REMEMBER WHEN - 29TH MAY 1976

1976
Week 22
WEEK ENDING 29TH MAY 1976

TOP 40 SINGLES

TW	LW
1	1	Abba	Fernando
2	2	J.J. Barrie	No Charge
3	14	Wurzels	Combine Harvester
4	11	Robin Sarstedt	My Resistance Is Low
5	6	Andrea True Connection	More More More
6	5	Sutherland Brothers And Quiver	Arms Of Mary
7	16	Wings	Silly Love Songs
8	7	Rolling Stones	Fool To Cry
9	17	Bellamy Brothers	Let Your Love Flow
10	15	Diana Ross	Love Hangover
11	21	Cliff Richard	Devil Woman
12	19	James And Bobby Purify	I'm Your Puppet
13	9	Hank Mizell	Jungle Rock
14	4	Stylistics	Can't Help Falling In Love
15	10	Fox	S-S-S-Single Bed
16	8	Brotherhood Of Man	Save Your Kisses For Me
17	26	Paul Nicholas	Reggae Like It Used To Be
18	24	Gladys Knight & The Pips	Midnight Train To Georgia
19	12	Silver Convention	Get Up And Boogie
20	29	Melba Moore	This Is It
21	3	Four Seasons	Silver Star
22	33	Peter Frampton	Show Me The Way
23	25	Mud	Shake It Down
24	35	Slik	Requiem
25	NEW	Gallagher & Lyle	Heart On My Sleeve
26	30	Jimmy James	I'll Go Where Your Music Takes Me
27	18	Frankie Valli	Fallen Angel
28	38	Dolly Parton	Jolene
29	37	Mistura	The Flasher
30	31	Archie Bell & The Drells	Soul City Walk
31	28	Tina Charles	Love Me Like A Lover
32	20	Sheer Elegance	Life Is Too Short Girl
33	27	Johnny Taylor	Disco Lady
34	40	Elvin Bishop	Fooled Around And Fell In Love
35	NEW	Billy Paul	Let's Make A Baby
36	22	Isaac Hayes	Disco Connection
37	NEW	David Bowie	TVC 15
38	13	Laurie Lingo & The Dipsticks	Convoy GB
39	NEW	Dion	The Wanderer
40	36	Judge Dread	The Winkle Man

Abba

Fernando

Abba spent four weeks at number one with this single. This was the year in which Abba were really big. Fernando was the second of three number ones they achieved in 1976 (all sounding totally different). Even though they had become such hot property, reaching number one was not a foregone conclusion with each new release (as it became in the late 90's), singles had to earn the right to top the charts. This single had steadily grown on the British public as it climbed (remember when singles did that ?) to number two, and stayed there for three weeks before hitting the top.

J.J. Barrie

No Charge

This single was one that most of us who were into the music of the day would rather forget. It was one of those things that our mothers and grandmothers liked, the story of a kid giving his mother a bill for doing household chores etc. She of course reminded him of all she had done for him through his growing up and not charged him for it. It was bloody awful, but still managed to have a week at number one. Billy Connolly later did a parody of it which was just as bad !

Wurzels

Combine Harvester

"Combine Harvester" was a parody of the Melanie hit "Brand New Key", and it made about as much sense as the original. Strangely enough, this was the summer that I spent working on a farm and saw quite a lot of Combine Harvester activity. It spent two weeks at number one.

Robin Sarstedt

My Resistance Is Low

Robin Sarstedt (real name Clive) was the younger brother of both Peter who'd had a 1969 number one with "Where Do You Go To My Lovely, and also Eden Kane (Richard Sarstedt) who'd spent a week at number one in 1961 with "Well I Ask You". Robin (real name Clive) couldn't repeat the feat, and had to settle for a number three peak with this cover of the Hoagy Carmichael song.

Andrea True Connection

More More More

It has been widely documented that Andrea was a porn actress, and I certainly remember quite revealing photographs appearing in the music press at the time (naturally in grubby black and white). But was it all a marketing ploy ?
Andrea climaxed at number five, and after not being able to do much with her follow ups, she went back to doing whatever it is she did.
Bananarama covered this in 1993.

