My Retro March 1968 Charts

2nd March 1968

It’s a first week on top for Love, the great obscure classic Alone Again Or, better known by The Damned, and a track I didn’t know till 30 years later, beating out classics galore. Dave Dee, Union Gap, Monkees, Tom Jones, Otis Redding, Nancy & Lee, Beatles (most of them), Moody Blues, Four Tops, Scott Walker, for example all topped my charts as oldies in later decades. Highest new entry, of only 3, the lowest since I started doing these retro 1967/8 charts – which gives me a break to let records try to reach a decent chart position as they deserve – is The Monkees yet again, straight in with Valleri, a terrific record, and the final hit that was well worth being a bigger hit than it was. Their previous single peaks at 50, it’s a Nilsson Beatles-ish song (as Harry’s tended to be at this time) and it’s sweet – but it’s not in the same league as Valleri.

Jimmy Ruffin’s 1970 UK hit I’ll Say Forever My Love, joins the club of 70’s soul hits that were actually 1968 US hits, and a goodie it is too, nicely dramatic and stringstastic. Pet Clark leaps into the 30, as does Sandie Shaw more modestly into the 40, neither of them tracks I noticed particularly at the time. Tom Rush jumps nicely, and the final new entry is Bob Dylan, with a song I associate more with UB40 and Robert Palmer. It’s actually quite restrained and tuneful, gasp!

1 ( 2 ) ALONE AGAIN OR Love
2 ( 1 ) THE LEGEND OF XANADU Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich
3 ( 5 ) YOUNG GIRL The Union Gap featuring Gary Puckett
4 ( NEW ) VALLERI The Monkees
5 ( 3 ) LA-LA MEANS I LOVE YOU The Delfonics
6 ( 9 ) THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY Hugo Montenegro, His Orchestra & Chorus
7 ( 10 ) DELILAH Tom Jones
8 ( 4 ) WE CAN FLY The Cowsills
9 ( 6 ) WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD Louis Armstrong
10 ( 7 ) (SITTIN’ ON) THE DOCK OF THE BAY Otis Redding

11 ( 8 ) SOME VELVET MORNING Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood
12 ( 15 ) LITTLE GREEN APPLES Roger Miller
13 ( 11 ) WORDS The Bee Gees
14 ( 16 ) MIGHTY QUINN Manfred Mann
15 ( 14 ) HELLO GOODBYE The Beatles
16 ( 13 ) NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN The Moody Blues
17 ( 22 ) ROSIE Don Partridge
18 ( 27 ) THE SON OF HICKORY HOLLER’S TRAMP O.C. Smith
19 ( 12 ) I’M GONNA MAKE YOU LOVE ME Madeline Bell
20 ( 20 ) CAPTAIN OF YOUR SHIP Reparata & The Delrons

21 ( 17 ) PICTURES OF MATCHSTICK MEN Status Quo
22 ( 18 ) KITES Simon Dupree & The Big Sound
23 ( 19 ) EVERLASTING LOVE The Love Affair
24 ( NEW ) I’LL SAY FOREVER MY LOVE Jimmy Ruffin
25 ( 21 ) FOOL ON THE HILL The Beatles
26 ( 31 ) ME THE PEACEFUL HEART Lulu
27 ( 23 ) WALK AWAY RENEE The Four Tops
28 ( 24 ) JACKIE Scott Walker
29 ( 36 ) MY GIRL Otis Redding
30 ( 47 ) KISS ME GOODBYE Petula Clark

31 ( 26 ) DON’T STOP THE CARNIVAL The Alan Price Set
32 ( 29 ) WORLD The Bee Gees
33 ( 33 ) DANCE TO THE MUSIC Sly & The Family Stone
34 ( 30 ) MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR The Beatles
35 ( 25 ) TOMORROW NEVER COMES Glen Campbell
36 ( 32 ) FIRE BRIGADE The Move
37 ( 41 ) CINDERELLA ROCKEFELLA Esther & Abi Ofarim
38 ( 28 ) I CAN TAKE OR LEAVE YOUR LOVING Herman’s Hermits
39 ( 34 ) A QUESTION OF TEMPERATURE The Balloon Farm
40 ( 49 ) TODAY Sandie Shaw

41 ( 39 ) DAYDREAM BELIEVER The Monkees
42 ( 37 ) I AM THE WALRUS The Beatles
43 ( 52 ) JENNIFER JUNIPER Donovan
44 ( 35 ) YOU’RE YOUNG AND YOU’LL FORGET Glen Campbell
45 ( 38 ) BACK ON MY FEET AGAIN The Foundations
46 ( 43 ) DIFFERENT DRUM The Stone Poneys featuring Linda Ronstadt
47 ( 42 ) COME RAIN OR COME SHINE Ray Charles
48 ( 44 ) ONE Harry Nilsson
49 ( 66 ) NO REGRETS Tom Rush
50 ( 56 ) GREEN TAMBOURINE Sun Dragon

51 ( 45 ) SUDDENLY YOU LOVE ME The Tremeloes
52 ( 48 ) YOUR MOTHER SHOULD KNOW The Beatles
53 ( 51 ) MASSACHUSSETS (THE LIGHTS GO OUT IN) The Bee Gees
54 ( 58 ) SCARBOROUGH FAIR (CANTICLE) Simon & Garfunkel
55 ( 57 ) WE’RE A WINNER The Impressions
56 ( 59 ) IN THE HEAT OF THE MORNING David Bowie
57 ( 46 ) GUITAR MAN Elvis Presley
58 ( 60 ) SOUL COAXING (AME CALINE) Raymond Lefevre & His Orchestra
59 ( 54 ) BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX Glen Campbell
60 ( 75 ) IF THIS WORLD WERE MINE Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

61 ( 64 ) THE RADIO SONG The Parade
62 ( 62 ) SKY PILOT Eric Burden & The Animals
63 ( 63 ) COUNTRY GIRL – CITY MAN Billy Vera & Judy Clay
64 ( 40 ) TRY IT Ohio Express
65 ( 68 ) THE END OF OUR ROAD Gladys Knight & The Pips
66 ( 67 ) SWEET INSPIRATION The Sweet Inspirations
67 ( 53 ) LOVE IS BLUE Paul Mauriat & His Orchestra
68 ( NEW ) I’LL BE YOUR BABY TONIGHT Bob Dylan
69 ( 70 ) LOVE IS BLUE Jeff Beck
70 ( 61 ) HEY LITTLE ONE Glen Campbell

71 ( 71 ) IF YOU CAN WAIT Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
72 ( 55 ) BEND ME SHAPE ME Amen Corner
73 ( 73 ) AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS The Formations
74 ( 50 ) CUDDLY TOY The Monkees
75 ( 65 ) ANNIVERSARY WALTZ Anita Harris

 

9th march 1968

It’s a 3rd slightly-Spanish/acoustic guitar riffed chart-topper as The Monkees final classic single tops my chart, Boyce & Hart’s Valleri making it a 6th. Don Partridge one-man-bands it onto every TV show at the time, and it still sounds charming up to 8, Jimmy Ruffin and Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell both have some Motown climbing, along with The Four Tops cover of If I Were A Carpenter and Diana Ross & The Supremes under-rated Forever Came Today both entering.

Highest new entry is also another cover of a 1967 top 10 original – Andy Williams glorious cover of Frankie Valli’s classic Can’t Take My Eyes Off You. Not quite up to the brilliant campness of the U2 mash-up by the Pet Shop Boys, but up there. Cilla is back with a song written by Paul McCartney for her new TV show to kick of a variety show career. I wonder if that will be a success, hmmm.

In at 65, another childhood fave debuts, Ray Stevens was a bit of a hero with his novelty records and his straight country/gospel ballads – possibly the odd mix is why he’s not critically-appreciated, Gitarzan is not necessarily going to get music critics excited – but he had 3 chart-topping singles in my of-the-time 70’s charts. Unwind is a decent song written by Ray for his first serious album, and a minor US hit ahead of a run of bigger hits. The Paper Dolls enter with a MaCaulay/MacLeod song I loved at the time – sadly the girls missed out on the lined-up follow-up – Build Me Up Buttercup – owing to a studio recording mix-up. Oops!

