1975
Week 22
WEEK ENDING 31ST MAY1975

TOP 40 SINGLES

Last weeks position in Brackets

1-(-1) Tammy Wynette - - - Stand By Your Man
2-(-2) Windsor Davies/Don Estelle - - - Whispering Grass
3-(-6) Stylistics - - - - - - - - - - Sing Baby Sing
4-(-5) Gladys Knight - - - - - - The Way We Were
5-(13) Showaddywaddy-----------Three Steps To Heaven----NEW ENTRY
6-(14) Judy Collins - - - - - - - - - - - Send In The Clowns
7-(12) Slade- - - - - - - - - - - - - -Thanks For The Memory
8-(11) Disco Tex And The Sex-O-Lettes - - - I Wanna Dance Wit Choo
9-(-7) Tammy Jones - - - - - -Let Me Try Again
10(16) Status Quo - - - - - - - - - - - Roll Over Lay Down
11(19) Desmond Dekker - - - - - Israelites
12(-9) Mac And Katie Kissoon- - - Don't Do It Baby
13(-4) Minnie Riperton - - - -Loving You
14(10) Carpenters - - - - - - - - Only Yesterday
15(-3) Mud - - - - - - - - - - - - Oh Boy
16(17) Kraftwerk - - - - - - - - - - Autobahn
17(-8) Susan Cadogan - - - - Hurt So Good
18(34) Osmonds-------------------The Proud One----NEW ENTRY
19(15) Four Seasons - - - - - -The Night
20(18) Ian Hunter - - - - - - - - - -Once Bitten Twice Shy
21(23) Fox - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Imagine Me Imagine You
22(22) Wombles - - - - - - - - - - Wombling White Tie And Tails
23(20) Gary Glitter- - - - - - - - -Love Like You And Me
24(32) Barry White---------------For You I'll Do Anything You Want Me To----NEW ENTRY
25(29) Eric Clapton - - - - - - - - - - Swing Low Sweet Chariot
26(25) Jackie Wilson - - - - - - - I Get The Sweetest Feeling
27(40) Hot Chocolate------------Disco Queen----NEW ENTRY
28(26) Stephanie De Sykes - - - -We'll Find Our Day
29(21) Gilbert Becaud - - - - - - A Little Love And Understanding
30(24) Bobby Goldsboro - - - Honey
31(---) Elvis Presley-----------T.R.O.U.B.L.E.
32(30) John Lennon - - - - - - - - - Stand By Me
33(---) Wings-----------------Listen To What The Man Said
34(---) Hamilton Bohannon--------Disco Stomp
35(28) Bay City Rollers - - - - - -Bye Bye Baby
36(33) Guys And Dolls------------Here I Go Again----NEW ENTRY
37(27) Three Degrees - - - - - - -Take Good Care Of Yourself
38(---) Retta Young-------------Sending Out An SOS
39(---) Van McCoy-------------The Hustle
40(36)Tami Lynn - - - - - - - - - - - - I'm Gonna Run Away From You

1-(-1) Tammy Wynette - - - Stand By Your Man
This week saw Tammy Wynette spend the final week of three at number one with a single that she originally released sometime around 1968. Why it was suddenly a hit now I don't know, but as had happened so often before, the charts were appearing to conspire against me. My parents were going through a divorce at this time, just as they were when Tammy's next hit "D.I.V.O.R.C.E." was in the charts. Unfortunately, Tammy passed away in April 1998.

2-(-2) Windsor Davies/Don Estelle - - - Whispering Grass
This took a massive climb from number 28 to number 2 the previous week. It was by two of the stars of the popular sitcom 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum'. Windsor Davies and Don Estelle's recording of the old song "Whispering Grass" was held off the following week, by Tammy Wynette again before reaching the number one position for a three week stay.

3-(6) Stylistics - - - - - - - - - - Sing Baby Sing
After taking a mighty leap from 36 to 12 a couple of weeks ago, this had halved it's position in each of the following 2 weeks, and was peaking this week at number three. One of the best offerings from one of the best pop/soul acts of the decade.

4-(-5) Gladys Knight - - - - - - The Way We Were
This song had been something of a failure when recorded by Barbra Steisand a year previous, and to begin with it looked as though Gladys' recording was going to suffer the same fate. It started off really slowly,but after 8 weeks on the chart, Gladys Knight had finally reached what would be her peak of number four (a chart position she later equalled, but never bettered). It was Gladys' first hit for two years, but was the start of a run of regular hit singles for her.

5-(13) Showaddywaddy-----------Three Steps To Heaven
The highest new entry of the previous week at number 13, and also the highest that Showaddywaddy ever debuted inside the top 40. This was also the first cover version hit single of Showaddywaddy's career, and it was such a success reaching number two, that when they later stopped having big hits with their own original songs (Trocadero-Take Me In Your Arms) they went back to the covers and re-activated their hit career.