Sutherland Brothers & Quiver

Arms Of Mary

The Sutherland Brothers & Quiver peaked at number five with their first and biggest hit "Arms Of Mary". A particular memory of this one, is of the resident dancers on a TV show named 'Lift Off' dancing with miner's lanterns in their hands. A previous song of theirs had been the second biggest selling single of the year before, when recorded by Rod Stewart ("Sailing"). They recorded a good follow up single to this named "When The Train Comes", which failed to chart, and only managed a week at number 35 with the one after that called "Secrets". There was a further near miss for them with "Easy Come Easy Go" in 1979, andf nothing was heard from them afterwards.

Wings

Silly Love Songs

After having their last two singles fail to reach the top 40, Wings were back on form as "Silly Love Songs" went to number two. The B side to this was a song featuring Linda McCartney on vocals titled "Cook Of The House". Quite appropriate considering how successful her range of vegetarian meals later became.
I have become to feel a little uncomfortable about those meals though. I chose to give up eating red meat in the mid-late nineties. This was after quite a few years of deliberation about the matter. I haven't and would never try to convince anyone else to do the same, that's their choice (that also applies to my daughter who does have some red meat in her baby food). Blood sports are an entirely different matter and I could quite happily bury alive anyone who partakes in such activities. Back to the matter in hand, those vegetarian dishes actually do taste like the meat that they are substituting. So I'm beginning to feel that maybe this is defeating the object just a little.

Rolling Stones

Fool To Cry

The Rolling Stones were back with one of their strongest singles since the 60's. It stopped just short of the top five at number six, but a classic all the same, and another record that reminds me of hot summer days, or maybe evenings, as my most vivid memory is of it being played on the top twenty on Sundays.

Bellamy Brothers

Let Your Love Flow

The Bellamy Brothers were on their way to number seven with their country crossover hit, "Let Your Love Flow". They went on to have a near miss with their next single "Satin Sheets", but they had to wait over three years before they finally hit the top 40 again. To be honest, I've never really classed "Let Your Love Flow" as country anyway, I just think of it as a good pop song.

Diana Ross

Love Hangover

Just over four weeks after "Theme From Mahogany" entered the top 40, "Love Hangover" entered at number 24. This was Diana in sultry mode and sounds very much like she'd been influenced by Donna Summer, who'd recently hit the top five with "Love To Love You Baby". Despite it's slow progress up the chart, this single eventually reached number ten.

Cliff Richard

Devil Woman

Cliff Richard's all time favourite amongst his own recordings, "Devil Woman" reached number nine. It was quite a change in style from Cliff's previous hit "Miss You Nights", and also a strange title for a song from someone so closely associated with Christianity. I wonder if this is the track that persuaded British students to adopt Cliff's speaking manner.

James And Bobby Purify

I'm Your Puppet

James And Bobby Purify reached number twelve with an old recording that had been an American number six hit in 1966. Pretty ordinary song maybe, but another nice reminder of Summer days.

Hank Mizell

Jungle Rock

Hank Mizell reached number three with this song that he'd recorded in the 50's. Like the Tammy Wynette Country song "Stand By Your Man" from the previous year, there seems no logical explanation for this slice of Rockabilly suddenly becoming a hit. But what I do remember is an interview with Hank on the radio one 'Newsbeat' show at the time of the hit. He was being interviewed at his current place of work, working the fuel pumps.

Stylistics

Can't Help Falling In Love

More strange movements within the chart were encountered by the Stylistics. Having moved up one week from ten to four, they dropped to 14 the following week. This was thieir last ever top five hit.

Fox

S-S-S-Single Bed

Fox peaked at number four with this third and (surprisingly) final hit. Noosha Fox would return to the charts briefly at the beginning of her solo career, and later released as a single her superior version of "The Heat Is On" (later a minor hit for Agnetha from Abba), but success was limited.