1 ( 4 ) VALLERI The Monkees
2 ( 2 ) THE LEGEND OF XANADU Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich
3 ( 3 ) YOUNG GIRL The Union Gap featuring Gary Puckett
4 ( 1 ) ALONE AGAIN OR Love
5 ( 7 ) DELILAH Tom Jones
6 ( 6 ) THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY Hugo Montenegro, His Orchestra & Chorus
7 ( 5 ) LA-LA MEANS I LOVE YOU The Delfonics
8 ( 17 ) ROSIE Don Partridge
9 ( 9 ) WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD Louis Armstrong
10 ( 10 ) (SITTIN’ ON) THE DOCK OF THE BAY Otis Redding

11 ( 24 ) I’LL SAY FOREVER MY LOVE Jimmy Ruffin
12 ( 18 ) THE SON OF HICKORY HOLLER’S TRAMP O.C. Smith
13 ( 11 ) SOME VELVET MORNING Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood
14 ( 8 ) WE CAN FLY The Cowsills
15 ( 13 ) WORDS The Bee Gees
16 ( 20 ) CAPTAIN OF YOUR SHIP Reparata & The Delrons
17 ( 15 ) HELLO GOODBYE The Beatles
18 ( 16 ) NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN The Moody Blues
19 ( 12 ) LITTLE GREEN APPLES Roger Miller
20 ( 26 ) ME THE PEACEFUL HEART Lulu

21 ( 14 ) MIGHTY QUINN Manfred Mann
22 ( NEW ) CAN’T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU Andy Williams
23 ( 60 ) IF THIS WORLD WERE MINE Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
24 ( 19 ) I’M GONNA MAKE YOU LOVE ME Madeline Bell
25 ( 22 ) KITES Simon Dupree & The Big Sound
26 ( 23 ) EVERLASTING LOVE The Love Affair
27 ( 29 ) MY GIRL Otis Redding
28 ( 30 ) KISS ME GOODBYE Petula Clark
29 ( 25 ) FOOL ON THE HILL The Beatles
30 ( 21 ) PICTURES OF MATCHSTICK MEN Status Quo

31 ( 27 ) WALK AWAY RENEE The Four Tops
32 ( 28 ) JACKIE Scott Walker
33 ( 37 ) CINDERELLA ROCKEFELLA Esther & Abi Ofarim
34 ( 49 ) NO REGRETS Tom Rush
35 ( NEW ) STEP INSIDE LOVE Cilla Black
36 ( 32 ) WORLD The Bee Gees
37 ( 43 ) JENNIFER JUNIPER Donovan
38 ( 34 ) MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR The Beatles
39 ( 31 ) DON’T STOP THE CARNIVAL The Alan Price Set
40 ( 54 ) SCARBOROUGH FAIR (CANTICLE) Simon & Garfunkel

41 ( 36 ) FIRE BRIGADE The Move
42 ( 41 ) DAYDREAM BELIEVER The Monkees
43 ( 33 ) DANCE TO THE MUSIC Sly & The Family Stone
44 ( 35 ) TOMORROW NEVER COMES Glen Campbell
45 ( 39 ) A QUESTION OF TEMPERATURE The Balloon Farm
46 ( 42 ) I AM THE WALRUS The Beatles
47 ( NEW ) FOREVER CAME TODAY Diana Ross & The Supremes
48 ( 38 ) I CAN TAKE OR LEAVE YOUR LOVING Herman’s Hermits
49 ( 40 ) TODAY Sandie Shaw
50 ( 46 ) DIFFERENT DRUM The Stone Poneys featuring Linda Ronstadt

51 ( 44 ) YOU’RE YOUNG AND YOU’LL FORGET Glen Campbell
52 ( 56 ) IN THE HEAT OF THE MORNING David Bowie
53 ( 45 ) BACK ON MY FEET AGAIN The Foundations
54 ( 48 ) ONE Harry Nilsson
55 ( 58 ) SOUL COAXING (AME CALINE) Raymond Lefevre & His Orchestra
56 ( 53 ) MASSACHUSSETS (THE LIGHTS GO OUT IN) The Bee Gees
57 ( 62 ) SKY PILOT Eric Burden & The Animals
58 ( 47 ) COME RAIN OR COME SHINE Ray Charles
59 ( 52 ) YOUR MOTHER SHOULD KNOW The Beatles
60 ( 68 ) I’LL BE YOUR BABY TONIGHT Bob Dylan

61 ( 61 ) THE RADIO SONG The Parade
62 ( NEW ) IF I WERE A CARPENTER The Four Tops
63 ( 59 ) BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX Glen Campbell
64 ( 51 ) SUDDENLY YOU LOVE ME The Tremeloes
65 ( NEW ) UNWIND Ray Stevens
66 ( 73 ) AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS The Formations
67 ( 71 ) IF YOU CAN WANT Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
68 ( NEW ) SOMETHING HERE IN MY HEART The Paper Dolls
69 ( 55 ) WE’RE A WINNER The Impressions
70 ( 63 ) COUNTRY GIRL – CITY MAN Billy Vera & Judy Clay

71 ( 50 ) GREEN TAMBOURINE Sun Dragon
72 ( 66 ) SWEET INSPIRATION The Sweet Inspirations
73 ( 69 ) LOVE IS BLUE Jeff Beck
74 ( NEW ) SIT WITH THE GURU The Strawberry Alarm Clock
75 ( NEW ) IF I ONLY HAD TIME John Rawles

 

16th March 1968

It’s a first week on top for The Union Gap and the powerful vocals of Gary Puckett with the rather classic Young Girl, heading a classic top 5 and a brilliant obscure song from the first Nancy & Lee album on release this month – Sundown, Sundown is classic Lee Hazelwood, but just to show they can cover others songs, they also have the definitive version of Elusive Dreams enter at 24, the 1967 entry for Tammy Wynette & David Houston. So with 3 in the top 30, that puts Nancy’s solo Lee Hazelwood song, 100 Years, into the shade at 66.

The Beatles are back with new song Lady Madonna, fab of course, but not quite as fab as every single since Eleanor Rigby started the classic run, while the B Side from George sneaks in at 70. Bobby Goldsboro’s Honey is in at 13 – very much a marmite track this one, either touchingly sad, or nauseatingly cheesy, what with lush string arrangements, Bobby’s emotional delivery and especially the lyrics. The song hit 2 in the UK again in 1975 around the time a classmate was killed in a motorbike accident, so I’m emotionally leaning towards the former as it deals with tragic early loss. It topped my chart that Spring.

Honeybus, a tuneful fave of the time, pops in with I Can’t Let Maggie Go, Cliff’s Congratulations (he was officially robbed!) Eurovision perennial enters, and Robert John debuts with a sweet soul number. Who he? He had a hit US cover of The Lion Sleeps Tonight in 1972 which I rather liked, his vocals tending towards the Frankie Valli-style, and best of all a UK hit (as well as a huge summer of 79 radio biggie while I was touring the South West USA) with the fab Sad Eyes. So 11 years of waiting for that UK hit…

Leonard Cohen gets another cheerful entry with his early classic, Suzanne, Solomon Burke avoids getting sued by the estate of the late Sam Cooke by virtue of the court case establishing copying a previous record’s style meant getting done for royalties hadn’t been set (see Blurred Lines/Got To Give It Up), The Bee Gees get an obscure new entry, Elvis has given up Returning To Sender and taken on the job of the US Male himself, while The Intruders get another early chart entry 6 years ahead of UK success.