6-(14) Judy Collins - - - - - - - - - - - Send In The Clowns
Judy Collins was having her first hit for over four years with "Send In The clowns", and looked a good bet for a future number one after rising 33 places in just 2 weeks. But this was surprisingly as high as it got, just one place lower than "Amazing Grace", but spent nowhere near as long in the charts.

7-(12) Slade- - - - - - - - - - - - - -Thanks For The Memory
Slade had the highest new entry at number 14 a couple of weeks ago with "Thanks For The Memory",but had surprisingly only climbed two places last week.. The band were clearly past their peak as far as chart performance can tell, even though they did manage to climb to number seven this week. However, after this week, it was to be six years before they graced the top ten again.

8-(11) Disco Tex And The Sex-O-Lettes - - - I Wanna Dance Wit Choo
Disco Tex and the Sex -O-Lettes were having the biggest of their two hits with "I Wanna Dance Wit Choo" peaking at number six two weeks previous, but climbing back up a little this week. I remember a third single failing to chart later in the year (A ballad, I think), but no more was heard from them after that.

9-(-7) Tammy Jones - - - - - -Let Me Try Again
Another Tammy in the top Ten, this one was the Welsh singer Tammy Jones, who had been a winner on the talent show 'Opportunity Knocks'. This was her only hit and had peaked at number five.

10(16) Status Quo - - - - - - - - - - - Roll Over Lay Down
Status Quo were following their number one single "Down Down", with a live recording of a track from their 1973 album 'Hello'. "Roll Over Lay Down" would peak at number nine for them. This track also reminds me of the Hightown Discos from 1977 (mentioned in other commentaries) as it used to get played a lot there.

11(19) Desmond Dekker - - - - - Israelites
Desmond Dekker was on the climb as he sped towards his number ten peak with a song that he had taken to number one back in 1969 (what is it with that era and this weeks chart ?). To be quite honest, I wouldn't say I dislike the song, but I find it's popularity confusing.

12(-9) Mac And Katie Kissoon- - - Don't Do It Baby
Mac And Katie Kissoon were having their second hit (the first being "Sugar Candy Kisses" earlier in this year). "Don't Do It Baby" had peaked at number nine. The Brother/Sister duo had already had their sole US hit back in 1971 with "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep". Katie later joined 'Roger Waters Bleeding Heart Band' singing backing vocals. Strange thing is, in the very week that this single debuted in the top 40, the Rubettes spent their first and only week in the Album chart with their second (and only charting) album 'We Can Do It'. The album included their rendition of "Don't Do It Baby".

13(-4) Minnie Riperton - - - -Loving You
The late Minnie Riperton had recently spent two weeks at number two with her only hit "Loving You". There was an excellent release from her a few years later called 'Stick Together', but it didn't get a sniff of the charts. Unfortunately, Minnie died of Cancer in 1979.

14(10) Carpenters - - - - - - - - Only Yesterday
The Carpenters had peaked at number seven with "Only Yesterday". They would have to wait until the Autumn of 1977 for their next (and final) top ten hit. I do hope that the fatality rate of the acts in this particular chart isn't something that the other acts should bear in mind.

15(-3) Mud - - - - - - - - - - - - Oh Boy
Mud had recently registered their last ever week at number one. They had been there for two weeks with their almost accapella rendition of "Oh Boy". After falling just a place in each of the previous two weeks, this seemed like one hell of a drop from three to fifteen.. This track wasn't even intended for release as a single, as the band had already signed a new contract with 'Private Stock' records. But as 'RAK' had quite a few Mud tracks in reserve, they decided to release a few. There were a further two releases from 'RAK', but the band were about to embark on their two year slide to oblivion.

16(17) Kraftwerk - - - - - - - - - - Autobahn
One of the pioneers of Synth 'Kraftwerk' were on their way to number 11 with a brilliant piece of music called "Autobahn". I remember someone telling me a few years later how he used to go to a pub which had this on the jukebox. He said that there were speakers all along one wall, and when this track was played, the sounds of the car travelling along the Autobahn would go from one speaker to the next all along the wall. I must have been naive at the time, because I believed every word he said. However, I would recommend listening to it on headphones. Even though they influenced a generation, Kraftwerk would have to wait almost seven years before they got into the top 20 again, with the number one single "The Model".

17(-8) Susan Cadogan - - - - Hurt So Good
Susan Cadogan spent three weeks at number four with the reggae-ish."Hurt So Good". Lovely echo to Susan's vocals on this one. Susan was a bald Librarian with a glass eye until Pete Waterman discovered her in Kingston Jamaica. He paid just 80 dollars for the rights to release it in the UK and it was the first of his many successes.
Jimmy Somerville had a hit with this in 1995 and took it to number 15.

