REMEMBER WHEN - 14TH FEBRUARY 1976

1976
Week 7
WEEK ENDING 14TH FEBRUARY 1976

TOP 40 SINGLES

TW	LW
1	2	Slik	Forever And Ever
2	1	Abba	Mamma Mia
3	8	Four Seasons	December '63 (Oh What A Night)
4	3	Miracles	Love Machine
5	4	Donna Summer	Love To Love You Baby
6	5	R & J Stone	We Do It
7	13	Walker Brothers	No Regrets
8	21	Manuel And The Music Of The Mountains	Rodrigo's Guitar Concerto
9	17	Barbara Dickson	Answer Me
10	18	David Ruffin	Walk Away From Love
11	11	E.L.O.	Evil Woman
12	23	Wing And A Prayer Fife And Drum Corps	Baby Face
13	12	Paul Davidson	Midnight Rider
14	14	Small Faces	Itchicoo Park
15	20	War	Low Rider
16	6	Queen	Bohemian Rhapsody
17	15	Glenn Miller	Moonlight Serenade / Little Brown Jug / In The Mood
18	22	Osibisa	Sunshine Day
19	26	Who	Squeeze Box
20	9	Billy Howard	King Of The Cops
21	29	Yvonne Fair	It Should Have Been Me
22	7	Sailor	Glass Of Champagne
23	NEW	Tina Charles	I Love To Love
24	10	Mike Oldfield	In Dulce Jubilo / On Horseback
25	NEW	Slade	Let's Call It Quits
26	19	Sheer Elegance	Milky Way
27	30	Smokie	Something's Been Making Me Blue
28	25	Donny And Marie Osmond	Deep Purple
29	NEW	Pluto Shervington	Dat
30	31	O'Jays	I Love Music
31	39	Manhattan Transfer	Tuxedo Junction
32	32	Evelyn Thomas	Weak Spot
33	37	L.J. Johnson	Your Magic Put A Spell On Me
34	28	Captain And Tennille	The Way I Want To Touch You
35	27	Paul Simon	50 Ways To Leave Your Lover
36	NEW	Status Quo	Rain
37	33	George McCrae	Honey I
38	16	Barry White	Let The Music Play
39	35	Sweet	Lies In Your Eyes
40	38	Faith Hope And Charity	Just One Look

Slik

Forever And Ever

Slik was the first hitmaking band that Midge Ure was a part of. At the time Slik were heralded as the new 'Bay City Rollers'. They spent a week at number One with "Forever And Ever", but sadly only managed one minor hit after this (despite fronting their own TV show). I always liked this, it had an eerie sound about it that I still think sounds good today.

Abba

Mamma Mia

And this is the one that after a slow start, finally toppled Queen from number one. And just to get into the spirit of things, it's title was two words from the lyrics of "Bo Rap". After winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 and reaching number one with "Waterloo", it seemed as though Abba had gone the way of most Euro winners and wouldn't be heard of again. They then started their comeback with the number six peaking "SOS" in October 75, but this latest single started an amazing run for them where they had Six Number Ones from Seven Releases. It spent two weeks on top before gradually falling and completing 13 weeks in the 40. No matter what I may have thought about them, they were easily the most popular band in the world during the years 1976 & 1977.

Four Seasons

December '63 (Oh What A Night)

The Four Seasons had experienced an amazing comeback over the previous 12 months. They had been hitless as a band for over eight years in the UK, before Lead Vocalist Frankie Valli had his first solo hit in five years the previous April with "My Eyes Adored You". This prompted Tamla Motown to re-release their single "The Night" on it's 'Mowest' Label. After this became a top ten hit, the band recorded the 'Who Loves You' album and gained another top ten hit with the title track. "December '63" was the second single from the album, and gave them their first number one, after over 13 years of hitmaking. They were to have one more big hit before disappearing again, though many of their hits have become hits all over again when recorded by other artists, such as Clock's version of "December '63" in the Autumn of 1996. Part of the song's title "Oh What A Night" was used as the title to a seventies based musical that I was privileged to see twice in 1997. It starred Kid Creole and the wonderful Bernie Nolan amongst others, and a TV advertised album obviously inspired by the show was released in March 1998.

Miracles

Love Machine

This was the only hit that the Miracles managed without Smokey Robinson. Quite a shockingly high new entry at number 16 that peaked at number three a few weeks later. Billy Griffin had taken over as lead vocalist, and would have a solo top 20 hit seven years later.
Funny how I remember a girl named Susan Sharp loving this record, I bet she can't remember herself !

