REMEMBER WHEN - 21ST MAY 1977

1977

Week 21
WEEK ENDING 21ST MAY 1977

TOP 40 SINGLES

TW	LW
1	2	Rod Stewart	I Don't Want To Talk About It / First Cut Is The Deepest
2	1	Deniece Williams	Free
3	4	Joe Tex	Ain't Gonna Bump No More
4	6	Van McCoy	The Shuffle
5	16	Kenny Rogers	Lucille
6	11	Barbra Streisand	Evergreen
7	5	Tavares	Whodunit
8	3	Stevie Wonder	Sir Duke
9	8	Eagles	Hotel California
10	9	10 CC	Good Morning Judge
11	15	Piero Umiliani	Mah Na Mah Na
12	25	Marvin Gaye	Got To Give It Up
13	14	Peter Gabriel	Solsbury Hill
14	7	Dead End Kids	Have I The Right
15	18	Andrew Gold	Lonely Boy
16	17	Leo Sayer	How Much Love
17	13	Billy Ocean	Red Light Spells Danger
18	10	Elkie Brooks	Pearl's A Singer
19	29	Heatwave	Too Hot To Handle / Slip Your Disc To This
20	NEW	Boz Scaggs	Lido Shuffle
21	24	Bay City Rollers	It's A Game
22	23	Delegation	Where Is The Love
23	37	Trammps	Disco Inferno
24	27	Blue	Capture Your Heart
25	22	Deep Purple	Smoke On The Water
26	34	Yvonne Elliman	Hello Stranger
27	36	Joy Sarney	Naughty Naughty Naughty
28	26	Billy Paul	Let 'Em In
29	NEW	Bryan Ferry	Tokyo Joe
30	12	Abba	Knowing Me Knowing You
31	19	Rose Royce	I Wanna Get Next To You
32	33	Fleetwood Mac	Don't Stop
33	32	Detroit Spinners	Could It Be I'm Falling In Love (EP)
34	NEW	Tina Charles	Rendezvous
35	NEW	Ramones	Sheena Is A Punk Rocker
36	NEW	Roni Hill	You Keep Me Hanging On / Stop In The Name Of Love
37	NEW	Stranglers	Peaches
38	NEW	Shalamar	Uptown Festival
39	20	Berni Flint	I Don't Want To Put A Hold On You
40	NEW	Martyn Ford Orchestra	Let Your Body Go Down Town

Rod Stewart

I Don't Want To Talk About It / First Cut Is The Deepest

This was Rod Stewart's fourth number one. "I Don't Want To Talk About It" was taken from his 1975 album "Atlantic Crossing", while "First Cut Is The Deepest" was from his most recent "A Night On The Town" album. The former was later taken to number three when covered by Everything But The Girl in 1988, and I have no complaints about that particular cover. Most of us associate the song with Rod as though he was the original artist, but this was one of Rod's many covers. It was originally recorded by 'Crazy Horse' (one time Neil Young backing band) for their eponymous debut album in 1971, and written by band vocalist Danny Whitten. Unfortunately, Danny didn't live to see how popular his song became, he died of a self-induced drug overdose in 1972.
"First Cut Is The Deepest" was written by Cat Stevens and was the debut hit for PP Arnold when it reached number 18 in 1967.

Deniece Williams

Free

Deniece Williams hit number one with this, her very first hit, a lovely song that just reminds me of summer every time I hear it. Deniece managed two weeks on top and then never quite managed to make the top again. She has recently been presenting a show on BBC Radio Two.
This song was covered in the '80s by Will Downing, and again in the '90s by Chante Moore, but neither made the top 40.

Joe Tex

Ain't Gonna Bump No More

Joe Tex reached number two with his novelty, yet highly danceable hit "Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman)". Sadly Joe passed away a few years ago.

Van McCoy

The Shuffle

Van was the man behind so many great Disco hits and was having his second big hit under his own name. This big disco hit reached number four.

Kenny Rogers

Lucille

This was Kenny's first chart entry since his second hit "Something's Burning" had reached number eight in 1970. His 1969 number two peaking debut "Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town" told the story of a cheating wife, and this one had a similar theme. Good songs both of them, this one went all the way to number one.

Barbara Streisand

Evergreen

It was 11 years since her chart debut, but Barbra Streisand hit the top 10 for the first time and climbed to number three with "Evergreen" (Love Theme From 'A Star Is Born'). She would follow this with a hit every year until 1982.

Tavares

Whodunit

The Tavares were having their fourth hit in less than 12 months with "Whodunit". They peaked at number five and would never get this high again.

