NEW CHART ENTRIES FOR SEPTEMBER 1973

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Singles that entered the UK charts in September 1973 (in the order of chart entry / highest position)...

(highest UK chart position in brackets)

01 Wizzard - Angel Fingers (A Teen Ballad) (1)
02 Rolling Stones - Angie (5)
03 Bobby Boris Pickett & The Crypt Kickers - Monster Mash (3)
04 Stealers Wheel - Everything'l Turn Out Fine (33)
05 Rod Stewart - Oh! No Not My Baby (6)
06 Jackson 5 - Skywriter (25)
07 Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Joybringer (9)
08 Mott The Hoople - All The Way From Memphis (10)
09 Status Quo - Caroline (5)
10 Ike & Tina Turner - Nutbush City Limits (4)
11 Aretha Franklin - Angel (37)
12 Gilbert O'Sullivan - Ooh Baby (18)
13 David Bowie - The Laughing Gnome (6)
14 Sweet - Ballroom Blitz (2)
15 Isley Brothers - That Lady (14)
16 Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On (31)
17 Paul Simon - Loves Me Like A Rock (39)
18 Charles Aznavour - Old Fashioned Way (38)
19 Michael Ward - Let There Be Peace On Earth (Let It Beguin With Me) (15)
20 Detroit Spinners - Ghetto Child (7)
21 Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (6)
22 Bryan Ferry - A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall (10)
23 Temptations - Law Of The Land (41)

A Rummage In The Bargain Bins - August '73

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Singles that were released in August 1973 but failed to enter the UK charts...