Donna Summer

Love To Love You Baby

Donna Summer was making her debut with her very first hit. This song was barred from the Radio One playlist (simulated orgasm, or was it ?), and played to death on Radio Luxembourg. Still, it managed to climax at number four play it loud ;-)
Two years later and Donna had released SIX albums, five of which charted.

R & J Stone

We Do It

Plenty of innuendo in this song by these one hit wonders that had been another surprisingly high new entry at number 17 in 1976's infancy. After an impressive leap to number seven the following week, it had to settle for a number five peak.

Walker Brothers

No Regrets

The Walker Brothers were having their first chart hit for nine years, and would reach number seven ensuring their first top ten hit for ten years. By a strange coincidence, Midge Ure, who was making his chart debut this very week as the lead vocalist of 'Slik' would have his first Solo hit with a cover of "No Regrets" six years later. The thing is, the Walker Brothers version was also a cover, and the original by it's composer 'Tom Rush' was around at this time, but convincingly beaten by the Walker Brothers.
This song should not be confused with the 1998 song by Robbie Willliams.

Manuel And The Music of The Mountains

Rodrigo's Guitar Concerto

If you think that number one's don't stay at the top very long these days, then spare a tought for poor old Geoff Love who's alter ego Manuel And The Music Of The Mountains reached number one with this in February 1976. Just a three hours or so after announcing that this was number one, the 'British Market Research Bureau' realised that a mistake had been made and not all the sales had been fed into the computer. And so, a new chart was released with the 'FourSeasons' at number one and this at number four. It did climb one more place to three, but this first hit in 15 years turned out to be the very last one for Manuel.
The intro to this single was back in the chart shortly afterwards when Slik used it on their "Requiem" single.

Barbara Dickson

Answer Me

This debut hit for Barbara was a cover of a song that had been to number one for both Frankie Laine and David Whitfield in 1953. Frankie spent eight weeks on top with it, while David spent two, one of which was a week when both titles shared the top spot.
Barbara didn't make it a hat trick, but she did make it to number nine. I wasn't too keen on it, I seemed to hear it far too often.

David Ruffin

Walk Away From Love

David had been with the Temptations from 1963 until 1968 after which he began his solo career. But this was the only time that any of his solo singles made the UK chart. Quite a good single and it made it to number ten.
The silly bugger later started taking drugs and died after overdosing on crack in 1991.

E.L.O.

Evil Woman

E.L.O. weren't yet chart regulars and were only considered as good as their latest single. This was their hit for almost two years. And it quickly reached number ten to become their biggest hit since "Roll Over Beethoven" in 1973. It also reached number ten in the States.
I remember hearing the chart rundown in the week that it reached number ten. It was in classroom number 66, and was at the same time that I'd started a new hobby. The hobby was taking the starter thingy out of the fluorescent lights in the school classrooms, and then throwing them onto the ground so that they exploded. I enjoyed the frustrations of the various teachers as lights flickered without coming on properly. That was until a message written in chalk appeared on the door of room 66. It read "Nigel Jones Room 65 nicked the starters from the lights". I was summoned to the deputy head (Mr McDonna) where I admitted taking one starter and had to pay 22 1/2 p.

Wing And A Prayer Fife And Drum Corps

Baby Face

Any credibility that I still held will be washed away when I admit that I liked this. But, I did like this disco version of the Little Richard hit that I had known for most of my life. It reached number 12 and they were never heard of again.

Paul Davidson

Midnight Rider

Rather a good cover of a song that had first been performed by the 'Allman Brothers' on their 1970 album 'Idlewind South', and had later been recorded by Greg Allman solo and taken to number 19 in the Billboard chart. Now two years later, Paul Davidson was taking an entirely different version of the song into the UK chart. This Jamaican singer took it to number ten, but was unable to promote it on Top Of The Pops (Pans People did their stuff with police cars etc. instead) and it got no further.

Small Faces

Itchicoo Park

A re-issue of a number three hit from 1967 was this single that took a considerable leap from 23 to 9 in January, only to progress no further. Along with 'All Or Nothing' and 'My Mind's Eye', this is one of those 'Small Faces' tracks that I never tire of hearing. Following the success of this re-issue, the band reformed for a couple of years but had no further success. The song was back in the charts as recently as 1995 when M People recorded one of the most awful cover versions I've ever heard.

War

Low Rider

I hated this song at the time, but began to appreciate it a little more a couple of years later. It peaked at number 12 and is now better known for Marmite commercials.

