On another nostalgia trip today, back half a century to the UK singles Top 20 on 27th July 1972. Largely ignoring the first five, that's a pretty great run of singles
1) Puppy Love: Donny Osmond
2) Sylvia’s Mother: Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show
3) Rock And Roll Parts 1 & 2: Gary Glitter
4) Breaking Up Is Hard To Do: The Partridge Family
5) Sea Side Shuffle: Terry Dactyl & The Dinosaurs
6) School’s Out: Alice Cooper
7) I Can See Clearly Now: Johnny Nash
8) Circles: The New Seekers
9) Mad About You: Bruce Ruffin
10) Starman: David Bowie
11) Little Willy: The Sweet
12) Silver Machine: Hawkwind
13) Join Together: The Who
14) Walkin’ In The Rain With The One I Love: Love Unlimited
1) The lead singer, songwriter and accordion player would subsequently always be found in the kitchen at parties, trying to come up with a ubiquitous Christmas hit (which wasn't about Christmas and, incredibly, didn't actually make it to #1 in the UK);
2) One might assume that Roy Dorset and his legal team were listening with interest, given the resemblance to his summer-themed hit with Mungo Jerry a couple of years previously. Surely he sued? Or did we live in a less litigious society back then?
YouTube, as ever, is a treasure trove of clips, especially from Top Of The Pops, so here's a select few. Lady K's just finished for the summer - oh, how I wish I had six weeks off work to do what I like! Sadly, Alice Cooper wasn't blasting from the school PA as the masses ran from the building, whooping and hollering. Surprising, as I thought that this was a legal requirement from 1977 onwards...?
Here's Alice on TOTP in 1972. Health & Safety would never let him wave and throw a sabre around these days.
Johnny Nash next, rocking those studded leathers with what remains my favourite version of this song. The original and never bettered.
You would not believe how hard it is to find a decent clip of Starman that isn't the June 1972 TOTP performance that is used on every David Bowie, 1970s, Glam, classic rock, you-name-it TV show going. I tried, honestly, but I had to admit defeat after a while. So here it is. Bloody great, though.
The next video is dedicated to middle aged man, who reminded me what a truly great band The Sweet are, with an excellent Imaginary Compilation Album over at The Vinyl Villain a couple of months ago. If you haven't heard it, run don't walk over there now, you really need it in your life.
Love Unlimited next. Much is made of Barry White's role but it was nothing without the wonderful vocal performances by the Taylor sisters -Diane, Linda and Glodean. This is music in glorious Technicolour.
How else to finish but with The King? An American Trilogy was a cover version, originally written and recorded by Mickey Newbury in 1971, stitching together Dixie (a folk song), The Battle Hymn Of The Republic (a Civil War marching song used by the Union army) and All My Trials (a popular lullaby from The Bahamas). Elvis Presley recorded it at the start of 1972 and, interestingly, his version was bigger success in the UK (peaking at #8) than the USA (#66). This version is from his Aloho From Hawaii show in January 1973.
As a post-script, at one place below Elvis is Popcorn by Hot Butter, a song that always reminds me of a much-loved TV show which had a similar sounding theme tune. Ah, the days of TV shows presented by wonderfully bonkers professors, nylon and polyester attire, minuscule budgets and little or no special effects, not to mention protracted moments of silence...like this.
Side
1 of a mixtape, originally compiled 16th September 1990 and another of
my cassette set cobbled together for my year abroad. This liberally
pilfered my parents' K-Tel & Ronco vinyl collection, cheap and cheerful
purchases from the local cash and carry when I was a kid. Some classics,
some cheese, no apologies.
1) The 'In' Crowd (Cover of Dobie Gray): Bryan Ferry (1974)
2) Red Dress: Alvin Stardust (1974)
3) Emma (Album Version): Hot Chocolate (1974)
4) Rock Your Baby (Single Version): George McCrae (1974)
5) What Am I Gonna Do With You: Barry White (1975)
6) Reach Out I'll Be There (Cover of The Four Tops): Gloria Gaynor (1975)
7) The Love I Lost (Single Version): Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes (1973)
8) Queen Of Clubs: KC & The Sunshine Band (1974)
9) Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting (Album Version): Elton John (1973)
10) Pool Hall Richard: Faces (1973)
11) Dance With The Devil: Cozy Powell (1973)
12) Radar Love (Single Version): Golden Earring (1973)
