REMEMBER WHEN - 4TH FEBRUARY 1978

1978

Week 5
WEEK ENDING 4TH FEBRUARY 1978

TOP 40 SINGLES

TW	.......	LW	.......		.......
1		2		Althia And Donna		Uptown Top Ranking
2		1		Wings		Mull Of Kintyre / Girl's School
3		4		Brotherhood Of Man		Figaro
4		10		Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley		If I Had Words
5		5		Odyssey		Native New Yorker
6		3		Donna Summer		Love's Unkind
7		8		Bill Withers		Lovely Day
8		6		Bonnie Tyler		It's A Heartache
9		11		Bob Marley		Jamming / Punky Reggae Party
10		NEW		Abba		Take A Chance On Me
11		9		Chic		Dance Dance Dance
12		17		Heatwave		The Groove Line
13		22		Baccara		Sorry I'm A Lady
14		7		Crystal Gayle		Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue
15		14		War		Galaxy
16		39		E.L.O.		Mr Blue Sky
17		23		Imperials		Who's Gonna Love Me
18		35		Rod Stewart		Hot Legs / I Was Only Joking
19		13		David Soul		Let's Have A Quiet Night In
20		NEW		Darts		Come Back My Love
21		NEW		Sweet		Love Is Like Oxygen
22		15		Julie Covington		Only Women Bleed
23		16		T.Connection		On Fire
24		29		Rich Kids		Rich Kids
25		12		Brighouse And Rastrick Brass Band		The Floral Dance
26		28		Rose Royce		Wishing On A Star
27		NEW		Stargard		Which Way Is Up
28		38		Smokie		For A Few Dollars More
29		33		Modern Lovers		Morning Of Our Lives
30		19		Yannis Markopoulos		Who Pays The Ferryman
31		24		Bee Gees		How Deep Is Your Love
32		34		Tonight		Drummer Man
33		30		Gordon Giltrap		Heartsong
34		NEW		Bee Gees		Stayin' Alive
35		NEW		Linda Ronstadt		Blue Bayou
36		21		Terry Wogan		The Floral Dance
37		27		Carl Douglas		Run Back
38		36		Eddie And The Hot Rods		Quit This Town
39		40		David Bowie		Beauty And The Beast
40		18		Donna Summer		I Love You

Althia And Donna

Uptown Top Ranking

This duo were one of the Ultimate One Hit Wonder acts. They spent one week at number one but then had nothing else, not even a top 75 entry. But they do have another claim to fame, this single displaced the biggest selling single of all time ("Mull Of Kintyre" by 'Wings') at the top of the chart after a nine week run at pole position. IT has also been claimed that they stole this song from someone else.
Ali & Frazier took their cover of this to number 33 in 1993.

Wings

Mull Of Kintyre / Girls School

Well, we know all about this one. For seven years it reigned supreme as the biggest selling single of all time in the UK. It actually spent it's first chart week just outside the top 40, but then took a massive leap to number five, before spending nine weeks at number one. This song does tend to get ridiculed, but the fact still remains that it must have appealed to over two million people in order to have sold that many copies.

Brotherhood Of Man

Figaro

Brotherhood Of Man were having their third number one in less than two years, with possibly the weakest of the three songs to hit the top. It was clearly very Abba inspired,so I suppose it was fitting that Abba should depose them at the top. This was their last top ten hit.

Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keely

If I Had Words

Scott Fitzgerald and Yvonne Keely were one hit wonders with this number three peaking single, but Scott would just miss the top 40 ten years later, with the UK's Eurovision Song Contest entry, "Go". Yvonne did release at least one solo single, her cover of "Concrete And Clay", it was quite a decent version but failed to chart.

Odyssey

Native New Yorker

What a great single this was. It was the first hit for the wonderful 'Odyssey' and spent two weeks at number five. They were absent from the chart for almost two and a half years after this has dropped out, but they then returned with a number one.