1 ( 3 ) YOUNG GIRL The Union Gap featuring Gary Puckett
2 ( 1 ) VALLERI The Monkees
3 ( 2 ) THE LEGEND OF XANADU Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich
4 ( 5 ) DELILAH Tom Jones
5 ( 6 ) THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY Hugo Montenegro, His Orchestra & Chorus
6 ( NEW ) SUNDOWN, SUNDOWN Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood
7 ( 4 ) ALONE AGAIN OR Love
8 ( NEW ) LADY MADONNA The Beatles
9 ( 7 ) LA-LA MEANS I LOVE YOU The Delfonics
10 ( 11 ) I’LL SAY FOREVER MY LOVE Jimmy Ruffin

11 ( 9 ) WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD Louis Armstrong
12 ( 10 ) (SITTIN’ ON) THE DOCK OF THE BAY Otis Redding
13 ( NEW ) HONEY Bobby Goldsboro
14 ( 13 ) SOME VELVET MORNING Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood
15 ( 22 ) CAN’T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU Andy Williams
16 ( 20 ) ME THE PEACEFUL HEART Lulu
17 ( 8 ) ROSIE Don Partridge
18 ( 12 ) THE SON OF HICKORY HOLLER’S TRAMP O.C. Smith
19 ( 15 ) WORDS The Bee Gees
20 ( 23 ) IF THIS WORLD WERE MINE Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

21 ( 17 ) HELLO GOODBYE The Beatles
22 ( 18 ) NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN The Moody Blues
23 ( 14 ) WE CAN FLY The Cowsills
24 ( NEW ) ELUSIVE DREAMS Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood
25 ( 16 ) CAPTAIN OF YOUR SHIP Reparata & The Delrons
26 ( 28 ) KISS ME GOODBYE Petula Clark
27 ( 19 ) LITTLE GREEN APPLES Roger Miller
28 ( 25 ) KITES Simon Dupree & The Big Sound
29 ( 24 ) I’M GONNA MAKE YOU LOVE ME Madeline Bell
30 ( 21 ) MIGHTY QUINN Manfred Mann

31 ( 26 ) EVERLASTING LOVE The Love Affair
32 ( 35 ) STEP INSIDE LOVE Cilla Black
33 ( 29 ) FOOL ON THE HILL The Beatles
34 ( 31 ) WALK AWAY RENEE The Four Tops
35 ( 32 ) JACKIE Scott Walker
36 ( 27 ) MY GIRL Otis Redding
37 ( 30 ) PICTURES OF MATCHSTICK MEN Status Quo
38 ( 62 ) IF I WERE A CARPENTER The Four Tops
39 ( 36 ) WORLD The Bee Gees
40 ( 47 ) FOREVER CAME TODAY Diana Ross & The Supremes

41 ( 34 ) NO REGRETS Tom Rush
42 ( 38 ) MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR The Beatles
43 ( 33 ) CINDERELLA ROCKEFELLA Esther & Abi Ofarim
44 ( 40 ) SCARBOROUGH FAIR (CANTICLE) Simon & Garfunkel
45 ( 42 ) DAYDREAM BELIEVER The Monkees
46 ( 37 ) JENNIFER JUNIPER Donovan
47 ( 39 ) DON’T STOP THE CARNIVAL The Alan Price Set
48 ( NEW ) I CAN’T LET MAGGIE GO Honeybus
49 ( 46 ) I AM THE WALRUS The Beatles
50 ( 65 ) UNWIND Ray Stevens

51 ( NEW ) CONGRATULATIONS Cliff Richard
52 ( 60 ) I’LL BE YOUR BABY TONIGHT Bob Dylan
53 ( 61 ) THE RADIO SONG The Parade
54 ( 50 ) DIFFERENT DRUM The Stone Poneys featuring Linda Ronstadt
55 ( 68 ) SOMETHING HERE IN MY HEART The Paper Dolls
56 ( NEW ) IF YOU DON’T WANT MY LOVE Robert John
57 ( 44 ) TOMORROW NEVER COMES Glen Campbell
58 ( 66 ) AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS The Formations
59 ( 56 ) MASSACHUSSETS (THE LIGHTS GO OUT IN) The Bee Gees
60 ( 54 ) ONE Harry Nilsson

61 ( 41 ) FIRE BRIGADE The Move
62 ( 67 ) IF YOU CAN WANT Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
63 ( 51 ) YOU’RE YOUNG AND YOU’LL FORGET Glen Campbell
64 ( 74 ) SIT WITH THE GURU The Strawberry Alarm Clock
65 ( 52 ) IN THE HEAT OF THE MORNING David Bowie
66 ( NEW ) 100 YEARS Nancy Sinatra
67 ( 63 ) BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX Glen Campbell
68 ( 75 ) IF I ONLY HAD TIME John Rawles
69 ( 48 ) I CAN TAKE OR LEAVE YOUR LOVING Herman’s Hermits
70 ( NEW ) THE INNER LIGHT The Beatles

71 ( NEW ) SUZANNE Leonard Cohen
72 ( NEW ) PARTY PEOPLE Solomon Burke
73 ( NEW ) AND THE SUN WILL SHINE The Bee Gees
74 ( NEW ) U.S. MALE Elvis Presley
75 ( NEW ) COWBOYS TO GIRLS The Intruders

 

23rd March 1968

It’s a first week on top for The Voice in one of his biggest Foghorn performances, melodrama with a capital M. Tom Jones would certainly have topped my chart in 1965 (had I been charting) and It’s Not Unusual did eventually top my chart on its UK reissue in 1987, as did Delilah in the 90’s. Green Green Grass Of Home and What’s New Pussycat would also have been big as they were both kiddie faves too. Delilah is also on the 16 Big Hits album I keep mentioning, and replaces another track on top from it, as the 13th of the 16 tracks enters as highest newie at 25 for Four Jacks & A Jill, and the worldwide hit (except the UK) Master Jack. I’d never heard of it till dad bought the album, and rather liked it. It’s still sweet.

There’s a Motown invasion of the top 20, not to mention a Nancy & Lee invasion, and Aretha launches straight into the 40 with a great ballad new to me, the way better B Side of the track not in my chart, backed with amazing vocals from Whitney Houston’s mom Cissy, who’s Sweet Inspirations just dropped out of my chart. Another very familiar Hollies hit pops in, and 2 songs better known to me in covers: Cook & Greenaways hit machine song for Dorian Gray, Neil Diamond’s future UB40 monster, and also Archie Bell & The Drells Tighten Up, a band I went huge on 1972 when Here I Go Again was just fabulous. 

1 ( 4 ) DELILAH Tom Jones
2 ( 2 ) VALLERI The Monkees
3 ( 3 ) THE LEGEND OF XANADU Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich
4 ( 6 ) SUNDOWN, SUNDOWN Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood
5 ( 1 ) YOUNG GIRL The Union Gap featuring Gary Puckett
6 ( 8 ) LADY MADONNA The Beatles
7 ( 13 ) HONEY Bobby Goldsboro
8 ( 5 ) THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY Hugo Montenegro, His Orchestra & Chorus
9 ( 7 ) ALONE AGAIN OR Love
10 ( 15 ) CAN’T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU Andy Williams

11 ( 9 ) LA-LA MEANS I LOVE YOU The Delfonics
12 ( 16 ) ME THE PEACEFUL HEART Lulu
13 ( 11 ) WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD Louis Armstrong
14 ( 12 ) (SITTIN’ ON) THE DOCK OF THE BAY Otis Redding
15 ( 10 ) I’LL SAY FOREVER MY LOVE Jimmy Ruffin
16 ( 20 ) IF THIS WORLD WERE MINE Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
17 ( 38 ) IF I WERE A CARPENTER The Four Tops
18 ( 40 ) FOREVER CAME TODAY Diana Ross & The Supremes
19 ( 14 ) SOME VELVET MORNING Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood
20 ( 24 ) ELUSIVE DREAMS Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood

21 ( 19 ) WORDS The Bee Gees
22 ( 17 ) ROSIE Don Partridge
23 ( 21 ) HELLO GOODBYE The Beatles
24 ( 22 ) NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN The Moody Blues
25 ( NEW ) MASTER JACK Four Jacks And A Jill
26 ( 18 ) THE SON OF HICKORY HOLLER’S TRAMP O.C. Smith
27 ( 32 ) STEP INSIDE LOVE Cilla Black
28 ( 30 ) MIGHTY QUINN Manfred Mann
29 ( 28 ) KITES Simon Dupree & The Big Sound
30 ( 23 ) WE CAN FLY The Cowsills