01 52nd Precinct - Time Is Tight (Dart ART2036)
Originally recorded as 'Precinct' by Simon Park, and used as the theme tune to the TV series "Whodunnit?". Park chose a group name using the old title and added vocals, then credited himself as Simon Halsey for writing the track. STill failed to chart though!
02 Bill Withers - Ain't No Sunshine (A&M AMS7080)
First released as a b-side to the track "Harlem" in 1971, the track became a US number 3 hit, and was eventually moved to the lead track of an EP in the UK in 1973 where one prophetic reviewer in 'Blues & Soul' magazine said "...maybe it's too soon to hope for real success with this one". It didn't become a UK Top 40 hit until 2009!
03 Steely Dan - Show Biz Kids (Probe PRO602)
Still without a hit in the UK, Steely Dan had their third US chart single with this track edited from the 'Countdown To Ecstacy' album.
04 Cher - Half Breed (MCA MUS1215)
After her career with Sonny Bono in the sixties, and her huge seventies hits of 'Gypsies Tramps & Thieves' and 'All I Ever Need Is You', Cher failed to enter the UK Top 30 again, until 1987 despite the release of this US chart topper.
05 Grand Funk - We're An American Band (Capitol CL15760)
An ongoing chart career in the States had born a stream of lower charting Billboard hits. A number 40 single in the UK under the name Grand Funk Railroad had not been followed up, so a change of direction was needed. Changing their name to the shorter Grand Funk, helped this track to the number one spot at home, but failed to chart in the UK. Similar fates awaited their future releases.
06 Dan The Banjo Man - Dan The Banjo Man (Rare Earth RES110)
Singer-songwriter Phil Cornell, wrote a top 5 hit in 1971, and assumed the name Springwater. Entitled 'I Will Return', he failed to live up to his promise, and in 1973 tried again, using a different name, Dan The Banjo Man. Unfortunately the name change didn't help, and he never did.
07 Rubber Band - Moonwalker (Youngblood YB1052)
A signing to the Youngblood label, this single failed to chart, despite an appearance on Hastings Pier supporting Mac & Katie Kissoon in the same month as it's release.
08 Eagles - Tequila Sunrise (Asylum AYM520)
An early single from The Eagles that was among the many that they released before their first UK hit in 1975.
09 Dusty Springfield - Learn To Say Goodbye (Philips 6006325)
Dusty spent nearly the entirety of the 70s without a hit single. Between her massive sixties career, and her er-popularity in the 80s, she released countless singles that failed to chart, including this soundtrack to the film "Say Goodbye, Maggie Cole".
10 Jim Croce - Roller Derby Queen (Vertigo 6073258)
Despite two US number ones, and lots of critical acclaim, Jim Croce failed to have a chart career in the UK, even when he relaesed such blatent cash-ins like this one, on the Roller skating craze that swept the country at the time.
11 Big Carrot - Blackjack (EMI 2047)
In an attempt to see if was his name or his music that sold the massive number of T Rex singles in the 70s, Marc Bolan released this track under the assumed name Big Carrot. Despite several airplays on Radio Luxembourg, the BBC ignored it, and so did the rest of the British public.
12 Leon Thomas - Boom Boom Boom (Philips 6073707)
Thomas had been releasing solo albums since 1969, and by '73 was a full time member od Santana.
13 Don Nix - Black Cat Moan (Stax 2025193)
Don Nix is best known for his work as a producer, arranger and session musician for such acts as The Mar-Keys, Leon Russell, George Harrison, Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton to name a few. He released this in '73, but it failed to gain any attention.
14 Bobbie McGee - Rock And Roll People (EMI 2043) LadyWanda Teresen Anna Van Arletowicz changed her name to Bobbie McGee for her short, Glam Rock career. She became known as Gladys Glitter to the British music press because of her outrageous costumes and her vocal resemblance to Suzi Quatro. 
15 String Driven Thing - Are You A Rock And Roller (Charisma CB210)
This Scottish folk band moved to London in 1972, but despite numerous TV appearances and an American tour, failed to have any hits. The follow up to this track "It's A Game" did appear on several compilation albums and was eventually a hit for the Bay City Rollers, but SDT disbanded in 1975.
16 Daniel Boone - Skydiver (Penny Farthing PEN814) 
Boone had a hit with Beautiful Sunday in 1972, but despite releasing many singles after, never dented the UK charts again. This track however did become a chart hit in Germany, Holland, New Zealand and Rhodesia!
17 Bullet - Push Just A Little Bit Harder (Alaska ALA9)
Ben Findon wrote this track with Miki Antony who went on to write songs for Benny Hill, Mud, The goodies and many others before leaving the music industry to become a property developer.
18 America - Muskrat Love (Warner Bros K16302)
"Muskrat Candlelight" was recorded by the composer Willis Alan Ramsey in 1972, and the following year was covered by America looking for a follow up to the hugely successful "A Horse With No Name". Neither version was a hit, but a cover by Captain and Tennille did reach the US Top 5 in 1976.