Donna Summer

Love's Unkind

Donna Summer spent three weeks at number three in January, stayed in the 40 for 13 weeks with this track. It taken from the 'I Remember Yesterady' album, and also her first 'Greatest Hits Album' (there have been many). I received the 'Greatest Hits' album for Christmas that year. I remember being woken after my Mum got home that night. She'd brought back some of her friends and took them to sit in the front room (the room kept for best of course). I remember her best friend Anne giving me some lecture on why I should behave myself and keep out of trouble from now on. But the worst thing of all, the very worst, I had to unwrap the present that Anne had bought for me.
Surely not, it may have gone midnight, but it's not really Christmas Day until the morning (unless you're at a disco AND they play "Merry Christmas Everybody" at midnight). I don't open any presents now do I ?
Yes, I opened it and it was a Music For Pleasure 'Glitter Band' LP. It wasn't bad, I still have it to this day in extremely good condition and Anne was a lovely woman. BUT, this opening of the Christmas presents on Christmas Eve was well out of order. While I'm ranting, another thing I dislike is the dumping of the Christmas presents under the tree. Don't be lazy cheapskates. Get a sack, put them in, and put it at the end of your child's bed so that he/she discovers them upon waking.
So, the following morning I discovered the Donna Summer LP and thought that she looked very, mmmm, nice on the sleeve and I felt a bit funny when I looked at it ;-)
"Love's Unkind" was covered and taken to number 21 by soap star 'Sophie Lawrence' in 1991.

Bill Withers

Lovely Day

Did he really have to repeat the title so often ?

This was Bill's first chart hit since "Lean On Me" had leaned on number 18 in 1972 (I know, corny but effective), and he had such a lovely time of it that he spent a couple of weeks at number seven this time around. He must have thought that he was on to a good thing as his follow up was "Lovely Night For Dancing", but it failed miserably. His next appearance in the chart was as the uncredited vocalist on Grover Washington Jr's 1981 minor hit "Just The Two Of Us" (yes Will Smith made an arse of it in 1998). But in 1988 "Lovely Day" came back to annoy us with a re-sicks version and peaked at number four.

Bonnie Tyler

It's A Heartache

Another one that took seven weeks to reach it's peak, this time number four. This is when we discovered that Bonnie now had a gravel like voice following an operation.
She released a follow up to this called "Here Am I" that sounded almost identical.

Bob Marley

Jamming / Punky Reggae Party

I'm going to be truthful about this. Just as I think Nirvana's 'Bleach' is worse than all of the Bros albums, and I would rather listen to Cilla Black than most of the Beach Boys surfing songs, I didn't like Bob Marley very much before this single. Most of his pre "Jamming" stuff just passed me by as very repetative, but above all 'Boring'. That changed with this single. It became his first top ten hit and reached number nine. As far as I was concerned he didn't put a foot wrong from then on, and it's a great pity that he passed away just over three years later.

Abba

Take A Chance On Me

Three weeks at number one for this one. It was the final number one of their most successful spell in the UK singles chart. Of their last seven singles (inclusive of this one), only the below par "Money Money Money" had failed to reach number one. But after this, they would have to wait two and a half years before they got there again.

To be honest, I found this song to be very irritating (yes, the Erasure version too), but I did like the B side "I'm A Marionette". In fact, apart from "TACOM", the whole of their latest album "Abba-The Album", was quite enjoyable and easily their best album to date. It was of course accompanied by Abba-The Book, Abba- The Soap and an awful film called (yes you've guessed it), Abba- The Movie.

Chic

Dance Dance Dance (Yowsah Yowsah Yowsah)

The debut hit for the team responsible for so many hits during the following five years or so. It took seven weeks to climb to it's number six peak and spent eleven weeks in the top 40.

Heatwave

The Groove Line

Eight months since the release of their last hit single, Heatwave had returned with the first of two consecutive hits to peak at number 12. I liked this one more than their previous releases, but my favourite was the one that followed.

Baccara

Sorry I'm A Lady

No need to apologise for the fact, they were a couple of fine looking ladies (well, one of them was anyway).

They were following up the number one single "Yes Sir I Can Boogie" and peaked at number eight this time. They too tried for further success by entering the Eurovision Song Contest this very year. Despite being Spanish, they represented Luxembourg in the contest, and finished seventh with a song called "Parlez Vous Francais" !

One of the music mags of the time carried a letter damning Baccara for their loose morals, appearing on TOTP in their bras last time around, and in their knix this time !

Crystal Gayle

Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue

Very pleasant song from a beautiful lady. It was a slow burner though, not reaching it's number five peak until the second week of January, it's tenth week in the chart. It spent a total of 14 weeks in the chart.

War

Galaxy

The third hit in two years for 'War' gave them their second biggest hit and peaked at number 14. I much preferred it to "Low Rider". This was their last hit to climb beyond number 40.

E.L.O.

Mr Blue Sky

E.L.O. were having the first of three consecutive hits to peak at number six. It was the second of four singles (Yes, that many !) to be lifted from the hugely successful 'Out Of The Blue' album. It could also be said that this was the single that kicked off their most successful period.

Imperials

Who's Gonna Love Me

This began with "You can't take the car", and went into a nice pop-soul song that I felt should have gone higher than it's number 17 peak. There was another version of this doing the rounds too, I think it was by someone called 'Alfie Davidson'.