31 ( 29 ) I’M GONNA MAKE YOU LOVE ME Madeline Bell
32 ( 27 ) LITTLE GREEN APPLES Roger Miller
33 ( 25 ) CAPTAIN OF YOUR SHIP Reparata & The Delrons
34 ( NEW ) AIN’T NO WAY Aretha Franklin
35 ( 31 ) EVERLASTING LOVE The Love Affair
36 ( 33 ) FOOL ON THE HILL The Beatles
37 ( 34 ) WALK AWAY RENEE The Four Tops
38 ( 35 ) JACKIE Scott Walker
39 ( 50 ) UNWIND Ray Stevens
40 ( 48 ) I CAN’T LET MAGGIE GO Honeybus

41 ( 26 ) KISS ME GOODBYE Petula Clark
42 ( 39 ) WORLD The Bee Gees
43 ( 37 ) PICTURES OF MATCHSTICK MEN Status Quo
44 ( 55 ) SOMETHING HERE IN MY HEART The Paper Dolls
45 ( 42 ) MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR The Beatles
46 ( 58 ) AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS The Formations
47 ( 51 ) CONGRATULATIONS Cliff Richard
48 ( 52 ) I’LL BE YOUR BABY TONIGHT Bob Dylan
49 ( 53 ) THE RADIO SONG The Parade
50 ( 56 ) IF YOU DON’T WANT MY LOVE Robert John

51 ( 45 ) DAYDREAM BELIEVER The Monkees
52 ( 36 ) MY GIRL Otis Redding
53 ( 41 ) NO REGRETS Tom Rush
54 ( 49 ) I AM THE WALRUS The Beatles
55 ( NEW ) I’VE GOT YOU ON MY MIND Dorian Gray
56 ( NEW ) JENNIFER ECCLES The Hollies
57 ( 62 ) IF YOU CAN WANT Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
58 ( 54 ) DIFFERENT DRUM The Stone Poneys featuring Linda Ronstadt
59 ( 47 ) DON’T STOP THE CARNIVAL The Alan Price Set
60 ( 44 ) SCARBOROUGH FAIR (CANTICLE) Simon & Garfunkel

61 ( 68 ) IF I ONLY HAD TIME John Rowles
62 ( 73 ) AND THE SUN WILL SHINE The Bee Gees
63 ( 66 ) 100 YEARS Nancy Sinatra
64 ( 64 ) SIT WITH THE GURU The Strawberry Alarm Clock
65 ( 59 ) MASSACHUSSETS (THE LIGHTS GO OUT IN) The Bee Gees
66 ( 46 ) JENNIFER JUNIPER Donovan
67 ( 60 ) ONE Harry Nilsson
68 ( 71 ) SUZANNE Leonard Cohen
69 ( 70 ) THE INNER LIGHT The Beatles
70 ( 72 ) PARTY PEOPLE Solomon Burke

71 ( 74 ) U.S. MALE Elvis Presley
72 ( 67 ) BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX Glen Campbell
73 ( NEW ) RED RED WINE Neil Diamond
74 ( NEW ) (YOU KEEP ME) HANGIN’ ON Joe Simon
75 ( NEW ) TIGHTEN UP Archie Bell & The Drells

30th March 1968

It’s a first week on top for the second Number One of 1968 for Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood, and Nancy’s 5th in total. Sundown Sundown was not a single, which is rather a bad record company decision considering it’s as good as anything Lee Hazelwood ever created. Boo!

The Four Tops get yet another top 10, very much the default position for the Tops in my charts during 1966-68, and Young Girl drops a bit in the week that NME named it one of the 10 most-unplayable tracks in 2018, on a par with Gary Glitter and The Rolling Stones Some Girls album. Nonsense of course, the man clearly says the girl has put on make-up, hidden her age, and looked much older leading him on, and soon as he finds out he says she should p*ss off back to her mother “before things go too far”, so not actually guilty of anything – which is more than Bill Wyman, the still-played Jerry Lee Lewis and the still-played R. Kelly can say with their 14/15-year-old partners/wives.

In at 11, it’s Tommy James classic Mony Mony, the 14th of the 16 Big Hits album tracks I keep mentioning, so good Billy idol covered it in 1987 and it charted in my 1975 charts on reissue to boot. His best record to date, still exciting played loud. In at 15, the first of 2 album tracks from Glen Campbell’s latest album of mostly covers – his fab version of the already fab Bob Lind, & Val Doonican, sublime song Elusive Butterfly. Another Singapore radio track we recorded on reel-to-reel – frankly anything Glen Campbell was recorded right off in our household, including his version of The Impossible Dream, a right theatrical stormer from Man Of La Mancha, better known by Jack Jones or Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine.

In at 45, it’s a belated UK 1978 novelty hit which I found amusing, and unusually one that bears repeat plays before the novelty wears off – it’s quite a clever loving-pastiche of the crooner-era records, and was a minor US and Australian hit in 1968, Loving You Has Made Me Bananas from Guy Marks, who popped up on Top Of The Pops in 1978 a decade late to the party. Laura Nyro’s second album is out, with a future-single stand-out track on hold till September, and her single-only Robert Kennedy-inspired single-only June track anthem yet to come, so that leaves the best two other tracks to enter my charts, Eli’s Coming a future hit for Three Dog Night, serial covers band, a sort of Showaddywaddy without the nostalgia. And the fun.

Fab Gene Pitney back as always with class, an obscure soul goodies, an MOR track, and a Stevie Wonder minor hit make up the other newies.

1 ( 4 ) SUNDOWN, SUNDOWN Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood
2 ( 2 ) VALLERI The Monkees
3 ( 3 ) THE LEGEND OF XANADU Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich
4 ( 6 ) LADY MADONNA The Beatles
5 ( 1 ) DELILAH Tom Jones
6 ( 7 ) HONEY Bobby Goldsboro
7 ( 11 ) LA-LA MEANS I LOVE YOU The Delfonics
8 ( 5 ) YOUNG GIRL The Union Gap featuring Gary Puckett
9 ( 8 ) THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY Hugo Montenegro, His Orchestra & Chorus
10 ( 17 ) IF I WERE A CARPENTER The Four Tops

11 ( NEW ) MONY MONY Tommy James & The Shondells
12 ( 10 ) CAN’T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU Andy Williams
13 ( 9 ) ALONE AGAIN OR Love
14 ( 18 ) FOREVER CAME TODAY Diana Ross & The Supremes
15 ( NEW ) ELUSIVE BUTTERFLY Glen Campbell
16 ( 25 ) MASTER JACK Four Jacks And A Jill
17 ( 20 ) ELUSIVE DREAMS Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood
18 ( 14 ) (SITTIN’ ON) THE DOCK OF THE BAY Otis Redding
19 ( 13 ) WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD Louis Armstrong
20 ( 12 ) ME THE PEACEFUL HEART Lulu

21 ( 15 ) I’LL SAY FOREVER MY LOVE Jimmy Ruffin
22 ( 16 ) IF THIS WORLD WERE MINE Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
23 ( 19 ) SOME VELVET MORNING Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood
24 ( 34 ) AIN’T NO WAY Aretha Franklin
25 ( 21 ) WORDS The Bee Gees
26 ( 27 ) STEP INSIDE LOVE Cilla Black
27 ( 23 ) HELLO GOODBYE The Beatles
28 ( 24 ) NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN The Moody Blues
29 ( 39 ) UNWIND Ray Stevens
30 ( 40 ) I CAN’T LET MAGGIE GO Honeybus