Queen

Bohemian Rhapsody

1975 had already seen the longest running number one for four years when the Bay City Rollers had spent six weeks on top with "Bye Bye Baby". But as that same year was drawing to a close, Queen entered the chart at number 17 with their fourth hit single, and climbed to number nine the following week. It wouldn't have been too much of a surprise if it had dropped a couple of places the following week, but no. It rose to number one for the first week of a nine week spell, the longest spell at number one since Paul Anka had also managed nine weeks with "Diana" in 1957. In fact, only two singles had spent more consecutive weeks at number one ("Cara Mia" by David Whitfield & "Rose Marie" by Slim Whitman). It even went back to number one following Freddie Mercury's death in 1991 for a further five weeks over the Christmas/New Year period. That means that this recording is the only one to have been at number one in four different years
The song itself is unlike any other record ever made, and I'm sure most of you have heard the stories about Freddie first playing the song to the rest of the band, and of the Kenny Everett incident. It regularly comes out on top of polls as the best song of all time (excepting radio one since they decided they don't want to play songs by older bands due to their fear of melodies), and I believe it is the third best selling single of all time in the UK. Something else of interest about this single was the ground breaking promo film. This was the one that is credited with starting the whole 'Music Video' boom. Others had been filmed before, but most were less than interesting. So the question is asked, "Was the video the only reason why it was so successful ?"
With one play a week on Top Of The Pops ?
Of course it wasn't.

Glenn Miller

Moonlight Serenade / Little Brown Jug / In The Mood

I wonder what it was with Glenn Miller this year. Not only did this single peak at number 13, but the cast of the TV series 'Rock Follies' (which included Julie Covington) also released a single called "Glenn Miller Is Missing".

Osibisa

Sunshine Day

Didn't like this one either. I always thought that it had a scruffy sound about it, if there is such a thing. And it doesn't remind me of summer at all. It reminds me of a freezing cold day when they performed it on Swap Shop. It had a strange chart run, entered at 23, moved up to 17, dropped to 22, climbed to 18, then dropped out.

Who

Squeeze Box

The Who went as high as number ten with their biggest hit in almost four years "Squeeze Box". Strange how the big screen version of the rock opera "Tommy" was doing the rounds of the country's cinemas at the time, yet the only single to be released from the soundtrack was Elton John's version of "Pinball Wizard".

Billy Howard

King Of The Cops

A comedy hit where Billy impersonated TV Cops singing a parody of the Roger Miller hit "King Of The Road". Yes, it was funny. It peaked at number six.
Speaking of cops, just two days before I typed this, this place was swarming with cops. The Nottingham bomb went off approx 50 yards from our home on December 11th (2000), and I got a rude awakening just after 7:00am. Now, I'm all for strapping bombs to people who experiment on animals or take part in other acts of animal cruelty, then dumping them far away from any other life form to explode. But when the intended victim was only loosely connected to a company that carries out such experiments, and was probably not even aware of the fact, AND any other innocent member of the public could have been killed (in particular my wife and baby daughter if we hadn't had a problem with the car over the weekend), then it's well out of order. The guilty party has been caught, I shall await his release from prison.

Yvonne Fair

It Should Have Been Me

Most of you will know that I'm in the minority who consider a good voice as being a major talent, a talent that is just as important as the ability to compose songs. You will also know that I consider Gladys Knight to be someone possessed with one of the finest voices. But, you will be surprised to learn that I think this cover of Gladys' 1968 US hit is much better than the original. I've always thought that Tina Turner could do a good job of this song, I wonder if she's ever recorded it. This version went to number five, and we heard no more from Yvonne afterwards. We almost had the song back in the chart in 1991 when covered by 'Adeva', but she had to settle for number 48.

Sailor

Glass Of Champagne

Sailor had released a couple of good singles earlier in 1975 entitled "Traffic Jam" and "Sailor", but had little success with them. Then they released this very Bryan Ferry sounding single (it sounded like him to me) in time for an early assault on the '76 charts. It was the first serious challenger to Queen in the New Year, but remained at number two for two weeks before quickly falling out of sight.

Tina Charles

I Love To Love

This was Tina Charles first hit, at least the first with her name on the record as she had actually sang lead vocal on the 5000 Volts number four hit "I'm On Fire" the previous Autumn. Tina spent three weeks at number one with this, and went on to have six more hits over the next two years. If you get the opportunity, check out "You Set My Heart On Fire" on her debut album also titled 'I Love To Love'.

Mike Oldfield

In Dulce Jubilo / On Horseback

After 3 weeks just outside the top 20, this took a surprising jump up the chart to number 4 in the middle of January, but then climbed no higher. When this single first hit the chart, I thought that the music I was hearing must have been "On Horseback". Well, "In Dulce" does sound as though it could have been called that doesn't it ?
"On Horseback" was actually a spoken word thing if I remember correctly. I find it quite odd that "In Dulce Jubilo" is associated with Christmas when it was more of a January hit than December.