19 Cockney Rebel - Sebastian (EMI 2051)
An outstanding grandiose debut single that failed to appeal to UK audiences, but it did well in Europe and led to a string of hits for Steve Harley and his band.
20 Leo Sayer - Why Is Everybody Going Home (Chrysalis CHS2014)
Adam Faith produced Leo Sayer's debut, self penned, single, and it failed to chart. His next "The Show Must Go On" reached number Two, a year later after Sayer changed his style (and make-up)!
21 Procol Harum - Souvenir Of London (Chrysalis CHS2015)
Trying to have another hit other than "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" was proving difficult for Procol Harum. They didn't help themselves by releasing this track which was banned by the BBC for it's reference to a sexually transmitted disease.
22 Bronco - Steal That Gold (Polydor 2058395)
The band had been formed in 1969. Several band member line-ups later, they released their third album and their last single. When this failed to chart, they gave up!
23 Drama - Mary's Mama (UK R49)
Dutch band Drama had a single hit in their home country, and this was it.
24 Southampton F C - The Saint's Song (Philips 6006313)
For a while there, all football songs that followed the England hit in 1970, sounded very similar. Southampton FC were no exception.
25 Kit Russell - Pepper's Last Stand (Deram DM399)
Riding along on the Beatles coat-tails, wasn't a new phenomenom, and Kit Russell (despite changing his name from Charles Gilesnan) was one of the many acts that failed to make any money from it!
26 Tony Bennett - Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) (Philips 6006326)
Even Tony Bennett couldn't get any mileage from covering a George Harrison hit.
27 Bing Crosby - Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree (Daybreak DAS402)
When they first wrote the song, Irvine Levine and Russell Brown thought that the song would best be recorded by Bing Crosby. After Tony Orlando hit the top of the charts in the UK AND the US, Bing thought it would be a good song to release as a single.
28 Glyn Poole - Milly Molly Mandy (York SYK565)
This shouldn't have been a hit, but actually got to number 35 in the charts. The Poole Family regularly appeared on "Stars On Sunday", the religious progranne presented by Jess Yates (Paula's, non-biological, father). Jess also produced the kid's show "Junior Showtime" which had young Glyn, singing this solo number to a more youthful audiance. After a while running a local pub, Glyn now works back in the music industry producing tracks for Defected records among others.
29 Neil Ray - Big Fanny (SSS International 6154002)
Used Frequently by Don Allen on "Radio North Sea International" during the 70's, a Pirate Radio Classic, but unheard anywhere else!
30 Donna Fargo - Superman (Dot DOT146)
One of the many US Country artists who have never had a hit in the UK, this reached number 41 in the States.
31 Tammy Wynette - Kids Say The Darndest Things (Epic SEPC1661)
"Stand By Your Man" and "DIVORCE" had already been hits in the US before they became UK chart successes in 1975. This had also entered the American charts, but never achieved any UK popularity.
32 Van Morrison - Warm Love (Warner Bros K16299)
The majority of George 'Van The Man' Morrison's best known songs were released from the break up of Them in 1966 to his first actual UK hit in 1979 "Bright Side Of The Road". These singles included 'Brown Eyed Girl', 'Wild Night', 'Jackie Wilson Said', 'Moondance' and this one which features Jackie DeShannon on backing vocals.
33 Hurricane Smith - Bye Bye (EMI 2053)
Hurricane had recorded with The Beatles and Pink Floydbefore he had a few hits of his own in the early 70s. Unfortunately his career then floundered and singles like this were totally ignored.
34 Johnny Reggae - Don't Get Your Knickers In A Twist (Bell BELL1316)
Phil Swern (now producer on Radio 2's Sounds Of The 60s Show) worked with Johnny Arthey on quite a few Reggae tracks in the early '70s including this one, that despite using a Jonathan King song title for the band name, had no connection with him.
35 Judge Dread - Oh She Is A Big Girl Now (Trojan TR7899)
Although this single followed the hits 'Big Six', 'Big Seven' and 'Big Eight', it failed to chart despite having 'Big One' on the flip.
36 Sylvia - Have You Had Any Lately (London HLU10429)
Following up the raunchy 'Pillow Talk', Sylvia Robinson attempted a double entendre-laden anti Vietnam War song that failed to hit it's British target. She was much more successful a year later with 'Y Viva Espana'.
37 Neil Sedaka - Dimbo Man (RCA 2366)
Following a string of hits, this catchy number failed to chart and made Sedaka look a bit of a Dimbo for releasing it.
38 Tony Randall And Jack Klugman - You're So Vain (Decca F13439)
Randall and Klugman were starring in a hugely successful spin-off of a hugely successful film version of a hugely successful Broadway play called 'The Odd Couple'. "Let's release a spin-off album and single" said someone, "what could go wrong"....