Quite soon afterwards, they released a follow up called "Do What I Gotta Do", a song that was in my opinion much better, but failed to chart. It heavily featured the line "I'll do what I gotta do to get over". Some 12 months later, Tony Blackburn was playing it almost day on his afternoon show as he lamented about his break up from actress wife Tessa Wyatt.

Rod Stewart

Hot Legs / I Was Only Joking

Rod Stewart was having the first of three top five hits in 1978. He reached number five this time around, with "Hot Legs" being the track given priority airplay. The song has since become a favourite during his live performances.

David Soul

Let's Have A Quiet Night In

Seemingly released with the intention that it would be poised nicely within striking distance of the number slot in the New Year clearout. But this time it didn't work and he had to settle for number eight. Not a bad thing as it wasn't very good anyway.

Darts

Come Back My Love

Darts hit number two with this, just as they would with their following two singles. Much better than their "Daddy Cool" chart debut, and from here on, Darts were much better than their revivalist competitors Showaddywaddy.

Sweet

Love Is Like Oxygen

The Sweet were having their first big hit in almost three years, but this number nine peaking single was to be their last. This was being performed in the famous TOTP clip where Andy Scott is wearing a Wrexham FC rosette (he is from Wrexham after all). This was of course the time when Wrexham were knocking top sides out of both the League and F.A. Cup on a regular basis. The previous season they had disposed of Leicester, Tottenham and Sunderland. But this season they beat Division one side Bristol City twice (both cups), and thrashed Newcastle United 4-1, before falling in the quarter finals of both cups to Liverpool and Arsenal (dodgy decisions in that one, but they took revenge 14 years later).

As I was originally preparing this commentary in February 1997, I was saddened by the news of lead vocalist 'Brian Connolly's' death at the age of 47. He had suffered numerous heart attacks. Just a few weeks before preparing this update in 2002, drummer Mick Tucker passed away. I will refrain from updating my comments on this song again..

Julie Covington

Only Women Bleed

A cover that WAS superior to the original, much better than the Alice Cooper original. I also thought that it was better than her big hit "Don't Cry For Me Argentina", but it was nowhere near as big. It took seven weeks to peak at number 12. Julie didn't chart again, though she did release a really food cover of "I Want To See The Bright Lights Again" in late 1978. She later went back to the boards in London's West End.

T. Connection

On Fire

Thought that it was much better than their first hit "Do What You Wanna Do" from the previous summer. But this one didn't fare so well and peaked at number 16.

Rich Kids

The Rich Kids and their eponymous single only went to number 24. They wouldn't spend another week in the top 40 after this single dropped out, but their line up included ex Sex Pistol 'Glen Matlock' and future 'Ultravox' lead vocalist 'Midge Ure'.

Brighouse And Rastrick Brass Band

The Floral Dance

Not to my taste and like many others, I did get sick of it at the time. But there were also many that did like it as it spent six weeks at number two, only being deprived of those weeks at the top by the (then) biggest selling single in the UK ever. Terry Wogan was to blame, he played it to death on his breakfast show, the most listened to Radio show in the country. It doesn't seem so bad now anyway.
I can't drive past junction 25 of the M62 (the Brighouse junction) without this tune entering my head.

Rose Royce

Wishing On A Star

Rose Royce were having their biggest hit to date with a song that has since been covered many times. As recently as February 1998 original lead vocalist Gwen Dickey guested on the top 20 cover by 'Jay-Z'. Rose Royce would better the number three peak of this single six months later.

Stargard

Which Way Is Up

Stargard achieved their highest ever chart position of number 19 with this. Very Rose Royce like, it was the title song from a film that I think starred Richard Pryor. They only made one further appearance on the chart, and that was with the number 39 peaking "What You Waiting For" later this same year.

Smokie

For A Few Dollars More

Not up to the standard of many of their other hits, but still good enough to give them their ninth top twenty hit. It peaked at number 17.

Modern Lovers

Morning Of Our Lives

Loved this one and remember listening to it on the Luxy chart, maybe I could enjoy Jonathan Richman's music after all (see Roadrunner). Sadly it struggled to a number 29 peak in the Music Week chart.

Yannis Markopoulos

Who Pays The Ferryman

A Greek orchestra with the theme to another TV show that I didn't watch. It reached number eleven and I could take it or leave it.

