1975
Week 18
WEEK ENDING 3RD MAY 1975
TOP 40 SINGLES
1-(-6) Mud-------------------------Oh
Boy
2-(-7) Minnie Riperton-----------Loving You
3-(-2) Bobby Goldsboro-----------Honey
4-(10) Susan Cadogan-----------Hurt So Good
5-(-1) Bay City Rollers------------Bye Bye Baby
6-(-4) Peter Shelley--------------------Love Me Love My Dog
7-(-9) 10CC-----------------Life Is A Minestrone
8-(14)Glitter Band---------------The Tears I Cried
9-(11) Three Degrees-------------Take Good Care Of Yourself
10(-3) Sweet---------------------------Fox On The Run
11(-5) Jim Gilstrap---------------------Swing Your Daddy
12(13) Gilbert Becaud------------A Little Love And Understanding
13(18) Teach In-----------------Ding-A-Dong
14(16) Peter Skellern--------------Hold On To Love
15(-8) Goodies------------------------The Funky Gibbon
16(26) Frankie Valli And The Four Seasons----------The Night
17(30) Tammy Jones-------------Let Me Try Again
18(28) Carpenters---------------Only Yesterday
19(12) Wigans Ovation--------------Skiing In The Snow
20(29) Stephanie De Sykes------We'll Find Our Day
21(40) Disco Tex And The Sex-O-Lettes----I Wanna Dance Wit Choo
22(15) Mike Reid-----------------------The Ugly Duckling
23(---) Tammy Wynette----------Stand By Your Man
24(21) K.C. And The Sunshine Band----Get Down Tonight
25(---) Gary Glitter---------------Love Like You And Me
26(17) Labelle----------------------------Lady Marmalade
27(27) Diana Ross--------------Sorry Doesn't Always Make It Right
28(32) Betty Wright--------------Where Is The Love
29(---) Sharonettes--------------Papa Ooh Mow Mow
30(35) Silver Convention----------Save Me
31(---) Average White Band------Cut The Cake
32(34) Gladys Knight And The Pips-----Try To Remember/The Way We
Were
33(19) Guys And Dolls------------There's A Whole Lot Of Loving
34(36) Pilot-----------------------Call Me Round
35(23) Moments And Whatnauts-----Girls
36(22) Kenny-------------------------Fancy Pants
37(---) Lulu------------------------Take Your Mama For A Ride
38(---) Sylvia-----------------------Hasta La Vista
39(25) Duane Eddy------------------Play Me Like You Play Your
Guitar
40(20) Elton John--------------------Philadelphia Freedom
1-(-1) Mud - - - - - - - - - - - - Oh Boy
This was Mud's third number one in 15 months. They had been there
for 2 weeks with their almost accapella rendition of "Oh Boy".
This was also the last of a total of ten weeks that Mud had spent
at the top of the UK chart. 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, but the band were about to embark on
their two year slide to oblivion.
2-(-7) Minnie Riperton - - - -Loving You
The late Minnie Riperton was spending the first of 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.
3-(-2) 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.
4-(10) Susan Cadogan - - - - Hurt So Good
Susan Cadogan was spending the first of three weeks at number
four with the reggae-ish."Hurt So Good". Lovely echo to
Susan's vocals on this one. Jimmy Somerville had a hit with this
in 1995 and took it to number 15.
5-(-1) Bay City Rollers------------Bye Bye Baby
This had just spent 6 weeks at number one. It was the Roller's
first number one and became the biggest selling single of the
year. It was a cover of a song that was a complete flop in the UK
when recorded by the Four Seasons ten years earlier.
6-(-4) Peter Shelley--------------------Love Me Love My Dog
Peter Shelley had been to number two with "Love Me Love My
Dog". Not to be confused with the Buzzcocks singer, this
Peter Shelley had also been responsible for writing Alvin
Stardust's big hits over the previous 18 months. This was Peter's
last solo hit though.
