WEEK ENDING 28th DECEMBER 1974
TOP 40 SINGLES

Last weeks position in Brackets
1-(-1)----Mud----------------------Lonely This Christmas
2-(-2)----Bachman Turner Overdrive--------------You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet
3-(-3)----Rubettes-----------------Juke Box Jive
4-(-4)----Barry White-------------You're The First, The Last, My Everything
5-(-5)----Wombles-----------------Wombling Merry Christmas
6-(-6)----Ralph McTell------------Streets Of London
7-(-7)----Elvis Presley-------------My Boy
8-(-8)----Disco Tex And The Sex-O-Lettes featuring Sir Monti Rock III----------Get Dancing
9-(-9)----Gary Glitter----------------Oh Yes You're Beautiful
10(10)----Hello-----------------------Tell Him
11(11)----Elton John----------------Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
12(12)----Rod Stewart And The Faces---------------You Can Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything
13(13)----Goodies--------------------The In Betweenies/Father Christmas Do Not Touch Me
14(14)----Rupie Edwards------------Ire Feelings (Skanga)
15(15)----Status Quo-----------------Down Down
16(16)----Alvin Stardust-------------Tell Me Why
17(17)----K.C. And The Sunshine Band--------------Sound Your Funky Horn
18(18)----Gilbert O'Sullivan----------Christmas Song
19(19)----Billy Swan-------------------I Can Help
20(20)----Al Green---------------------Sha-La La (Make Me Happy)
21(21)----David Essex-----------------Gonna Make You A Star
22(22)----Wayne Gibson-------------Under My Thumb
23(23)----Showaddywaddy----------Hey Mister Christmas
24(24)----Kenny------------------------The Bump
25(25)----Gloria Gaynor---------------Never Can Say Goodbye
26(26)----Pilot----------------------------Magic
27(27)----David Essex-----------------Stardust
28(28)----Ace----------------------------How Long
29(29)----Ringo Starr-------------------Only You
30(30)----Trammps----------------------Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart
31(31)----Hot Chocolate---------------Cheri Babe
32(32)----Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg-----------Je T'Aime (Moi Non Plus)
33(33)----Tymes-------------------------Ms. Grace
34(34)----Chi-lites------------------------Too Good To Be Forgotten
35(35)----Queen--------------------------Killer Queen
36(36)----Peppers------------------------Pepper Box
37(37)----John Holt----------------------Help Me Make It Through The Night
38(38)----Lynsey De Paul--------------No Honestly
39(39)----Eddie Holman-----------------(Hey There) Lonely Girl
40(40)----Suzi Quatro--------------------The Wild One

The reason that there was no movement in this chart is because the chart for 21st December lasted for two weeks.

1-(-1)----Mud----------------------Lonely This Christmas
Les Gray's best 'Elvis' impression took Mud's seventh hit to the top. This was the second of four weeks at the top for this single, and despite being re-released just about every year since, It has never re-entered the top 40. This was only my second Christmas as a music lover and chart watcher, and I had seen most of the big names in music release at least one Christmas single in that time. So, it came as a disappointment when as the years went by less and less Christmas singles were released by the major names in music. Why can't they just let go of their 'serious rock star' image for a few weeks a year ?
Yes, in those days the most popular acts knew how to have fun and were not so unapproachable. In my opinion that alone proves that the Seventies were much better than the dreary Nineties are ;-)

2-(-2)----Bachman Turner Overdrive--------------You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet
And here's another good advertisment for the Seventies. It's now better known as the song from Harry Enfield's 'Smashie And Nicey' sketches, but it's a true rock classic. After a slow start they eventually climbed to number two before steadily falling down the chart. Unfortunately it was a one off in terms of hit singles, and they only managed a number 22 with their sole other hit "Roll On Down The Highway". Over the following ten years , they changed their name to 'B.T.O.', broke up, reunited and broke up again. A band called 'Bachman' came on to the scene in 1993, but I don't know if there is any relation or not. Just before the first split, Randy Bachman left the band and after releasing a solo album, formed a new band called 'Ironhorse' who released a brilliant single called "Sweet Lui-Louise' that sadly failed to chart. He later joined 'Union' and became a songwriter for the 'Beach Boys' !!!!