NEW CHART ENTRIES FOR AUGUST 1973

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Singles that entered the UK charts in August 1973 (in the order of chart entry / highest position)...

(highest UK chart position in brackets)

01 Bobby Goldsboro - Summer (The First Time) (9)
02 Medicine Head - Rising Sun (11)
03 First Choice - Smarty Pants (9)
04 Roger Daltrey - I'm Free (13)
05 Dawn - Say Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose (12)
06 Drifters - Like Sister And Brother (7)
07 CCS - The Band Played The Boogie (36)
08 Elvis Presley - Fool (15)
09 Detroit Emeralds - I Think Of You (27)
10 Hawkwind - Urban Guerilla (39)
11 Roy Wood - Dear Elaine (18)
12 Donny Osmond - Young Love (1)
13 Guy Darrell - I've Been Hurt (12)
14 Hot Chocolate - Rumours (44)
15 David Essex - Rock On (3)
16 Bloodstone - Natural High (40)
17 Hudson Ford - Pick Up The Pieces (8)
18 10cc - The Dean And I (10)
19 Geordie - Electric Lady (32)
20 Perry Como - For The Good Times (7)
21 Neil Sedaka - Our Last Song Together (31)

REWIND: TOP 20 Albums w/e 25th August 1973

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TW ARTIST - ALBUM TITLE (Featured Track)

01 Peters And Lee - We Can Make It (I'm Confessin')
02 Rod Stewart - Sing It Again Rod (Twistin The Night Away)
03 David Bowie - Aladdin Sane (The Jean Genie)
04 The Carpenters - Now And Then (Jambalaya)
05 David Bowie - Hunky Dory (Life On Mars)
06 David Bowie - Rise & Fall Of Ziggy Stardust (Ziggy Stardust)
07 The Osmonds - The Plan (Goin' Home)
08 Perry Como - And I Love You So (And I Love You So)
09 Simon & Garfunkel - Greatest Hits (Cecilia)
10 Cat Stevens - Foreigner (The Hurt)
11 Nazareth - Razamanaz (Broken Down Angel)
12 Gary Glitter - Touch Me (Do You Wanna Touch Me)
13 Genesis - Live (The Musical Box (Closing))
14 Mott The Hoople - Mott (Honaloochie Boogie)
15 Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells (Extract)
16 George Harrison - Living In The Material World (Give Me Love)
17 David Bowie - Space Oddity (Space Oddity)
18 Pink FLoyd - Dark Side Of the Moon (Money)
19 Carlos Santana & John McLoughlin - Love Devotion Surrender (Meditation)
20 Jethro Tull - A Passion Play (Edit No 8)

SPIN FULL CIRCLE 1

 

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STARTING POINT: HERB ALPERT “El Presidente”

NOMINATED BY: SFC PRES

Herb Alpert also recorded “Bean Bag”, which is more commonly recognised in the UK as the theme to the TV game show, ‘It’s A Knockout’. The international version was ‘Jeux Sans Frontières’ a phrase repeated in the song “Games Without Frontiers” by Peter Gabriel, a literal translation of the phrase. Singing backing vocals on this track was Kate Bush, whose song “Dreamtime” (the b-side of her hit “The Dreaming”) featured the use of a didgeridoo, the favoured instrument of choice for 70s children’s entertainer, Rolf Harris. His song, “War Canoe” was the basis for a ‘large sum’ ‘out of court’ payment, from Adam Ant, when it was said to be ’almost musically identical’ to the latter’s hit “Prince Charming”. Adam’s earlier recording ‘Lady’ was recorded before some of his fellow Ants left the group to form Bow Wow Wow with Annabella Lwin. One of their biggest hits was “I Want Candy”, an old hit from the 60s, that was also covered by Mel C, who reportedly had a relationship with Robbie Williams before he recorded his hit, also about “Candy”. The following year, Williams released and album called ‘Swings Both Ways’ which featured a cover of the 60s Mama Cass single, “Dream A Little Dream” with Lily Allen, daughter of actor/comedian Keith Allen who had had a number one hit with the football song “Vindaloo” under the name Fat Les. His follow-up Christmas single was “Naughty Christmas” which reached number 21 in the charts and featured Lisa Moorish on backing vocals. Lisa had also sung backing vocals on Ash’s “Oh Yeah” before her infamous affair with Oasis front-man Liam Gallagher. Oasis performed the theme tune, “Half A World Away”, on TV’s ‘The Royle Family’ which starred Ricky Tomlinson, who had his own hit with a cover of Shane McGowen’s “Are You Looking At Me”. Shane was the driving force behind The Pogues, the band featured many, traditional sounding, Irish folk tunes like “Sally MacLennane” among their earliest recordings. Shane is probably best known for his perennial Christmas hit “Fairytale Of New York”, a seasonal duet with Kirsty MacColl. After her first hit “There’s A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He’s Elvis” in 1981, Kirsty had many single releases before her last “England 2 Columbia 0” which was released just before her unfortunate, accidental, death in 2000. One of her biggest hits was a cover of Billy Bragg’s “A New England”, which failed to chart for the songwriter, unlike his cover of “She’s Leaving Home” which went to number one as part of a double A-side release with Wet Wet Wet’s “With A Little Help From My Friends”. Both originally hits for the Beatles, George Martin produced much of their output, including the wonderful “And I Love Her”, as well as many recordings for many other artists. Cilla Black was just one of these, and her cover of the Gene Pitney hit “Something’s Gotten Hold Of My Heart” was also produced by the maestro. Cilla went on to host TV’s ‘Blind Date’ which was a British version of the American hit show ‘The Dating Game’, which featured “Spanish Flea” as the ‘Bachelor’s Theme’ part of the programme which was originally a hit for Herb Alpert!