31 ( 22 ) ROSIE Don Partridge
32 ( 50 ) IF YOU DON’T WANT MY LOVE Robert John
33 ( 29 ) KITES Simon Dupree & The Big Sound
34 ( 30 ) WE CAN FLY The Cowsills
35 ( 31 ) I’M GONNA MAKE YOU LOVE ME Madeline Bell
36 ( 26 ) THE SON OF HICKORY HOLLER’S TRAMP O.C. Smith
37 ( 46 ) AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS The Formations
38 ( 44 ) SOMETHING HERE IN MY HEART The Paper Dolls
39 ( 55 ) I’VE GOT YOU ON MY MIND Dorian Gray
40 ( 33 ) CAPTAIN OF YOUR SHIP Reparata & The Delrons

41 ( 35 ) EVERLASTING LOVE The Love Affair
42 ( 36 ) FOOL ON THE HILL The Beatles
43 ( 37 ) WALK AWAY RENEE The Four Tops
44 ( 38 ) JACKIE Scott Walker
45 ( NEW ) LOVING YOU HAS MADE ME BANANAS Guy Marks
46 ( 47 ) CONGRATULATIONS Cliff Richard
47 ( 42 ) WORLD The Bee Gees
48 ( 28 ) MIGHTY QUINN Manfred Mann
49 ( 32 ) LITTLE GREEN APPLES Roger Miller
50 ( 56 ) JENNIFER ECCLES The Hollies

51 ( 45 ) MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR The Beatles
52 ( 57 ) IF YOU CAN WANT Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
53 ( NEW ) SWEET BLINDNESS Laura Nyro
54 ( 51 ) DAYDREAM BELIEVER The Monkees
55 ( 43 ) PICTURES OF MATCHSTICK MEN Status Quo
56 ( 48 ) I’LL BE YOUR BABY TONIGHT Bob Dylan
57 ( 61 ) IF I ONLY HAD TIME John Rowles
58 ( 54 ) I AM THE WALRUS The Beatles
59 ( 62 ) AND THE SUN WILL SHINE The Bee Gees
60 ( 63 ) 100 YEARS Nancy Sinatra

61 ( NEW ) SOMEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY Gene Pitney
62 ( 64 ) SIT WITH THE GURU The Strawberry Alarm Clock
63 ( 58 ) DIFFERENT DRUM The Stone Poneys featuring Linda Ronstadt
64 ( NEW ) THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM Glen Campbell
65 ( 68 ) SUZANNE Leonard Cohen
66 ( NEW ) DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW ABOUT ME? Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers
67 ( 41 ) KISS ME GOODBYE Petula Clark
68 ( 74 ) (YOU KEEP ME) HANGIN’ ON Joe Simon
69 ( 65 ) MASSACHUSSETS (THE LIGHTS GO OUT IN) The Bee Gees
70 ( NEW ) ELI’S COMING Laura Nyro

71 ( 49 ) THE RADIO SONG The Parade
72 ( 73 ) RED RED WINE Neil Diamond
73 ( 59 ) DON’T STOP THE CARNIVAL The Alan Price Set
74 ( NEW ) GOIN’ AWAY The Fireballs
75 ( NEW ) SHOO-BE-DOO-BE-DOO-DA-DAY Stevie Wonder

My Retro February 1968 Charts

3rd february 1968

It’s a first week on top for the then-recently-late Otis Redding’s classic, talk about going out on top. One that popped “back” into my charts in 1974 and again topping in the 21st Century – actually 1974 was it’s debut as I didn’t start my actual charting till later in 1968 and these are what I like now. I will post a comparison chart when I get to my actual UK-top-30-based-only charts versus what I like now – I’m enjoying discovering stuff new to me and seeing how my tastes have changed with age.

In at 9, highest new entry is the loveable Louis Armstrong and his optimistic sentimental heart-tugger. It actually works best when shown against images of what a horrible world it can be thanks to Man. A big leap for The Delfonics, much more cult these days than in those days, and the chirpy melodic Cowsills is one I would have gone mad on as a kiddie, had I ever heard it. Reparata’s ship leaps into the 30, as befits one I actually WAS mad on (but then I was rather mad on lots of pop songs), and Madeline Bell’s I’m Gonna Make You Love Me enters at 34, I didn’t know the song till the Diana & co version, but I picked it up on a “1968 Chartbusters” LP around 1976 along with some other fab tracks still to chart. I love Madeline and Blue Mink, very under-rated.

The Fire Brigade brings teenage hero Roy Wood back into the charts, and Don Partridge was huge for 12 months on TV at the time, debuting with Rosie. Sandie Shaw is back again, ditto The Monkees with a Nilsson song, Gladys Knight, & Curtis Mayfield aka The Impressions doing an early Move On Up hook. Leonard Cohen sneaks in, he last charted with new material last year, pretty much 50 years give or take with whole decades missed out (70’s) and covers in between. The Pretty Things pop in with an obscurity, after the buzz had gone, but it’s good.

1 ( 7 ) (SITTIN’ ON) THE DOCK OF THE BAY Otis Redding
2 ( 1 ) SOME VELVET MORNING Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood
3 ( 3 ) WORDS The Bee Gees
4 ( 2 ) EVERLASTING LOVE The Love Affair
5 ( 4 ) NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN The Moody Blues
6 ( 8 ) PICTURES OF MATCHSTICK MEN Status Quo
7 ( 5 ) HELLO GOODBYE The Beatles
8 ( 6 ) FOOL ON THE HILL The Beatles
9 ( NEW ) WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD Louis Armstrong
10 ( 9 ) WALK AWAY RENEE The Four Tops

11 ( 11 ) KITES Simon Dupree & The Big Sound
12 ( 12 ) JACKIE Scott Walker
13 ( 18 ) SUDDENLY YOU LOVE ME The Tremeloes
14 ( 22 ) DON’T STOP THE CARNIVAL The Alan Price Set
15 ( 10 ) COME RAIN OR COME SHINE Ray Charles
16 ( 43 ) LA-LA MEANS I LOVE YOU The Delfonics
17 ( 15 ) WORLD The Bee Gees
18 ( 20 ) YOU’RE YOUNG AND YOU’LL FORGET Glen Campbell
19 ( 30 ) WE CAN FLY The Cowsills
20 ( 16 ) MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR The Beatles

21 ( 14 ) LOVE IS BLUE Paul Mauriat & His Orchestra
22 ( 23 ) BACK ON MY FEET AGAIN The Foundations
23 ( 25 ) TOMORROW NEVER COMES Glen Campbell
24 ( 17 ) YOUR MOTHER SHOULD KNOW The Beatles
25 ( 13 ) ONE Harry Nilsson
26 ( 26 ) BEND ME SHAPE ME Amen Corner
27 ( 21 ) I AM THE WALRUS The Beatles
28 ( 19 ) HEY LITTLE ONE Glen Campbell
29 ( 47 ) CAPTAIN OF YOUR SHIP Reparata & The Delrons
30 ( 36 ) MIGHTY QUINN Manfred Mann

31 ( 24 ) DAYDREAM BELIEVER The Monkees
32 ( 34 ) I’D RATHER GO BLIND Etta James
33 ( 29 ) DIFFERENT DRUM The Stone Poneys featuring Linda Ronstadt
34 ( NEW ) I’M GONNA MAKE YOU LOVE ME Madeline Bell
35 ( 38 ) ANNIVERSARY WALTZ Anita Harris
36 ( 40 ) I CAN TAKE OR LEAVE YOUR LOVING Herman’s Hermits
37 ( 28 ) PARADISE LOST The Herd
38 ( 27 ) BEND ME SHAPE ME The American Breed
39 ( 32 ) MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE Lalo Schifrin
40 ( 35 ) GREEN TAMBOURINE The Lemon Pipers

41 ( 37 ) MASSACHUSSETS (THE LIGHTS GO OUT IN) The Bee Gees
42 ( 48 ) DANCE TO THE MUSIC Sly & The Family Stone
43 ( 33 ) BACK UP TRAIN Al Green & The Soul Mates
44 ( 31 ) KITTY Cat Stevens
45 ( NEW ) FIRE BRIGADE The Move
46 ( 41 ) BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX Glen Campbell
47 ( NEW ) ROSIE Don Partridge
48 ( 53 ) GUITAR MAN Elvis Presley
49 ( 39 ) YOU Marvin Gaye
50 ( 52 ) I WISH IT WOULD RAIN The Temptations