7-(-9) 10CC - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Life Is A Minestrone
10CC were peaking at number seven with "Life Is A Minestrone".
This was the first single from them since their change of record
company from Jonathan King's 'UK' to 'Mercury'. This change also
seemed to indicate a change in their music too, as their real
classics were starting to happen beginning with the latest album
'The Original Soundtrack'. I must admit that some of the lyrics
to this song seemed somewhat vague to me at the time. For
instance, I didn't have a clue what Parmison cheese was, I'd
never heard of Spaggetti bolognase and most of us Brits didn't
have a clue what a Pizza was.
8-(14) Glitter Band - - - - - - -- - The Tears I Cried
The Glitter Band were peaking with their fifth consecutive top
ten hit "The Tears I Cried" . Unfortunately they didn't
extend the run, and their decline almost mirrored that of their
leader, Gary.
9-(11) Three Degrees - - - - - - -Take Good Care Of Yourself
The Three Degrees were having their top ten hit for four years
and peaking with "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.
10(-3) Sweet---------------------------Fox On The Run
The Sweet were back on the hit trail after the disappointment of
their previous single's failure to reach the top 40. "Turn
It Down" had not been playlisted by the BBC, apparently due
to it's use of the word 'bum', and so had stalled at number 41.
But this new single had became the fifth hit by the band to peak
at number two. It was not a cover of Manfred Mann's 1969 number 5
hit of the same title.
11(-5) Jim Gilstrap---------------------Swing Your Daddy
Jim Gilstrap was on his way down from number four with his only
hit. He sang about having "Your love Jones out of control",
and I still don't have any idea what the poor fella was on about.
Jim later covered the '5000 Volts' hit "I'm On Fire".
12(13) Gilbert Becaud - - - - - - A Little Love And Understanding
Gilbert Becaud was a strange man from France who had a top ten
hit 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 !
13(18) Teach In - - - - - - - - - - - Ding - A - Dong
The Eurovision song contest winner was on it's way down from
number 13. Who could forget the immortal lines "When you're
feeling allright, everyone is uptight, Try to sing a song that
goes Ding Ding A Dong" ?
I recently heard an interesting tale about this song from a
friend of Teach In's vocalist. That band were actually taking the
p**s out of Eurovision and the rest of us with this apparently
innocent song. If I mention a certain arrest by the L.A. PD in a
public convenience, then you should guess what the song was
really all about.
14(16) Peter Skellern - - - - - - - -Hold On To Love
Peter Skellern was at last having a follow up hit to his 1972
number one "You're A Lady" with "Hold On To Love",
which was peaking at number 14. After this Peter started
recording with Brass bands and the like, and didn't bother the
chart compilers anymore.
15(-8) Goodies------------------------The Funky Gibbon
It was the second of five hits for the Goodies in 1975. It was
the biggest, had reached number four, and was the one I least
liked.
.
16(26) Four Seasons - - - - - -The Night
The big comeback single from Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
was on it's way up to 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.
17(30) Tammy Jones - - - - - -Let Me Try Again
Another Tammy in the chart, 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 went on to peak at number five.
18(28) Carpenters - - - - - - - - Only Yesterday
The Carpenters were on their way to 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.
19(12) Wigans Ovation--------------Skiing In The Snow
This was the year that the Northern Soul sound of Wigan Casino
became popular in the singles chart, at least for a few months
anyway. Skiing In The Snow was a song with vocals, and if it
wasn't for the inclusion of the word 'Wigan' in the name of the
band, you'd be hard pressed to identify it as 'Northern Soul'. It
had peaked at number 12. As I type this in April 2000, I have
recently been copying some Northern Soul singles onto CD for a
neighbour. And, after listening to over 25 of them, I will go so
far as to say that this particular genre is the most over-rated
pre-90s music. It's so bloody boring and repetetive.
IN FACT THIS WAS A COVER OF A NORTHERN SOUL CLASSIC AND WAS HATED
BY THE HARDENED NORTHERN SOULERS
20(29) Stephanie De Sykes - - - -We'll Find Our Day
Stephanie De Sykes was on her way to 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 ! ).