REWIND: TOP 50 Singles 29th May 1977

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TW ARTIST - TITLE HP

01 Rod Stewart - I Don't Want To Talk About It (01)
02 Kenny Rogers - Lucille (01)
03 Joe Tex - Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman) (02)
04 Barbra Streisand - Evergreen (Love Theme From 'A Star Is Born') (03)
05 Van McCoy - The Shuffle (04)
06 10cc - Good Morning Judge (05)
07 Marvin Gaye - Got To Give It Up (Part 1) (07)
08 Muppets - Halfway Down The Stairs (07)
09 Piero Umiliani - Mah Na Mah Na (08)
10 Rock Follies - OK (10)
11 Sex Pistols - God Save The Queen (02)
12 Eagles - Hotel California (08)
13 Boz Scaggs - Lido Shuffle (13)
14 Genesis - Match Of The Day (14)
15 Heatwave - Too Hot To Handle (15)
16 Liverpool FC - We Can Do It (15)
17 Carole Bayer Sager - You're Moving Out Today (06)
18 Electric Light Orchestra - Telephone Line (08)
19 Deniece Williams - Free (01)
20 Tavares - Whodunit (05)
21 Peter Gabriel - Solsbury Hill (13)
22 Gladys Knight & The Pips - Baby Don't Change Your Mind (04)
23 Jacksons - Show You the Way To Go (01)
24 Bay City Rollers - It's A Game (16)
25 Trammps - Disco Inferno (16)
26 Bryan Ferry - Tokyo Joe (15)
27 Stranglers - Peaches (08)
28 Blue - Gonna Capture Your Heart (18)
29 Ramones - Sheena Is A Punk Rocker (22)
30 Joy Sarney - Naughty Naughty Naughty (26)
31 Honky - Join The Party (28)
32 Shalamar - Uptown Festival (30)
33 Stevie Wonder - Sir Duke (02)
34 Trinidad Oil Company - Calendar Song (34)
35 Mr Big - Feel Like Calling Home (35)
36 Queen - Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy (17)
37 Tina Charles - Rendezvous (27)
38 Manhattan Transfer - Don't Let Go (32)
39 Yvonne Elliman - Hello Stranger (26)
40 Jam - In The City (40)
41 Frankie Miller - Be Good To Yourself (27)
42 George Benson - Nature Boy (26)
43 Marie Myriam - L'oiseau Et L'enfant (42)
44 Teddy Pendergrass - The Whole Town's Laughing At Me (44)
45 Faces - Memphis, Tennessee (41)
46 Bo Kirkland & Ruth Davis - You're Gonna Get Next to Me (12)
47 Tony Etoria - I Can Prove It (21)
48 Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Fanfare For The Common Man (02)
49 Liverpool Express - Dreamin (40)
50 Simon May - We'll Gather Lilacs In Spring_All My Loving (49)