Stevie Wonder

Sir Duke

Stevie Wonder equalled the position of his previous biggest hit as "Sir Duke" reached number two. This song was a tribute to the legendary 'Duke Ellington', and was taken from the 'Songs In The Key Of Life' album. I'm afraid that I could never really get into this single, and neither did I share the critic's enthusiasm for it's parent album (I preferred the three previous and next two albums). Three years would pass before Stevie returned to the top 20 of the single's chart.

Eagles

Hotel California

The Eagles peaked at number eight with this, their biggest UK hit. They never did quite make it big in the UK singles chart, like they did elsewhere. The reason for this will remain one of the great mysteries of our time.

10 CC

Good Morning Judge

Ten CC climbed slowly but eventually reached number five with "Good Morning Judge", taken from the brilliant 'Deceptive Bends' album. Video promos still hadn't quite caught on those days and I seemed to be one of the few to have started to sit up and take real notice of them. For that reason, I remember the attempt by 10.C.C. to do something innovative with the promo for this particular single. As you'd expect, it featured a courtroom.

Piero Umiliani

Mah Na Mah Na

The wasn't exactly a song. It was just Mah Na Mah Na noises and no other words. It peaked at number eight in the same week that a version by the Muppets entered the chart on the B side of their "Halfway Down The Stairs" Hit. It had been made popular by it's inclusion in both the Muppet Show and the Benny Hill show. The err, tune (the Mah Na Mah Na bits) was covered by 'Vanilla' on their awful "No Way No Way" hit in 1997.

Marvin Gaye

Got To Give It Up

This was one of my favourite songs from 1977. "Got To Give It Up" was Marvin's first solo hit for almost four years and his last for another five years. I remember there being a room with a pool table and jukebox at my local railway station in Ruabon. We used to go there a lot, but I was the only one who ever selected this one on the jukebox. I think my taste in music was probably questioned (story of my life). Still, it went to number seven to become his biggest solo hit since 1969. Aaliyah had a cover of this in the UK charts at number 37 in 1996, but it was terrible of course (even though I do quite like her as a rule).

Peter Gabriel

Solsbury Hill

Peter Gabriel was having his first hit since leaving Genesis, and got as high as number 13 with a song that is now considered a classic.

Dead End Kids

Have I The Right

The Dead End Kids spent two weeks in their peak position of number six with their remake of the Honeycombs 1964 hit. OK, but hardly a classic cover. They didn't chart again.

Andrew Gold

Lonely Boy

Andrew Gold was having his very first hit with "Lonely Boy", and peaked at number 11. This one kind of slipped by me at the time, but it didn't take me too long to catch up.

Leo Sayer

How Much Love

Leo Sayer was following up his only UK number one with the number ten peaking "How Much Love". Leo had frequent patches of success between 1974 & 1983, but was never really consistent with his singles.

Billy Ocean

Red Light Spells Danger

Billy Ocean reached number two with his fourth hit in just over 12 months. But, he would have to wait seven years before he had his next hit.

Elkie Brooks

Pearl's A Singer

Back to the charts, and Elkie Brooks was having her first solo hit after years of limited success as a member of 'Vinegar Joe' alongside Robert Palmer. Pearl's A Singer was reputed to be about 'Janis Joplin', and peaked at number eight.

Heatwave

Too Hot To Handle / Slip Your Disc To This

Heatwave were following their first hit "Boogie Nights" with this double A side. It reached number 15 and they were two storming tracks.

Boz Scaggs

Lido Shuffle

Surprising high debut position of number 20 and a high of number 13 for this so-so song.
But what exactly is a Lido Shuffle ?
And why does he pronounce it "Lee Doh"
I've always known it to be pronounced "Lie Doh", and it's usually the swimming baths.

Bay City Rollers

It's A Game

I knew this song from the 'String Driven Thing' version that was on K'Tel's '22 Electrifying Hits'. This wasn't a bad cover, but the change of style distanced their young fans and their run of top five singles was over as it peaked at number 16.
The album of the same name included their cover of David Bowie's "Rebel Rebel", and it wasn't as bad as you probably suspect.

Delegation

Where Is The Love

Delegation were a UK band having their only top 40 hit with "Where Is The Love", and reached number 22. A very ordinary song that often turns up on cheap compilations.

Trammps

Disco Inferno

Perfection. Not only a great disco song, but a great pop single too. Probably the best disco single ever at the time of it's original release, and it hasn't been bettered many times since. Strange though that it only reached number 16.
A year later the ten minute+ version was the closing track on the 'Saturday Night Fever' soundtrack, and so the single was re-issued. This time it reached number 47.

Blue

Gonna Capture Your Heart

This was Blue's only hit. "Gonna Capture Your Heart" was a simple pop song that could easily have been recorded by 'The Dooleys' or any of a hundred other bands, and reached number 18.
This is not the same act that debuted on the UK chart in the spring of 2001.