Brotherhood Of Man

Save Your Kisses For Me

The Brotherhood Of Man were having their first hit for almost six years, and it may have seemed unusual for a group without a hit in such a long time to enter the chart as high as number 14. But there was of course a story behind this song. After many years of an act being chosen to sing for the UK in the Eurovision song contest and then being given six songs to sing from which TV viewers would vote, this year it was done differently. Instead a contest was held where a number of different acts sang one song each. Brotherhood Of Man won that contest and of course went on to win the big one. This single went on to spend six weeks at number one and became the best selling single of 1976.
And then of course, there's the thing about this Brotherhood Of Man not really being the same group that had a hit with "United We Stand" in 1970. There was no Tony Burrows this time for one thing. It was still songwriter Tony Hiller's baby though, and this was the classic line up (can there be such a thing as a 'classic' Brotherhood Of Man line up ?).

Paul Nicholas

Reggae Like It Used To Be

Paul Nicholas reached number 17 with this debut hit. Paul had been around a few years, but his success throughout 1976 was probably kick started by his role as the sadistic cousin Kevin in the film "Tommy".

Gladys Knight & The Pips

Midnight Train To Georgia

Gladys Knight reached number 10 with this, but how could she have failed ?
She had two elements of classic soul recordings in the title alone, 'Georgia' AND the good old 'Midnight Train'.
Seriously, I remember this single being originally released towards the end of 1973, and listening to it by calling a number listed in the Record Mirror (best UK Music Publication ever). I wondered what had happened to it until it reappeared and charted.

Silver Convention

Get Up And Boogie

Silver Convention were having their biggest hit with the number seven peaking "Get Up And Boogie". This was promoted on TV, by a cartoon clip featuring different species of animals including a cat playing a piano. Promos were still few and far between in those days, so this one sticks in the memory. it reminds me of the promo for the Bamboo hit "Bamboogie".

Melba Moore

This Is It

This was Melba Moore's debut and in reaching number nine was her biggest ever hit. By the end of the decade, this single was very difficult to get hold of, but by the mid 90's it seemed to be available on hundreds of compilation CDs. Dannii Minogue took her cover of the song to number ten in 1993.
Melba released another great single the following year titled "The Greatest Feeling" backed with an excellent cover of "The Long And Winding Road", buit it failed to chart. She just missed the 40 in 1979 with "Pick Me Up I'll Dance" and had to wait until 1982 before she had another hit. Wonder what she's doing now, anyone know ?

Four Seasons

Silver Star

The Four Seasons were having their last big hit with this one. It was a single that had a very strange chart run. After entering at number 27, t climbed normally to number 16 and then 6. But it then dropped to number nine before climbing to number three, dropping to 21, climbing back up to 16, dropping to 31, then 39 and out.
It was a very worthy follow up to their number one "December '63" and had a great disco version on the B side. What disco version actually meant was that it was a longer cut of the track on the A side.

Peter Frampton

Show Me The Way

Peter Frampton reached number ten with his debut solo hit "Show Me The Way". Strange how exactly a year later a band called 'The Jacksons' were climbing to number one with "Show You The Way To Go", which was also their debut top 40 hit (under their new moniker). However despite the critical acclaim and three more excellent singles (Baby I Love Your Way, I'm In You & I Can't Stand It No More), clearly no one did show Peter the way. All he could manage after this was a week at number 39 with "Do You Feel Like We Do" in November of this year.

Mud

Shake It Down

Mud got funky with this 14th top 40 hit. Quite impressive actually, it reached number 12.

Slik

Requiem

Slik reached number 24 with this criminally ignored single. They had reached number one with their previous effort "Forever And Ever", but this was to be their only other hit, despite a fine third single "The Kids A Punk". "Requiem" would not have seemed out of place on an Ultravox album, the band which lead singer Midge Ure would become a part of in 1980.

Gallagher & Lyle

Heart On My Sleeve

The second hit for Gallagher & Lyle, and the second to reach number six. The week after this dropped out of the chart, it was back as one of the tracks on an E.P. from Bryan Ferry.

Jimmy James & The Vagabonds

I'll Go Where The Music Takes Me

Jimmy James And The Vagabonds were having their first hit, since their debut with "Red Red Wine" in 1968. They would only reach number 23 this time, but better times were coming for the band.