51 ( 42 ) SPOOKY Classics IV
52 ( 57 ) THAT’S ALL RIGHT Brenda Lee
53 ( 60 ) A QUESTION OF TEMPERATURE The Balloon Farm
54 ( 44 ) THERE IS The Dells
55 ( 62 ) SIMON SAYS 1910 Fruitgum Company
56 ( 65 ) TRY IT Ohio Express
57 ( 46 ) SHE’S A RAINBOW The Rolling Stones
58 ( 49 ) DARLIN’ The Beach Boys
59 ( 51 ) WHAT AM I DOING HANGIN’ ROUND? The Monkees
60 ( 56 ) WEAR YOUR LOVE LIKE HEAVEN Donovan

61 ( 63 ) CARPET MAN The 5th Dimension
62 ( 50 ) BIRDS OF A FEATHER Joe South
63 ( 45 ) DO WHAT YOU GOTTA DO Al Wilson
64 ( 68 ) DEAR DELILAH Grapefruit
65 ( 55 ) THE OTHER MAN’S GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER Petula Clark
66 ( 58 ) ZABADAK! Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich
67 ( 71 ) JUST DROPPED IN (TO SEE WHAT CONDITION MY CONDITION WAS IN) Kenny Rogers & The First Edition
68 ( NEW ) TODAY Sandie Shaw
69 ( NEW ) TALKING ABOUT THE GOOD TIMES The Pretty Things
70 ( 54 ) AM I THAT EASY TO FORGET Engelbert Humperdinck

71 ( NEW ) CUDDLY TOY The Monkees
72 ( 61 ) EVERYBODY KNOWS The Dave Clark Five
73 ( NEW ) THE END OF OUR ROAD Gladys Knight & The Pips
74 ( NEW ) WE’RE A WINNER The Impressions
75 ( NEW ) SISTERS OF MERCY Leonard Cohen

 

10th February 1967

It’s straight in at 1 for one of yet 2 more tracks from my dad’s vinyl (Australian)16 Big Hits album, and a major classic to any kids catching Dave Dee on Top Of The Pops with the Spanish sounds of The Legend Of Xanadu and his whip and leather trousers. I was SO happy to catch Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich reunited for one last tour a year or two before Dave’s sad passing, such a great under-rated back-catalogue of singles – and this one isn’t even the jewel in the crown for me, though it’s close. The other track on the album was also a UK chart-topper – but not until October! The Good The Bad & The Ugly is the second Hugo Montenegro cover of a Spaghetti western classic theme, and it will appear again later in the year when I start showcasing my charts as they were then (I started in September) but in the meantime I’m carrying on doing charts as if there was streaming in 1967 – as in, available everywhere in the world at the same time, and everything eligible to chart.

Talking of which, the Love classic flop (later covered in 1987 by The Damned very well) Alone Again Or was released in January and since it never charted is entering here and now at 3, in case no-one else picks up on it as a Bubbling Under or whatever. It’s a work of genius, understated, moody and flamenco-ish to boot. The Delfonics go top 10 for the first time (I was out the country in 1971 when it charted in the UK, so I didn’t get to hear it till a year or so later, post-chart-run) with the fab future much-sampled and Swing Out Sister hit covered, La La Means I Love You. At 10, The Cowsills get a second top 10 – not bad for a melodic pop ditty I’d never heard until a few weeks ago, but which I’m currently obsessed by on my car CD.

Had I been charting in Feb 1968 the record most-likely to have topped my chart enters at 52, Esther & Abi Ofarim – I was a huge fan of Morticia-like Esther and the song. My love hasn’t stayed over the years, but it’s sweet enough in an oddball fashion. O.C. Smith is another US (minor) hit I associate with being bigger later in the year, but at the time I totally thought it was a Tramp – a stick and rolled-up hanging bag, top-hat-wearing moth-eaten be-suited Hobo. How naive I was! I always wondered what Hickory Holler was doing hanging around with a Tramp! O.C had to wait 9 years for another hit.

Otis gets knocked off the top spot, but posthumously covers the Temptations classic to great effect, new in, Pet Clark has a melodic minor one I actually do know, and ditto Sky Pilot, but the rest of the new entries are all new to me. Billy Vera & Judy Clay get a second entry with a good country-soul blend, Bowie improves on The Laughing Gnome and somehow I have managed to never hear this one in my life! Who Knew! Raymond Levere, is lush and instrumental and very 1968, but nice, and that’s all folks!

1 ( NEW ) THE LEGEND OF XANADU Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich
2 ( 1 ) (SITTIN’ ON) THE DOCK OF THE BAY Otis Redding
3 ( NEW ) ALONE AGAIN OR Love
4 ( 2 ) SOME VELVET MORNING Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood
5 ( 9 ) WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD Louis Armstrong
6 ( 3 ) WORDS The Bee Gees
7 ( 5 ) NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN The Moody Blues
8 ( 16 ) LA-LA MEANS I LOVE YOU The Delfonics
9 ( 4 ) EVERLASTING LOVE The Love Affair
10 ( 19 ) WE CAN FLY The Cowsills

11 ( 7 ) HELLO GOODBYE The Beatles
12 ( 6 ) PICTURES OF MATCHSTICK MEN Status Quo
13 ( 8 ) FOOL ON THE HILL The Beatles
14 ( 11 ) KITES Simon Dupree & The Big Sound
15 ( 10 ) WALK AWAY RENEE The Four Tops
16 ( NEW ) THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY Hugo Montenegro, His Orchestra & Chorus
17 ( 12 ) JACKIE Scott Walker
18 ( 14 ) DON’T STOP THE CARNIVAL The Alan Price Set
19 ( 34 ) I’M GONNA MAKE YOU LOVE ME Madeline Bell
20 ( 23 ) TOMORROW NEVER COMES Glen Campbell

21 ( 17 ) WORLD The Bee Gees
22 ( 22 ) BACK ON MY FEET AGAIN The Foundations
23 ( 13 ) SUDDENLY YOU LOVE ME The Tremeloes
24 ( 20 ) MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR The Beatles
25 ( 15 ) COME RAIN OR COME SHINE Ray Charles
26 ( 29 ) CAPTAIN OF YOUR SHIP Reparata & The Delrons
27 ( 18 ) YOU’RE YOUNG AND YOU’LL FORGET Glen Campbell
28 ( 30 ) MIGHTY QUINN Manfred Mann
29 ( 27 ) I AM THE WALRUS The Beatles
30 ( 36 ) I CAN TAKE OR LEAVE YOUR LOVING Herman’s Hermits

31 ( 25 ) ONE Harry Nilsson
32 ( 24 ) YOUR MOTHER SHOULD KNOW The Beatles
33 ( 21 ) LOVE IS BLUE Paul Mauriat & His Orchestra
34 ( 31 ) DAYDREAM BELIEVER The Monkees
35 ( 26 ) BEND ME SHAPE ME Amen Corner
36 ( 33 ) DIFFERENT DRUM The Stone Poneys featuring Linda Ronstadt
37 ( 32 ) I’D RATHER GO BLIND Etta James
38 ( 42 ) DANCE TO THE MUSIC Sly & The Family Stone
39 ( 45 ) FIRE BRIGADE The Move
40 ( 47 ) ROSIE Don Partridge

41 ( 35 ) ANNIVERSARY WALTZ Anita Harris
42 ( 28 ) HEY LITTLE ONE Glen Campbell
43 ( 48 ) GUITAR MAN Elvis Presley
44 ( 50 ) I WISH IT WOULD RAIN The Temptations
45 ( 41 ) MASSACHUSSETS (THE LIGHTS GO OUT IN) The Bee Gees
46 ( 53 ) A QUESTION OF TEMPERATURE The Balloon Farm
47 ( 56 ) TRY IT Ohio Express
48 ( 46 ) BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX Glen Campbell
49 ( 37 ) PARADISE LOST The Herd
50 ( 52 ) THAT’S ALL RIGHT Brenda Lee