21(40) 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" eventually
peaking at number six. 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.
22(15) Mike Reid-----------------------The Ugly Duckling
This was an adaptation of the famous Fairy Tale. This was not
Mike Read the DJ (I mean, can you imagine anything so ridiculous
as a DJ making records ?). But this was sang by the Cockney
Comedian, now best known for his role in the soap without any
likeable characters 'Eastenders'. It peaked at number ten and I'm
not going to confess to having it in my collection (even if it
did only cost me 10p).
23(---) Tammy Wynette - - - Stand By Your Man
This week saw Tammy Wynette make her chart debut 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. Tammy spent three weeks at number one with this.
Unfortunately, Tammy passed away in April 1998.
24(21) K.C. And The Sunshine Band----Get Down Tonight
Having peaked at 21 the previous week, K.C.'s third hit had just
one week to go before disappearing from the chart. But, this
fairly minor hit would not be forgotten. It has since been used
on TV commercials for some particulary disgusting beer, and has
also been sampled on a top ten hit (Bamboogie).
25(---) Gary Glitter- - - - - - - - -Love Like You And Me
Gary Glitter surprisingly peaked at 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)
26(17) Labelle----------------------------Lady Marmalade
We heard a lot of this song during 1998, but not this original
version. It was one track from a double A Side by All Saints that
became their second consecutive number one. If you didn't buy it,
but are still thinking of doing so, do me a favour, don't bother
if the only reason you're planning on doing so is for this song.
Don't get me wrong, I quite like All Saints and do like their
cover of "Under The Bridge", but find their cover of
"Lady Marmalade" the pits. Hunt down this original, I'm
sure you'll like it much more, and it's fairly easy to find on 70's
compilations. To be perfectly honest, I wouldn't even say that
this original was an outstanding single and it got no higher than
number 17 (though it did top the Billboard chart), but compared
to much of the current chart, it's a gem. The chorus bit was
later 'stolen' by the Happy Mondays for their 1990 number five
hit "Kinky Afro".
27(27) Diana Ross - - - - - - - - - - - - Sorry Doesn't Always
Make It Right
Diana was going through a short lean spell where she couldn't
make it into the top 20. This single became a bigger hit than the
previous three and peaked at number 23 the following week.
28(32) Betty Wright - - - - - - - - -Where Is The Love
Betty Wright was having her second minor hit of the year with
"Where Is The Love". This was the biggest of the two,
reaching number 25. Despite Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway
having the original hit version of this song back in 1972, it was
indeed Betty who wrote the song. She had no more hits despite a
couple of near misses in the late 80's.
29(---) Sharonettes - - - - - - - - - - Papa Ooh Mow Mow
The Sharonettes were having their only top 40 hit with "Papa
Ooh Mow Mow" and reached number 26. It was on the Black
Magic label which was managed by John Bratton, the owner of
Selectadisc records in Nottingham where I now buy a lot of my
music from. It was another one of those hits from the Northern
Soul scene and was scheduled to be featured on Top Of The Pops
with Pans People dancing to it. But Babs and co refused as they
thought it was too weird. Instead, it was played as the credits
rolled at the end of the show.
Gary Glitter revived the song just six months later and only
reached number 38.
30(35) Silver Convention - - - - - -Save Me
Silver Convention were having their very first hit, but it was
peaking this week.
31(---) Average White Band------Cut The Cake
So, after the wonderful instrumental that was "Pick Up The
Pieces", they released a track with vocals. The result -
Just this one week in the top 40 for this very 'Average' song.
From now on they would have only mediocre success in the UK until
their next major hit "Let's Go Round Again" in 1980.
32(34) Gladys Knight - - - - - - The Way We Were
Gladys Knight was on her way to number four with the song that
had relatively failed for Barbra Streisand a year previous. At
this point in time, it didn't seem as though Gladys was going to
have a major hit on her hands either. This was already it's
fourth week in the top 40. It was Gladys' first hit for two
years, but was the start of a run of regular hit singles for her.