Slade

Let's Call It Quits

Slade were having their 17th consecutive top 20 hit with "Let's Call It Quits", and went as high as number 11. Just like the Glitter Band, it was apparent that they were trying to change their sound, but this was the last time that they'd be in the top 20 for five years.

Sheer Elegance

Milky Way

The first of two hits for the former 'New Faces' talent show winners was quite an ordinary song with nothing remarkable about it. Having said that, it was very easy to listen to and the type of song that you couldn't get out of your head after hearing it. It peaked at number 18.

Donny And Marie Osmond

Deep Purple

The final hit from Donny And Marie was a cover of the Larry Clinton song (There's a joke to be made there somewhere, ask Monica) from 1939 that had been taken to number 17 by 'Nino Tempo & April Stevens' in 1963. This was a slow climber that spent seven weeks on the chart and eventually peaked at number 25.

Smokie

Something's Been Making Me Blue

Smokie were having their third and first hit. The reason I say that is, it was actually their third hit as a band, but the first on which they were named 'Smokie' rather than 'Smokey'. I liked this number 17 peasking single, but maybe it was because we had a British Blue cat named 'Smokey'. All attempts by myself to change the spelling of her name to 'Smokie' failed (I did try, honest). Probably just as well as she outlived the band to a ripe old age of 17 and a half before disappearing.

Pluto Shervington

Dat

Pluto Shervington peaked at number six with this. Very strange song, and at times he seemed to be singing "I'm not a killer queen". He had to wait six years before his next hit "Your Honour".

O'Jays

I Love Music

The O'Jays were in the chart for the first time in three years with one of their best known songs "I Love Music", and peaked at number 13. For no reason apparent to me, this single was re-issued just two years later and it climbed as high as number 36. I also have a feeling that it had already been released once before too, in 1973.

Manhattan Transfer

Tuxedo Junction

This was the first that we saw of Manhattan Transfer in the chart. It wasn't the normal sort of thing I liked, but I did like it, it had a kind of 'cute' sound about it. It peaked at number 24.

Evelyn Thomas

Weak Spot

Evelyn debuted on the chart at number 39 and then slowly climbed to number 26. It was another song from the northern soul scene, but not particularly good, she seemed to rush her way through it as if she had something more important to be getting on with. Evelyn's only other top 40 hit came eight years later, and it was a top five smash.

L.J. Johnson

Your Magic Put A Spell On Me

L.J. Johnson was having his having his one and only hit, peaking at number 27. In another time and place it could have been the big hit I felt it deserved to be.

Captain And Tennille

The Way I Want To Touch You

Funny how this duo didn't make it big over here. This was one of those singles that I was glad to see entering the chart, but then disappointed at it's lack of much in the way of progress afterwards. It only reached number 28.

Paul Simon

50 Ways To Leave Your Lover

Paul's first hit for over two years sounded like one that would be a massive hit, but number 23 was the best he could do with a song that hit the top of the Billboard chart. Paul would have to wait a further ten years for his next sizable hit.

Status Quo

Rain

Status Quo peaked at number seven with this track from the highly successful 'Blue For You' album. It was their third long player to top the album chart.

George McCrae

Honey I

The seventh and final hit for George only went as high as number 33. Hardly surprising really, it was nothing special. The only time George got anywhere at all in the UK chart after this was in 1984 when quite a good song called "One Step Closer (To Love)" went to number 57. I was sure that I bought that single in 1985, my memory must be deceiving me.

Barry White

Let The Music Play

The usual formula from Barry for his seventh hit that also became his fourth top ten hit in under 18 months when it reached number nine.

Sweet

Lies In Your Eyes

Almost a typical Sweet song, but not commercial enough to become a big hit. It peaked at number 35, and the Sweet then stayed away from the chart for two years.

Faith, Hope And Charity

Just One Look

Quite a bit of hype surrounding this one if I remember correctly didn't do it much good though. Entered at 38, dropped to 40 and then out.
There was another 'group' with the same name as these that tried to make it in 1990. They issued their single in a box with badges and a poster, they even had their own Motif (that was similar to the one that Take That later used now I think about it). But anyway, all that crap couldn't disguise the fact that the music wasn't very good and it flopped outside the top 50.

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.

ON TO THE FOLLOWING WEEK
BACK TO THE PREVIOUS WEEK
BACK TO THE 1976 INDEX
THE REMEMBER WHEN ARCHIVES
GOLDEN DAYS INDEX

Email: nige@innotts.co.uk
But please be patient for my reply