Bee Gees

How Deep Is Your Love

I must have seen my Mum cry more than once. I only remember one occcasion though, and it's relevent to this song.
After the chip shop business came to light, I was kept in for over a month (they call it being grounded these days). The day that I was finally released, I met up with a friend who's name I won't reveal. To cut it short, for reasons that I can't remember, I set fire to a car that was less than six months old. Thing is, the fire brigade were on strike and the Army had to come in their green goddess and put it out. There was a report in the Evening Leader the following night in which the owner said "I looked out of the window and the car was burning merrily away".
It took about four days this time for Mr C.I.D. (my pet name for him was Bulb Head) to knock the door. I denied it of course, that is until he asked me a second time, then I admitted it. Well, he wouldn't have come to my house if someone hadn't told him it was me would he ?
So, off to the cop shop again for another statement. Funny thing, my accomplice was not charged with anything (just as he wasn't for his part in the chip shop burglaries).
When I eventually went to court on Valentines Day 1978, I was charged with both offences as well as a charge of receiving 50p from someone who'd burgled another property. When it came to me, the magistrate announced the compensation that I had to pay for the chip shop and the 50p, before coming to the car. It was over two thousands pounds damage and he said that he couldn't see how there was anyway possible that I could repay that money and then took a long pause.
........
...........
You can guess what I thought was coming, I thought that I was going away to be a guest at her Majesties pleasure.
But I was lucky, he decided that I should be fined twenty five pounds instead. Yes, I had been extremely lucky and I didn't burn any more cars after that. I did get convicted of criminal damage to a JCB in late 1978, but I didn't do that, just got fined for it. I still maintain my innocence over that today. Four times over the last 8 years I have been stopped by the police while driving. Each time, they have come up with that one as last Criminal offence on the police computer. Each time, I have said "I didn't do that". But they've always argued with me about it.
Anyway, while this lovely record from the Bee Gees was being played on the top twenty while it was spending one of it's five weeks at number three, that was when my Mum cried. It was something to do with how I seemed to be turning out, even after the strict (but fair) way in which she'd brought me up.
I still feel guilty for that.

Tonight

Drummer Man

Tonight peaked at number 14 with this sole top 40 hit. I did quite like it, though it does sound as if a band had been put together by a production team to try and sound punk. Save for the disappointing follow up "Money That's Your Problem", I have no idea what happened to them afterwards.

Gordon Giltrap

Heartsong

There seemed to be a lot of attention paid to Gordon at the time, but I couldn't see what all the fuss was about. It did little for me and peaked at number 21.

Bee Gees

Stayin' Alive

The Bee Gees reached number four with this, and they were now two singles into their most successful spell, not just in the UK, but Worldwide. The B.Side to this single was a song that just three months later was taken to number four by 'Yvonne Elliman'. Both songs were later covered and taken into the charts in the 1990's, but a little known cover is the one by Richard Ace that could only reach number 66 in December 1978. The A.Side was a reggae cover of "Stayin' Alive", while the B.Side was a reggae cover of, yes you've guessed it, "If I Can't Have You".

Linda Ronstadt

Blue Bayou

Linda's first UK top 40 entry, and the only one that she had as a solo act. It was a very poor cover of Roy Orbison's number three hit from 1963 and only reached number 35.

Terry Wogan

The Floral Dance

Terry's vocal version of the instrumental that he'd helped become a hit by spinning it every day on his Radio Two breakfast show. Not as bad as it's usually made out to be, but hardly a work of genius. Reached number 21.

Carl Douglas

Run Back

Forget the Kung Fu stuff from 1974, here was a really good single (even if it did lean a little towards Northern Soul). It only reached number 25 though, and that was the last we heard of Carl until 20 years later when his vocals were sampled for Bus Stop's 'cover' of "Kung Fu Fighting".

Eddie & The Hot Rods

Quit This Town

Ok, but not a patch on their hit (Do Anything You Wanna Do). Number 36 peak and their final top 40 entry.

David Bowie

Beauty And The Beast

Bad choice of track for sing;e release for me, but come to think of, the title track from "Heroes" was the only good choice anyway. It peaked at a miserable number 39.

Donna Summer

I Love You

Here was the latest Casablanca Records contribution to the continued chart residency of Donna Summer. Here was another excellent single (if you like this sort of thing), and it debuted just a week after the chart debut of GTO's latest Donna single "Love's Unkind". In my opinion this should have at least matched the number three peak of the other, but it struggled to begin, and after reaching number 25, dropped for two successive weeks to find itself at number 30. Then, in the second week of January, it suddenly moved back up twenty places to peak at number ten.
This was the first single to be taken from the 'Once Upon A Time' album, the first of four successive double LPs to be released by Donna, and that's not including her contributions to the 'Thank God It's Friday' soundtrack.

Some MP3s

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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THE REMEMBER WHEN ARCHIVES
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Email: nige@innotts.co.uk
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You Will Get One