51 ( 40 ) GREEN TAMBOURINE The Lemon Pipers
52 ( NEW ) CINDERELLA ROCKEFELLA Esther & Abi Ofarim
53 ( 38 ) BEND ME SHAPE ME The American Breed
54 ( 55 ) SIMON SAYS 1910 Fruitgum Company
55 ( NEW ) THE SON OF HICKORY HOLLER’S TRAMP O.C. Smith
56 ( 39 ) MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE Lalo Schifrin
57 ( 69 ) TALKING ABOUT THE GOOD TIMES The Pretty Things
58 ( 43 ) BACK UP TRAIN Al Green & The Soul Mates
59 ( NEW ) MY GIRL Otis Redding
60 ( 61 ) CARPET MAN The 5th Dimension

61 ( 51 ) SPOOKY Classics IV
62 ( 71 ) CUDDLY TOY The Monkees
63 ( 68 ) TODAY Sandie Shaw
64 ( 64 ) DEAR DELILAH Grapefruit
65 ( NEW ) KISS ME GOODBYE Petula Clark
66 ( 74 ) WE’RE A WINNER The Impressions
67 ( 67 ) JUST DROPPED IN (TO SEE WHAT CONDITION MY CONDITION WAS IN) Kenny Rogers & The First Edition
68 ( 44 ) KITTY Cat Stevens
69 ( NEW ) IN THE HEAT OF THE MORNING David Bowie
70 ( NEW ) SOUL COAXING (AME CALINE) Raymond Lefevre & His Orchestra

71 ( 49 ) YOU Marvin Gaye
72 ( NEW ) COUNTRY GIRL – CITY MAN Billy Vera & Judy Clay
73 ( 73 ) THE END OF OUR ROAD Gladys Knight & The Pips
74 ( 54 ) THERE IS The Dells
75 ( NEW ) SKY PILOT Eric Burden & The Animals

 

17th February 1968

2 weeks on top for the epic Xanadu, keeping the almost-as-epic Love at 2, and the gorgeously sentimental Louis at 3. Highest new entry is a second top 10 for Gary Puckett, Union Gap and their ever-changing credits, in at 9 for Young Girl, back in 1974 the record voted the UK’s fave oldie, which triggered a reissue hit and a number one in my charts of the time. yet again another “16 Big Hits” Aussie compilation track, so another song that remained a key dramatic pop track throughout the early 70’s. It also offers reasonable advice to wannabe popstars when faced with too-young fans who look older than they are. R. Kelly clearly never listened to it.

Hugo M goes top 10 8 months earlier than he actually did in my charts of late ’68, the cool Roger Miller brings his Little Green Apples in at 23, a subtle and classy track still, and deserves to be better known. Deep Purple (sort of) enter with a cover of Green Tambourine one spot behind the original, and Donovan simpers about Jennifer Juniper whimsically, while Simon & Garfunkel are back with a 2-year-old folk album track, from Parsley Sage Rosemary & Thyme, which inspired The Herbs. Sort of.

In at 67, an obscure band with an obscure pop song, quite decent though, although the melody is more than a little bit like I Can Hear Music, the future Beach Boys hit as done originally by The Ronettes and purely by co-incidence one of the musicians on The Ronettes and other Phil Spector productions (along with other musician mates who helped on The Parade tracks such as Hal Blaine), Jerry Riopelle, co-wrote and sang on this along with actor friend Murray MacLeod, and co-written help from Stuart Margolin – later better known as the wonderful Angel in The Rockford Files. I had never heard the song before this week.

Future Walker Brothers 1976 hit debuts for Tom Rush, No Regrets from me cos it’s a great song, though the biggest version was Midge Ure’s 1982 release. I think I’d plump for the Walker Brothers though, on balance. The Sweet Inspirations, Elvis’ backing band, are back giving Whitney Houston’s mum and early chart appearance. That leaves Smokey Robinson and Ray Charles to add to their tally of chart hits, both building up nicely during 1967.

1 ( 1 ) THE LEGEND OF XANADU Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich
2 ( 3 ) ALONE AGAIN OR Love
3 ( 5 ) WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD Louis Armstrong
4 ( 4 ) SOME VELVET MORNING Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood
5 ( 2 ) (SITTIN’ ON) THE DOCK OF THE BAY Otis Redding
6 ( 8 ) LA-LA MEANS I LOVE YOU The Delfonics
7 ( 6 ) WORDS The Bee Gees
8 ( 10 ) WE CAN FLY The Cowsills
9 ( NEW ) YOUNG GIRL The Union Gap featuring Gary Puckett
10 ( 16 ) THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY Hugo Montenegro, His Orchestra & Chorus

11 ( 7 ) NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN The Moody Blues
12 ( 11 ) HELLO GOODBYE The Beatles
13 ( 9 ) EVERLASTING LOVE The Love Affair
14 ( 14 ) KITES Simon Dupree & The Big Sound
15 ( 13 ) FOOL ON THE HILL The Beatles
16 ( 12 ) PICTURES OF MATCHSTICK MEN Status Quo
17 ( 19 ) I’M GONNA MAKE YOU LOVE ME Madeline Bell
18 ( 15 ) WALK AWAY RENEE The Four Tops
19 ( 20 ) TOMORROW NEVER COMES Glen Campbell
20 ( 17 ) JACKIE Scott Walker

21 ( 18 ) DON’T STOP THE CARNIVAL The Alan Price Set
22 ( 26 ) CAPTAIN OF YOUR SHIP Reparata & The Delrons
23 ( NEW ) LITTLE GREEN APPLES Roger Miller
24 ( 28 ) MIGHTY QUINN Manfred Mann
25 ( 21 ) WORLD The Bee Gees
26 ( 24 ) MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR The Beatles
27 ( 22 ) BACK ON MY FEET AGAIN The Foundations
28 ( 40 ) ROSIE Don Partridge
29 ( 27 ) YOU’RE YOUNG AND YOU’LL FORGET Glen Campbell
30 ( 30 ) I CAN TAKE OR LEAVE YOUR LOVING Herman’s Hermits

31 ( 23 ) SUDDENLY YOU LOVE ME The Tremeloes
32 ( 25 ) COME RAIN OR COME SHINE Ray Charles
33 ( 29 ) I AM THE WALRUS The Beatles
34 ( 38 ) DANCE TO THE MUSIC Sly & The Family Stone
35 ( 39 ) FIRE BRIGADE The Move
36 ( 34 ) DAYDREAM BELIEVER The Monkees
37 ( 46 ) A QUESTION OF TEMPERATURE The Balloon Farm
38 ( 31 ) ONE Harry Nilsson
39 ( 36 ) DIFFERENT DRUM The Stone Poneys featuring Linda Ronstadt
40 ( 43 ) GUITAR MAN Elvis Presley

41 ( 32 ) YOUR MOTHER SHOULD KNOW The Beatles
42 ( 33 ) LOVE IS BLUE Paul Mauriat & His Orchestra
43 ( 35 ) BEND ME SHAPE ME Amen Corner
44 ( 47 ) TRY IT Ohio Express
45 ( 55 ) THE SON OF HICKORY HOLLER’S TRAMP O.C. Smith
46 ( 59 ) MY GIRL Otis Redding
47 ( 45 ) MASSACHUSSETS (THE LIGHTS GO OUT IN) The Bee Gees
48 ( 52 ) CINDERELLA ROCKEFELLA Esther & Abi Ofarim
49 ( 37 ) I’D RATHER GO BLIND Etta James
50 ( 48 ) BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX Glen Campbell