Deep Purple

Smoke On The Water

Deep Purple were in the top 40 for the first time in five years with the number 21 peaking "Smoke On The Water". Strange how such a well known song didn't reach a higher position. Deep Purple would never get that high in the charts again either.

Yvonne Elliman

Hello Stranger

Nice enough, but not as good as her three bigger hits. Has a slight feel of William De Vaughn's "Be Thankful For What You've Got" about it. It reached number 26.

Joy Sarney

Naughty Naughty Naughty

This is the one with the Punch and Judy effects. Got irritating after a while, only reached number 26.

Billy Paul

Let 'Em In

Billy Paul reached number 26 with this rendition of the Wings number two hit from just nine months earlier. He did add a new slant to the song, he even threw in Martin Luther King. Pity it didn't perform better.

Bryan Ferry

Tokyo Joe

Bryan ought to stick to cover versions for his solo work. Number 15.

Abba

Knowing Me Knowing You

Can't complain about this at all. A truly great single from Abba that not only had the track we all know on the A Side, but had a gem of a B Side that most of us also know. That B Side "Happy Hawaii" was an earlier version of the awful "Arrival" album track "Why Did It Have To Be Me". It couldn't really fail and spent five weeks at number one.

Rose Royce

I Wanna Get Next To You

Rose Royce were having their second top 40 hit of the year, having reached number nine with the earlier "Car Wash". "I Wanna Get Next To You" peaked at number 14. A pleasant song that gave something of a preview of the slushy stuff we'd hear from them the following year.

Fleetwood Mac

Don't Stop

Fleetwood Mac were having the second of three very small hits from the 'Rumours' album. "Don't Stop" peaked at number 32 and was their biggest 'new' hit since "The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Prong Crown)" seven years previous. This track is usually played during the last encore of their live shows which brings me to,
The line up that toured the UK in 1988 & 1990 which featured 'Billy Burnette' & 'Rick Vito' seemed to be a better live act than the 'Rumours' line up. They even played many of the songs from the pre-Rumours days ("Oh Well" etc).

Detroit Spinners

Could It Be I'm Falling In Love (EP)

The Detroit Spinners (known simply as 'The Spinners' in the States) were having a hit all over again with their 1973 hit "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love". They could only reach number 32 this time around though.

Tina Charles

Rendezvous

She did worse, she also did better. Number 27.

Ramones

Sheena Is A Punk Rocker

Yes, this was alright. I don't think I've heard anything better from them. It reached number 22. Someone ought to have had a word with him about the sunglasses though.

Roni Hill

You Keep Me Hanging On / Stop In The Name Of Love

Uggh. Reached number 36.

Stranglers

Peaches

Fantastic stuff from the Stranglers. Peaches was the longest running of all their 22 top 40 hits, and reached number 8 despite no airplay from radio one. But the flip "Go Buddy Go" with the legendary "Boooooooooogie" intro got plenty when it was decided this should be a double 'A' side.

Shalamar

Uptown Festival

I have this on quite a few compilation LPs and CDs and even on a Shalamar CD, but it's normally a track that I skip. Yet, when heard at a disco, this Motown medley sounded really good. It reached number 30.

Berni Flint

I Don't Want To Put A Hold On You

Berni Flint had been as high as number three with his only UK hit. Berni was discovered on the talent show 'Opportunity Knocks', and he only ever had this one hit. It took six weeks to reach number three, and wasn't a bad song at all really.

Martyn Ford

Let Your Body Go Down Town

Never heard it, reached number 38.
Bet it ain't as good as Petula Clark's "Downtown" though.

This was in the top 50 this week, but failed to reach the top 40.

Teddy Pendergrass

The Whole Town's Laughing At Me

For all the hits that Teddy had with as lead vocalist with 'Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes' (well, six top 40 anyway), he didn't have a solo top 40 hit until 1994. This one was quite similar to "If You Don't Know Me By Now" in sound, and even if it didn't get much airplay at the time, it's made up for it since. It made number 44.

Simon May

We'll Gather Lilacs - All My Loving (Medley)

We tend to think of 1981 as being the year of the medley. But for three consecutive weeks in May 1977, a medley entered the top fifty. In the same week that the other two made it into the forty, this one entered the top fifty at number 49. It dropped out the following week, and then re-entered at 50 before dropping out for good. I remember quite liking the idea of this one at the time, but I don't recall ever hearing it.

Alice Cooper

(No More) Love At Your Convenience

This was Alice's first entry into the top fifty since "Teenage Lament '74" had reached number 12 over three years earlier. Alice had left it too long and his fans had moved on. He had to settle for number 44 and twelve more long years of waiting for his next top 40 entry.

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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