3-(-3)----Rubettes-----------------Juke Box Jive
The third hit for the Rubettes was a stunner that could easily have been recorded by 'Showaddywaddy'. It was a strange mover in the chart. After initially reaching number three, it fell to eight before climbing back to three for another three week run in that position. It was their last top five hit.

4-(-4)----Barry White-------------You're The First, The Last, My Everything
Barry's fourth hit was also his biggest and had spent two weeks at number one before being displaced by Mud. This is one of the classics of early disco, maybe not due to Barry's growling, but for the superb backing track that as usual could be heard without Barry's vocal interruptions on the B.Side.

5-(-5)----Wombles-----------------Wombling Merry Christmas
Today we have Tellytubbies and Mr Blobby, back then we had the Wombles, draw your own conclusions from that. This was their fifth hit this year and was also their highest charting single. If you think that it must have peaked at number five you'd be wrong, because in the first chart of the new year it climbed to number two before naturally dropping like a lead balloon. This song brings back memories of the school Christmas Disco that year when we all had so much fun with all these great records. Yes, we danced to the Wombles (I was only 12 !). I'm very disappointed that this song hasn't re-entered the chart in 1998.

6-(-6)----Ralph McTell------------Streets Of London
Ralph was on his way to spending two weeks at number two with his tale of the homeless. Yes it was a good record, but I prefer the 1982 cover by the 'Anti Nowhere League'. My reason for preferring the cover version is that it is sang 'angrily' just as the words suggest it should be. I have similar thoughts about Tina Turner's cover of the Beatles "Help", she sings it as though she's feeling depressed (again, as the words suggest), while the Beatles sang it as though they were on top of the world.

7-(-7)----Elvis Presley-------------My Boy
In the near seven year period from October 1970 and August 1977, no Elvis single charted higher than this one. Even though it had already fallen from number six, it leapt back up to number five in the new year to equal the peak of his 1972 single "Until It's Time For You To Go". The very fact that this single had made the top ten would have been relief for Elvis chart watchers, as it was the first time that he had gained entry to the top ten since "Always On My Mind" had reached number nine two years previous, and his last three singles had failed to get into the top twenty.

8-(-8)----Disco Tex And The Sex-O-Lettes featuring Sir Monti Rock III----------Get Dancing
The first of two hits for Disco Tex was peaking at number eight and was almost halfway through an eleven week run in the chart. This was later the title track of a K Tel compilation album.

9-(-9)----Gary Glitter----------------Oh Yes You're Beautiful
Gary had fallen out of the top five the previous week for the final time in his career, after nine consecutive top five hits. This looked like it was going to be his fourth number one in 18 months, but he was kept from the top by Big Barry. It was very much a song in the vein of "I Love You Love Me Love", and it's a pity that it will never will remembered as a number one when stuff like "Men In Black" will !

10(10)----Hello-----------------------Tell Him
A cover of a Billie Davis hit from 1963 became the first hit for Glam Rockers Hello. It was on it's way down from number six and we were soon waiting for the next single. When the follow up came a couple of months later, it was one of the best singles released during the 'Glam Rock Era'. "Games Up" was a masterpiece of the genre and looked certain to be a future number one. But what happened ?
It bombed completely out of sight never to be heard again. That occurrence is still one of the great shocks associated with Glam Rock, and (if anyone with influence is reading this) maybe now is the time to resurrect this great song (in it's original form of course).
Hello also failed with their next single, a cover of "Bend Me Shape Me", but returned to the chart in the Autumn of '75 with "New York Groove". Vocalist Keith Marshall later had a hit with "Only Crying".