33(19) Guys And Dolls------------There's A Whole Lot Of Loving
Guys And Dolls were having their first and biggest hit, and were
on their way down from number two. There isn't a lot to say about
them except for the obvious Dollar connection, and the fact that
British Comedian Bruce Forsyth's daughter was a member of the
group.
34(36) Pilot-----------------------Call Me Round
From the mid-90's onwards, getting a UK number one single has
virtually assured an act of shooting straight into the top ten (usually
top five) with the follow up. There have been a couple of
exceptions lately, but these have been very likely down to
circumstances such as the Christmas sales period. But back in the
seventies, it seemed that an act was only as good as their latest
single as far as the public were concerned. Of the 19 acts to
reach number one in 1975, eight of them failed to crack the top
30 with their following single. One such band were Pilot, who
never again got beyond number 31. They had spent three weeks at
number one earlier in the year with "January", but this
follow up was peaking this very week at number 34. Lead vocalist
David Paton later joined 'Alan Parson's Project'.
35(23) Moments And Whatnauts-----Girls
Two bands merged together for "Girls" and had spent 2
weeks at number three. I don't know what happened to the
Whatnauts, but the Moments had two more top ten hits over the
next two years.
36(22) Kenny-------------------------Fancy Pants
Kenny were following up their big hit 'The Bump' with 'Fancy
Pants'. This had reached number four, and was their last top five
single.
37(---) Lulu------------------------Take Your Mama For A Ride
The seventies were not kind to Lulu. We were more likely to see
her modelling clothes in catalogues than to see her performing on
Top Of The Pops. Her one major hit this decade was a cover of
David Bowie's "Man Who Sold The World" in 1974. This
year she was signed to the 'Chelsea' label and was trying to get
some disco into her system. It wasn't bad, but it didn't quite
work. This was Lulu's last week on the top 40 for 11 long years.
38(---) Sylvia-----------------------Hasta La Vista
These days, Brits returning from drunken mediteranian holidays
return with no memory of their stay apart from a few dodgy dance
songs (which they promptly go out and purchase, thereby
inflicting their hangovers on the rest of us). But back in the
seventies, the lager louts and wine whores (no offence ladies, I
couldn't think of another word beginning with W) apparently
settled for weekends in Cleethorpes and Margate. So, it was your
older generation taking up most of the plane seats to Spain. Then
they came back and bought things like this, and Sylvia's previous
hit "Y Viva Espania". Luckily for the rest of us, this
was far too early in the year and it didn't rise any higher than
number 38. Also lucky for us, at that time the powers that be in
the industry had not yet bagan the practice of re-releasing a
single every few months until it became a hit. If it died, it was
dead, get on with the next one !
39(25) Duane Eddy------------------Play Me Like You Play Your
Guitar
With this single, Duane Eddy had hit the top ten for the first
time in over 12 years, and had peaked at number nine. Eleven
years later he returned to the top ten when he featured on Art Of
Noise's cover of "Peter Gunn"
40(20) Elton John--------------------Philadelphia Freedom
One Of Elton John's best singles "Philadelphia Freedom"
had only climbed to number 12, despite hitting the top in the USA.
This song is reportedly about tennis star 'Billie Jean King'.
This record also included a contribution by John Lennon. The b.side
was the duet of "I Saw Her Standing There" by Elton and
John that reached number 40 when released as an A.side in 1981.
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.
THIS
WEEK IN 1973
THIS
WEEK IN 1976
THIS
WEEK IN 1977
THIS
WEEK IN 1979
THIS
WEEK IN 1980
THIS
WEEK IN 1981
THE
REMEMBER WHEN ARCHIVES
GOLDEN
DAYS INDEX
More to follow
Email: nige@innotts.co.uk
Please Be Patient waiting for my reply to your mail :-)
I Will answer you, but it sometimes takes a while