18(34) Osmonds-------------------The Proud One
This song was a number 68 peaking single in the US For Frankie Valli in 1966, but had failed to chart at all here in the UK. The Osmonds had clocked up their first and only UK number one in August 1974 with "Love Me For A Reason", but surprisingly their follow up "Having a Party" had only reached number 28 in March of this year. The Osmonds (as a band) were not normally associated with cover versions. But for this make or break single, they took this option and made a more than adequate cover. It took them back into the top ten and peaked at number 5. However, it was still the beginning of the end, they never had a single go higher than number 32 afterwards. At astronomical risk of ridicule, I feel compelled to reveal that I do rate a lot of the Osmond's music very highly. That is 'The Osmonds' and not Donny, Jimmy or Marie solo efforts. Compare the Osmonds with the likes of Boyzone, Westlife, A1 etc, and there's really no contest.

19(15) Four Seasons - - - - - -The Night
The big comeback single from Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons was also on it's way down from it's peak of number seven. This single had been recorded a few years previous for the Motown subsidiary label 'Mowest', and had been re-released due to demand from disco regulars. For a while this was my favourite song of all time (well it was until a certain big hit from Queen right at the end of 1975). Frankie and the boys would be back later this year.

20(18) Ian Hunter - - - - - - - - - -Once Bitten Twice Shy
Ex 'Mott The Hoople' vocalist Ian Hunter was having his first and only solo hit with the number 14 peaking "Once Bitten Twice Shy". Just goes to show what a hell of a mistake he made in leaving the band (even though this was a very good single).

21(23) Fox - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Imagine Me Imagine You
Fox were back and climbing. "Imagine Me Imagine You" sadly only reached number 15. Lead vocalist Noosha Fox wasn't regarded as a great singer at this time. But almost a quarter of a century later, after extensive plastic surgery, she returned with a new name, Macy Gray. She then won lots of awards and was regarded as the most important discovery since Mobile Phones (until the following year's new fad).

22(22) Wombles - - - - - - - - - - Wombling White Tie And Tails
The Wombles were peaking at number 22 with their sixth hit in less than 18 months. I'll say this for them, all of their hits sounded different.

23(20) Gary Glitter- - - - - - - - -Love Like You And Me
Gary Glitter had surprisingly peaked as number ten with "Love Like You And Me". It was his first single to peak lower than number four in three years (ten releases). It was in fact the beginning of the end for Gary's chart fortunes. Does anyone remember his Top Of The Pops appearance for this one with him sitting on a moon like object ? (cue the sarcasm)

24(32) Barry White---------------For You I'll Do Anything You Want Me To----NEW ENTRY
Just four weeks after "What Am I Gonna Do With You" had departed from the chart, Barry had returned with a song that bore a striking resemblance to his December 1974 number one "You're The First, The Last, My Everything". Seemed as though many didn't fancy owning the same song twice, and so it stalled at number 20 in the middle of June.

25(29) Eric Clapton - - - - - - - - - - Swing Low Sweet Chariot
Eric Clapton was having only his second solo hit with "Swing Low Sweet Chariot", and would rise to number 19. In 1997 at the exact moment that I was typing my original commentary for this hit, I was listening to that week's new top 40 and a new entry was played at number three. It was by a band called 'Damage' with a very damaging version of one of Eric's greatest songs "Wonderful Tonight". Why can't those useless warblers (copyright - Edwin Starr) write songs these days, instead of badly covering classics from the Golden Days ?

26(25) Jackie Wilson - - - - - - - I Get The Sweetest Feeling
"I Get The Sweetest Feeling" had been a number nine hit in 1972 for Jackie Wilson and here it was again, just three years later. It reached number 25 this time around, but 12 years later would go all the way to number three. In August of 1975, Jackie suffered a stroke on stage and lay in a coma until his death in 1984.

27(40) Hot Chocolate-------------Disco Queen
Hot Chocolate's last decent sized hit (Emma) was by now over a year old. There had been a few single releases since, but the best that they had managed was the number 31 peaking "Cheri Babe". This wasn't too dissimilar to "Cheri Babe", but it caught the public's imagination a lot more. It peaked at number 11 and despite the title, did not sound like a disco record.

28(26) Stephanie De Sykes - - - -We'll Find Our Day
Stephanie De Sykes had spent two weeks at her peak of number 17 with her second hit to come from the soap 'Crossroads'. In the soap, "We'll Find Our Day" was sung by Stephanie at the wedding of Hugh Mortimor and Meg Richardson (but that doesn't prove I ever watched the show ! ).