11(11)----Elton John----------------Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
The first time that Elton had a hit with a cover, and it returned him to the top ten after his previous four singles (including "Candle In The Wind") had failed to get there. This cover of the classic 'Beatles' album track did justice to the original and peaked at number ten. The B Side was a cover of John Lennon's "One Day At A Time".

12(12)----Rod Stewart And The Faces---------------You Can Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything
As usual December meant another 'Faces' single, though this was to be the last one before the eventual split. It was peaking at number 12 this week, but Ronnie Wood would soon be joining the Rolling Stones, while Rod concentrated on his solo career.

13(13)----Goodies--------------------The In Betweenies/Father Christmas Do Not Touch Me
This wasn't as bad as you may imagine it to be. "Father Christmas" was slightly risqué (though as a child, I didn't realise that fact), while "In Betweenies" was a fair enough pop song that helped the single to reach number seven in January.

14(14)----Rupie Edwards------------Ire Feelings (Skanga)
It peaked at number nine and for me was one of the worst hits of the year. A follow up "Lego Skanga" was even worse but thankfully didn't rise any higher than number 32.

15(15)----Status Quo-----------------Down Down
Status Quo didn't release too many singles back then. They normally just released one single from each album (as it of course should be) and this was the one taken from 'On The Level'. It was quite a slow climber, but it eventually became the bands only number one when it hit the top for a week.

16(16)----Alvin Stardust-------------Tell Me Why
Alvin's fifth hit in a year, and it was his first ballad. Sadly for Alvin it was the first not to hit the top ten and he had to settle for a number 16 peak.

17(17)----K.C. And The Sunshine Band--------------Sound Your Funky Horn
Not as immediate as their "Queen Of Clubs", but it was still one that grew on the listener and still sounds good today. Peaked at this week's number 17.

18(18)----Gilbert O'Sullivan----------Christmas Song
This was the year that Gilbert tried his hand at a Christmas song, and as he obviously had trouble deciding on a title, opted for the obvious. This was the highest new entry the previous week, but was released a little too late to really cash in on Christmas and peaked at number 12

19(19)----Billy Swan-------------------I Can Help
The first and only hit for Billy was as catchy as hell with it's rolling sound and eventually moved up to number six. He followed it with a cover of "Don't Be Cruel" that just failed to chart. To repay the compliment, 'RCA Records' released Elvis's version of "I Can Help" as a single nine years later and it peaked at number 30.

20(20)----Al Green---------------------Sha-La La (Make Me Happy)
There's no disputing what a great voice Al possesses, but this single seemed to have been vastly overlooked in the Christmas rush and climbed no higher than number 20.

21(21)----David Essex-----------------Gonna Make You A Star
27(27)----David Essex-----------------Stardust
Now in it's 11th week on the chart, "Gonna Make You A Star" had spent three weeks at number one during November, David's first number one. It also boasted a weird B Side called "Window". On the other hand "Stardust" was just starting it's chart run, a run that would take it to number seven. It was the title track to the movie "Stardust" and a track I preferred to his previous single.

22(22)----Wayne Gibson-------------Under My Thumb
A track that had appeared on the Rolling Stones 1966 album 'Aftermath' was here given the 'Northern Soul' treatment by Wayne Gibson. After moving very slowly up the chart, it finally peaked at number 17 in it's eighth week.

23(23)----Showaddywaddy----------Hey Mister Christmas
The third hit single for Showaddywaddy would rise to number 13 the following week and then fall very quickly. Just like their previous two hits it was an original composition and worthy of a play at any Christmas party.

24(24)----Kenny------------------------The Bump
A very slow climber to begin with, it would rise just three places the following week, before moving up a big 17 places to number four the following week. It then spent three weeks at number three becoming their biggest hit. It spent a total of 14 weeks in the 40. There was a strange occurrence concerning this song in the first week of December. Kenny entered the chart at number 37 that week, while the Bay City Rollers were spending their last week in the chart with "All Of Me Loves All Of You" right next door at number 38. The Rollers had their own version of "The Bump" on the flip side of their single.

