit in the States.) The mono 45 edit is extremely rare these days: (Her first post-Supremes' single.)
Now a word about one new entry . . . . . . which, needless to say, didn't come out in the U.S. . . . . . . by contrast, in America, The Beatles' original, from the Let It Be soundtrack, would be their final release to make #1 (their 20th, in the top spot of Billboard's Hot 100 from 13 June-20 June 1970) in the States (but was never ish'd in single format in the UK at the time): This streak was accomplished over a total of 74 months, from their first US #1 "I Want To Hold Your Hand" in 1964. It also made #1 on Cash Box' charts.
As to the new hit by Pickettywitch: A cover of their prior hit, "That Same Old Feeling," was done by The Fortunes; it was not ish'd in Britain, but it did make #62 on US Billboard's Hot 100 and #59 in Cash Box: By comparison, Pickettywitch's version's US chart figures were #67 in Billboard and #40 in Cash Box. I lean more towards The Fortunes'.
In the Summertime is quite alright but the no. 1 song of the entire year? Sheesh! Nicky: decent enough reggae version of the song recorded by numerous people, of which my own recollections include only Wayne Newton and Paul Young Joni: iconic folk-pop artist debuts with this cleverly written, environmentally conscious track with propulsive rhythm and a silly giggle at the end, which drove me up the wall for a long time but I think I've made my peace with it (but I'm still no fan of her music). Not sure how the actual line about the taxi fits in the song, although the lamb in Genesis's The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway didn't either Temps: not fussy about this one, I don't know whose brainwave it was to put them so far out of their element CCR: moderately fast-paced, back to basic rockin' as opposed to the more polished style of Who'll Stop the Rain. Not really far off Travelin' Band but much more likeable IMHO Shirley: slow soulful cover of the George Harrison-written Beatles song, the verses are on the dull side but the bridge picks up the orchestration and the rhythm a bit, and the outro is double-speed Cat: nicely rhythmic moody, folky track that covers the same ground as the Stones' Paint It Black, and like that classic is vastly superior to most of the death songs from a decade earlier Thunderclap: one of the more curious songs out there, but it has a good mid-paced rhythm and arrangement along with the man's high-pitched vocals Kinks: I commented on the Cliff Richard track the other day that maybe he was mining territory established by Lola, but neglected to recall that it hadn't come out yet. Anyway, this well-known and humorous track does delve into lyrical territory heretofore unexplored, and there was plenty of gossip about the song when I was in high school five decades ago. If memory serves, I picked up on the "I'm glad I'm a man and so's Lola" double entendre before anyone mentioned it to me P'witch: typical slice of early '70s pop with the kind of arrangement that might have been found behind a Dionne Warwick track a few years earlier. She still sounds like she has a head cold; maybe the song was recorded at the same session as their previous one BoMan: another typical slice of early '70s pop, but this one has quite a bit of oomph in it and strikes me as being superior to their bigger hits Jimmy: still mining the same vein as his biggest hits, meaning it's a little retro and another fine song that probably deserved a better fate, whatever that fate might have been (note: actually made in '68) Hotlegs: going for, and achieving, a primitive sound, before morphing into 10cc DC5: so they're reduced to covering reasonably pleasant but basically nondescript '50s hits. I can hear some gritty rhythm guitar which I kinda like actually, but not sure about their sax and it sure ain't in their classic style Joe: again indulging in his interesting habit of covering songs in a way that is very different from the original, which is always a worthwhile enterprise. Gospelly backing vocals, piano and plenty of brass here, plus an insistent rhythm, so it's a good song, whether one likes it or not Elvis: by now one of his many iconic songs, very nicely arranged Miguel: well-arranged, dramatic song that incorporates Beehoven's Ninth Symphony. There are numerous songs derived from classical pieces that I'd rather hear than the original, and this is one of them (some others: Lovers Concerto by the Toys, without regard to who actually wrote Minuet in G, How Fair This Place by Sarah Brightman, and Malcolm MacLaren's classic British Airways commercial where the original Delibes Flower Song I find practically unlistenable) C. Heat: very bluesy so far from my preference in music, but it has a decent groove that will appeal to quite a few anyway, especially those who like lead guitar and/or harmonica Stevie: another plenty worthy Stevie Wonder song that I never got into Fair W: Amen Corner spinoff provides kinda groovy music, gospelly backing vocals but somewhat screechy lead vocals for a track that has some slower bits (at the beginning) and a coda with ramped-up rhythm Marmalade: pleasant folky sort of track that reminds of Gord Lightfoot's Early Morning Rain, or one of the numerous covers thereof, and features some nice harmonies too Chicago: lively track that helped them establish a musical presence, with their trademark horns, a long guitar solo and an insistent guitar riff that kicks it off and is repeated numerous times Diana: some socially conscious soul; I don't find it particularly interesting, although I like the bridge Ray: cover of another Beatles track, this one ramps up the brass a bit. Quite alright but lacking the moody atmosphere of the original Johnny: another decent soul song, whose instrumentation / arrangement is reminiscent of the Fortunes' Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again, or maybe the Foundations' Build Me Up Buttercup Single of the Week: split umpteen ways between my own pick for best record (Miguel Rios, Song of Joy), my favourite song here (Cat Stevens, Lady D'Arbanville), and numerous popular favourites from Joni, Creedence, the Kinks, Chicago, and probably several others
Mungo Jerry - In The Summertime Even as a seven year old this stuck in the mind, though it did have many weeks in which to do so. Slightly politically incorrect lyrics but good fun. Saw Mungo Jerry still with Ray Dorset in the mid nineties and they were - good fun.
What a wonderful mix of styles in these weeks and in Up Around The Bend and Lola, two very memorable intros (and great songs). Creedence Clearwater Revival - Up Around The Bend