29(21) Gilbert Becaud - - - - - - A Little Love And Understanding
Gilbert Becaud was a strange man from France (real name Francois Silly) who peaked at number ten with "A Little Love And Understanding". He certainly enjoyed the gaze of the camera when he appeared on Top Of The Pops, especially as he turned to it to utter "OK" at the end of every verse. He was one of the strangest sights I ever saw on the show, still, if it made him happy !

30(24) Bobby Goldsboro - - - Honey
Bobby Goldsboro had taken "Honey" to number two for the second time in seven years, but was now on his way down with his last ever hit. This song is one that you either love or hate. Personally, I love it, it's one of my earliest musical memories and I remember my Mum buying it back in 1968. I hi-jacked her copy sometime during the mid 70s.

31(---) Elvis Presley-----------T.R.O.U.B.L.E.
This wasn't "If You're Looking For Trouble, You've Come To The Right Place, da da da da", but it wasn't any better either. Wasn't around very long and was peaking already.

32(30) John Lennon - - - - - - - - - Stand By Me
John Lennon had peaked at number 30 with his second hit of the year, his fantastic version of "Stand By Me" taken from his 'Rock And Roll' album. If you don't have the album, GET IT, it's a great buy. This would be the last 'new' song from John to hit the chart for over five years. I've always wondered why this track wasn't included on his Shaved Fish compilation released in late 1975

33(---) Wings-----------------Listen To What The Man Said
Wings had the unenviable task of following up the hugely successful 'Band On The Run' album (What am I talking about 'unenviable', we'd all love to have that problem wouldn't we ?), and managed it quite well with 'Venus And Mars'. The album featured a cover version of the 'Crossroads' soap theme. The Wings version was later used when the show had a particularly sad ending (which meant quite often). } This was a taster for the album, and naturally became a top ten hit, peaking at number six. Surprisingly enough, two further singles were taken from the album, but neither of them reached the top 40. He would have to wait one long year before he did that again.

34(---) Hamilton Bohannon--------Disco Stomp
Hamilton had spent seven weeks inside the top 40 earlier in the year with the number 22 peaking "South African Man". I didn't find that single particularly exciting, but this was much better. It became his biggest hit peaking at number six. Not only that, but six months later Hello's hit "New York Groove" had a VERY similar melody. Most of the songs from the 70's, I still like now as much as then, there are even some that I wasn't keen on then but do like now. But every now and then I'll hear something, and it just doesn't have the same impact on me as it used to. This is one such record. It now seems empty, there seems nothing nothing there at all, a very hollow song.

35(28) Bay City Rollers - - - - - -Bye Bye Baby
Bay City Rollers had spent six weeks at number one. This was the biggest selling single of the year and a cover of a song that was a complete flop in the UK for the Four Seasons ten years earlier.

36(33) Guys And Dolls------------Here I Go Again----NEW ENTRY
Guys and Dolls were just two weeks out of the top 40 in between their number two hit "There's A Whole Lot Of Loving" and this, their follow up. They were nowhere near as successful this time around though. They went in at number 33, dropped this week, and then disappeared until the following February.

37(27) Three Degrees - - - - - - -Take Good Care Of Yourself
The Three Degrees had a few weeks back spent the last week they would spend inside the top ten for four years with the number nine peaking "Take Good Care Of Yourself ". To be totally honest, after the girls had failed to have a major hit with "Get Your Love Back", they seem to have recorded an almost identical copy of "When Will I See You Again" for this release. Tut Tut girls.

38(---) Retta Young-------------Sending Out An SOS
Another one from the much hyped 'All Platinum' label, and this was one of the most hyped of the lot. Not a bad song, but not particularly good either. It was just average and very ordinary (in much the same inoffensive way in which I think 'Travis' are). It took a further three weeks to reach number 28, and then the few of us to have even noticed Retta, forgot all about her until today.

39(---) Van McCoy-------------The Hustle
Van, who had been behind many other hits for different artists over the previous few years, struck out on his own with this massive disco hit which spent two weeks at number three. Van sadly suffered a fatal heart attack on 6th July 1979. He brings the total of 'late' people in this chart to (at least) eight.

40(36)Tami Lynn - - - - - - - - - - - - I'm Gonna Run Away From You
A third Tami (Tammy) in the chart, I bet that hasn't happened at any other time.
Tami Lynn was trying to have a hit for the second time with her 1971 number four hit "I'm Gonna Run Away From You", but could only manage number 36 this time with the only song she ever charted with.

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. I believe that we are all equal when it comes to deciding what makes a good song. I do not believe that good songs have to be serious or dull. I am of the opinion 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, and it's also everything I like.

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Email: nige@innotts.co.uk