25(25)----Gloria Gaynor---------------Never Can Say Goodbye
This song had been a very minor hit when recorded by the 'Jackson 5' in 1971 reaching number 33. It was now back and given the 'Disco' treatment by Gloria Gaynor for her very first hit. It was another single that was to take a small climb the following week (to number 23), before taking a surprisingly big jump the following week (to number six). It later spent a week at number two, but three weeks later took a massive dive down the chart when it fell from number five to 27. Check out the version of this on the 'Best Of Gloria Gaynor' album, it has a great segue into "Reach Out I'll Be There". The song was again a top five hit almost 13 years later when covered by the 'Communards'.

26(26)----Pilot----------------------------Magic
The very first hit for 'Pilot' was coining a phrase being used a lot at the time courtesy of the popular sitcom 'Oh No It's Selwyn Froggett' (Bill Maynard's character said it a lot). It was now on the way down from it's peak of number 11, and the very week that it fell out of the chart the follow up was a new entry. I remember seeing them perform this song on a late Saturday afternoon TV show, but I can't remember what it was called (could have been something to do with Ali Baba). But I most associate this song with Saturday afternoons three years later. I was a regular supporter of 'Wrexham' football club and didn't miss a home league match that season. At the end of every match this record was played if Wrexham had won, and as they won almost every home match that season, I heard this song a lot.

28(28)----Ace----------------------------How Long
I thought that the only hit Ace ever had deserved better but unfortunately peaked at number 20. Singer Paul Carrack later joined Mike And The Mechanics as well as having a solo career. He recorded this song and took it number 32 in 1996. Rod Stewart covered it and stalled just short of the 40 in 1982.

Not long before this, Ace were without a recording contract and living hand to mouth. Their equipment was on the verge of being repossessed as the HP wasn't up to date, so they rang a friend of regular usenet contributor Paul Kaczmarekup who was promoting gigs at a small club in Brighton (where Paul worked the decks between sets).
He found a spare night for the following week - a bit of luck as another band had dropped out. Word of mouth close on sold it out - at the time the club was on an incredible run of 'pub rock' bands - Ducks Deluxe, Bees Make Honey, Daddy Longlegs, Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers and the like, and there was a good following for just about everything put on there.

Paul was managing a local record shop at the time, and one of the reps was on a stopover, together with the company A and R man. (Paul had an open house and quite a few of the reps would stay over for a few beers, a party or somesuch). Paul had a rough demo tape of the band - including 'How Long' - so it didn't take much to persuade them to come out for a drink and a listen. The set was an absolute knockout, and the A and R man was raving (and exceedingly drunk:-) by the end of it. He was from Anchor records - the contract was signed the following week.
Paul got a real fine letter from the band a while later, and a massive hangover the next time they were passing through!

My sincere thanks to Paul for giving me permission to use that information :-)

29(29)----Ringo Starr-------------------Only You
Ringo was having his last ever hit with a cover of a song that had first been a hit for 'Hilltoppers' in 1956. After having top ten hits with each of his previous four singles, this could only reach number 28 despite a promo that was 'taking off ' the movie 'The Day The Earth Stood Still'. It seems that Ringo had now been well and truly rumbled. He may have been a part of the best band ever, and he may also be a very nice bloke, but he could never sing could he ?

30(30)----Trammps----------------------Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart
This was the first of five top 40 hits that the Trammps enjoyed in the seventies. 'Zing' had already peaked at number 29, but stayed on the top 40 for six weeks. Their biggest hit was just under a year away.

31(31)----Hot Chocolate---------------Cheri Babe
Hot Chocolate were also peaking this week at a lowly number 31. Not a very impressive chart run for this one when we consider that just eight months ago, they'd had their biggest hit to date with 'Emma'. Still it was a better show than their 'Changing World' single in May, that failed to chart at all.