Frankie Valli

Fallen Angel

As well as having a top ten with the Four Seasons, Frankie Valli had his major hit at with this one. Call me an old softie, but I still think that this is a great ballad and should have got higher than number eleven. On either the 22nd April or 6th May, Frankie appeared on Top Of The Pops both as a solo artist and as a member of his band performing "Silver Star". I can't remember the exact date, but logically it must be one of the two mentioned, as prior to the madness that now presides over the UK charts started, the only songs to be featured on the show were those that were rising up the chart, not going down.

Dolly Parton

Jolene

Dolly Parton made her UK debut with this one. In actual fact, this number Seven peaking single is the only solo hit Dolly has ever had in the UK. Her only other appearance in the top 40 was in a duet with Kenny Rogers in 1983.

Mistura with Lloyd Michels

The Flasher

This was an instrumental track featuring the trumpet playing of Lloyd Michelsthat reached number 23. It swounded as though it should have been the theme to a TV series set in the wild west. They were never heard of again.

Archie Bell & The Drells

Soul City Walk

Archie Bell And The Drells had waited three years to follow up their second hit with a third, but they finally got it with "Soul City Walk". This is the song that most people associate with the band, despite it only reaching number 13 compared to the number 11 high of "Here I Go Again". I don't like Archie Bell records very much, and I don't know why, unless it's something to do with me thinking people named Archie should not have hit singles.

Tina Charles

Love Me Like A Lover

Disappointing follow up to "I Love To Love", and that wolf whistle at the beginning was plain embarrassing. Somehow, I bought her "I Love To Love" album (Britannia Music Club record of the month, think it was called Audio Club Of Great Britain at the time), but always skipped this track. It reached number 28.
Interestingly enough, when this first entered the top 40 at number 31, the single one place above it was "I'll Go Where Your Music Takes Me" by JImmy James & The Vagabonds. Just under two years later, Tina had her final hit with her cover of that song.

Sheer Elegance

Life Is Too Short Girl

Sheer Elegance were back with the follow up to their first hit "Milky Way". "Life Is Too Short Girl" reached number nine, but was the last hit for the band who found fame via the 'New Faces' talent show. If I remember correctly, their album sleeve was quite naughty.

Johnny Taylor

Disco Lady

Johnny Taylor was having his only hit with the number 25 peaking "Disco Lady". Yet over in the States, not only was it a four week number one and the biggest of his 21 hits, but it was also the first Platinum record to be certified by the RIAA.

Elvin Bishop

Fooled Around And Fell In Love

Elvin Bishop reached number 34 with this sole hit. Elvin was a guitarist and didn't actually sing on the record, that honour belonged to Mickey Thomas. No not the former Wrexham, Man Utd, Everton, Chelsea, Stoke, etc. footballer, but the Mickey Thomas who later sang with Starship.
This track was later featured in trhe film "Summer Of Sam".

Billy Paul

Let's Make A Baby

Don't go around all the houses Billy, why not come straight to the point ?
Reached number 30.

Isaac Hayes

Disco Connection

Isaac Hayes was having his second UK hit with"Disco Connection" and peaked at number ten. This single was GOOD, so I can't imagine why it is one of only three singles from the chart in which it debuted that I don't have. I'll have to hunt it down.
Isaac had to wait over 22 years for his next hit. This was in the guise of Chef from South Park, and he hit number one with "Chocolate Salty Balls"

David Bowie

TVC 15

This was Bowie's smallest hit in four years and didn't even make the top 30, having to settle for a number 33 peak. There was no injustice done though, it wasn't very good anyway.

Laurie Lingo And The Dipsticks

Convoy GB

Laurie Lingo And The Dipsticks were in fact Radio One DJs Dave Lee Travis & Paul Burnett. "Convoy GB" was a parody of the CW McCall hit "Convoy" from just two months previous, and peaked at number four. I found it as good as the original to be truthful (well, the slang terms made more sense to us than the ones Mr McCall used).

Dion

The Wanderer

A classic from number ten hit from 1962 being given a deserved re-release. This time around it reached number 16.

Judge Dread

The Winkle Man

Judge Dread was having his seventh hit with "The Winkle Man" and peaked at 35. He actually said a naughty word in this one.

Some 1976 MP3s

Linda Lewis - Baby I'm Yours

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
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