32(32)----Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg-----------Je T'Aime (Moi Non Plus)
A re-issue of the famous banned number one from 1969. Back then, it spent a week at number one. This time around, it peaked at number 31. Why was it banned ?
Heavy Breathing !
Yes, just that. It's nowhere near as offensive as someof the lyrics in late 90s rap songs. Neither is it as offensive as some of the images recently brought into our homes by CNN.

33(33)----Tymes-------------------------Ms. Grace
This made it to number one at the end of January 1975. It had taken this band over 11 years to notch up four hits. Their first had come in 1963 with 'So Much In Love', the second in 1969 with 'People', and the third in September of '74 with 'You Little Trustmaker'. This fourth hit was the only one to make the top ten, and was also their final top 40 hit.

34(34)----Chi-lites------------------------Too Good To Be Forgotten
Third hit of the year for this sadly under-rated group. They'd been to number ten with what was for them at the time, an unusually faster tempoed song. This song gave Amazulu their biggest hit when it reached number five for them in 1986.

35(35)----Queen--------------------------Killer Queen
The second hit for Queen had spent two weeks at number two in November, being blocked from a place at the top by David Essex. This was a time when Queen seemed to be appearing on every music show on British TV. It had a total of 12 weeks in the top 40.

36(36)----Peppers------------------------Pepper Box
A classic instrumental that had been to number four and spent a total of nine weeks in the 40. For many years this seemed to be one of very few records owed by whoever was in charge of the music at Wrexham's Hippadrome Cinema. The last time I went there must have been in the late 80s, and they were STILL playing it.

37(37)----John Holt----------------------Help Me Make It Through The Night
Another one of those classics from the pen of Kris Kristofferson . Originally a number 11 hit for Gladys Knight And The Pips in January 1973, this reggae-ish cover peaked at number six in January 1975. John had a long career that I don't know much about (Paul ?), but I'm sure I've heard some more great songs from him. There was another cover of this in 1996 by Huff And Puff that was also a hit in 1997, but it was quite diabolical in my opinion.

38(38)----Lynsey De Paul--------------No Honestly
Lynsey's second biggest hit had peaked at number seven. This was the theme from a popular Sunday evening TV show starring Pauline Collins and John Alderton. They don't make them like that anymore, some will be grateful.

39(39)----Eddie Holman-----------------(Hey There) Lonely Girl
I've a fairly good idea that this was a re-issue of a record that had failed to chart when originally released. It was a soul record in the style of the Sylistics and the Chi-Lites. It reached number four, but Eddie didn't appear in the chart again.

40(40)----Suzi Quatro--------------------The Wild One
The last of Suzi's opening run of six consecutive top twenty hits had peaked at number seven. Suzi released her second album at this time, and theopening track was 'The Wild One'. It was one of five albums I received that Christmas, and the first one that I played when I woke that Christmas morning (approx 4:00 am). I was very surprised when theopeing track wasn't the wild rocking song that I already had on a single. Instead, it was a song that used the same lyrics, but had a kind of Egyptian feel to it. Ten out of ten to Suzi for style, now if only the Beatles had thought of that with 'Help'.
The other albums I receivedthat Christmas morning ?
Various - Music Explosion (KTel compilation)
Various - Listen To The Music (Arcade compilation)
Top Of The Pops (Session musician recordings of hits from Oct/Nov 1974)
The Best Of Top Of The Pops 1974 (Session musician recordings of hits from 1974)

This has been the last chart commentary for three weeks (probably), but the charts from January 1973 & January 1981 will appear here over the next two weeks. Of course, there is a slim chance that I will manage 'some' commentary for those weeks, but only if I have time to do it before Christmas Eve. So for now, I'd like to wish all the regular visitors to my site and all the usenet readers a "Wonderful Christmastime".

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Email: nige@innotts.co.uk