51 ( 41 ) ANNIVERSARY WALTZ Anita Harris
52 ( 42 ) HEY LITTLE ONE Glen Campbell
53 ( 63 ) TODAY Sandie Shaw
54 ( 62 ) CUDDLY TOY The Monkees
55 ( 65 ) KISS ME GOODBYE Petula Clark
56 ( 49 ) PARADISE LOST The Herd
57 ( 51 ) GREEN TAMBOURINE The Lemon Pipers
58 ( NEW ) GREEN TAMBOURINE Sun Dragon
59 ( NEW ) JENNIFER JUNIPER Donovan
60 ( 67 ) JUST DROPPED IN (TO SEE WHAT CONDITION MY CONDITION WAS IN) Kenny Rogers & The First Edition

61 ( NEW ) SCARBOROUGH FAIR (CANTICLE) Simon & Garfunkel
62 ( 54 ) SIMON SAYS 1910 Fruitgum Company
63 ( 70 ) SOUL COAXING (AME CALINE) Raymond Lefevre & His Orchestra
64 ( 66 ) WE’RE A WINNER The Impressions
65 ( 75 ) SKY PILOT Eric Burden & The Animals
66 ( 69 ) IN THE HEAT OF THE MORNING David Bowie
67 ( NEW ) THE RADIO SONG The Parade
68 ( 50 ) THAT’S ALL RIGHT Brenda Lee
69 ( 44 ) I WISH IT WOULD RAIN The Temptations
70 ( 72 ) COUNTRY GIRL – CITY MAN Billy Vera & Judy Clay

71 ( NEW ) NO REGRETS Tom Rush
72 ( 73 ) THE END OF OUR ROAD Gladys Knight & The Pips
73 ( NEW ) SWEET INSPIRATION The Sweet Inspirations
74 ( NEW ) IF YOU CAN WAIT Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
75 ( NEW ) THAT’S A LIE Ray Charles

 

24th February 1968

It’s Xanadu for 3 weeks still holding off Love, for a very Spanish-flavoured top 2. There will be Portuguese-flavoured later in the year. The Delfonics hit 3 with the lush La-La beating Naughty Boy and Sam Smith’s La La La by decades and Massiels’ La La La La La La by months. It’s a great track, it works without the vocals as an instrumental, but the lyrics and vocals are the icing on the cake. The Cowsills continues to be a new obsession making it another top 5, I shouldnt love it in theory, but I do. Highest new entry is the melodramatic murdersong genius that is Delilah, and another 16 Big Hits key track that got played over and over through to 1971. people often seemed to be murdering in the 60’s, when they weren’t dying in motorbike crashes, lyric-wise. I can’t imagine these days the likes of Ed Sheeran getting all bitter and twisted by love, too busy simpering.

O.C. Smith’s ode to his fictional late mom (another 60’s theme) leaps into the 30, as Lulu leaps back into the 40 with Me The Peaceful Heart, one of my kiddie faves, tuneful pop with half of Led Zeppelin on it. Honest! Written by Tony Hazzard, of Ha ha Said The Clown and future fave Fox On The Run for Manfred Mann. Manfred going top 20 with Mighty Quinn, another Bob Dylan hit cover that is better than Dylan’s version. Pretty much most Dylan covers in fact, bar Like A Rolling Stone, Knocking On Heaven’s Door and Lay Lady Lay. Maybe.

Jeff Beck, another Micky Most act (see Lulu, Donovan etc etc), gets the 3rd hit version of Love Is Blue, and another future 1971 Northern Soul hit (see Delfonics) enters for The Formations, At The Top Of The Stairs being one I never got to hear in the 70’s. Marvin & Tammi get another duo entry, keeping a continuous presence on my charts that I never anticipated – I hadn’t realised just how often they charted in the USA at the time.

1 ( 1 ) THE LEGEND OF XANADU Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich
2 ( 2 ) ALONE AGAIN OR Love
3 ( 6 ) LA-LA MEANS I LOVE YOU The Delfonics
4 ( 8 ) WE CAN FLY The Cowsills
5 ( 9 ) YOUNG GIRL The Union Gap featuring Gary Puckett
6 ( 3 ) WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD Louis Armstrong
7 ( 5 ) (SITTIN’ ON) THE DOCK OF THE BAY Otis Redding
8 ( 4 ) SOME VELVET MORNING Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood
9 ( 10 ) THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY Hugo Montenegro, His Orchestra & Chorus
10 ( NEW ) DELILAH Tom Jones

11 ( 7 ) WORDS The Bee Gees
12 ( 17 ) I’M GONNA MAKE YOU LOVE ME Madeline Bell
13 ( 11 ) NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN The Moody Blues
14 ( 12 ) HELLO GOODBYE The Beatles
15 ( 23 ) LITTLE GREEN APPLES Roger Miller
16 ( 24 ) MIGHTY QUINN Manfred Mann
17 ( 16 ) PICTURES OF MATCHSTICK MEN Status Quo
18 ( 14 ) KITES Simon Dupree & The Big Sound
19 ( 13 ) EVERLASTING LOVE The Love Affair
20 ( 22 ) CAPTAIN OF YOUR SHIP Reparata & The Delrons

21 ( 15 ) FOOL ON THE HILL The Beatles
22 ( 28 ) ROSIE Don Partridge
23 ( 18 ) WALK AWAY RENEE The Four Tops
24 ( 20 ) JACKIE Scott Walker
25 ( 19 ) TOMORROW NEVER COMES Glen Campbell
26 ( 21 ) DON’T STOP THE CARNIVAL The Alan Price Set
27 ( 45 ) THE SON OF HICKORY HOLLER’S TRAMP O.C. Smith
28 ( 30 ) I CAN TAKE OR LEAVE YOUR LOVING Herman’s Hermits
29 ( 25 ) WORLD The Bee Gees
30 ( 26 ) MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR The Beatles

31 ( NEW ) ME THE PEACEFUL HEART Lulu
32 ( 35 ) FIRE BRIGADE The Move
33 ( 34 ) DANCE TO THE MUSIC Sly & The Family Stone
34 ( 37 ) A QUESTION OF TEMPERATURE The Balloon Farm
35 ( 29 ) YOU’RE YOUNG AND YOU’LL FORGET Glen Campbell
36 ( 46 ) MY GIRL Otis Redding
37 ( 33 ) I AM THE WALRUS The Beatles
38 ( 27 ) BACK ON MY FEET AGAIN The Foundations
39 ( 36 ) DAYDREAM BELIEVER The Monkees
40 ( 44 ) TRY IT Ohio Express

41 ( 48 ) CINDERELLA ROCKEFELLA Esther & Abi Ofarim
42 ( 32 ) COME RAIN OR COME SHINE Ray Charles
43 ( 39 ) DIFFERENT DRUM The Stone Poneys featuring Linda Ronstadt
44 ( 38 ) ONE Harry Nilsson
45 ( 31 ) SUDDENLY YOU LOVE ME The Tremeloes
46 ( 40 ) GUITAR MAN Elvis Presley
47 ( 55 ) KISS ME GOODBYE Petula Clark
48 ( 41 ) YOUR MOTHER SHOULD KNOW The Beatles
49 ( 53 ) TODAY Sandie Shaw
50 ( 54 ) CUDDLY TOY The Monkees

51 ( 47 ) MASSACHUSSETS (THE LIGHTS GO OUT IN) The Bee Gees
52 ( 59 ) JENNIFER JUNIPER Donovan
53 ( 42 ) LOVE IS BLUE Paul Mauriat & His Orchestra
54 ( 50 ) BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX Glen Campbell
55 ( 43 ) BEND ME SHAPE ME Amen Corner
56 ( 58 ) GREEN TAMBOURINE Sun Dragon
57 ( 64 ) WE’RE A WINNER The Impressions
58 ( 61 ) SCARBOROUGH FAIR (CANTICLE) Simon & Garfunkel
59 ( 66 ) IN THE HEAT OF THE MORNING David Bowie
60 ( 63 ) SOUL COAXING (AME CALINE) Raymond Lefevre & His Orchestra

61 ( 52 ) HEY LITTLE ONE Glen Campbell
62 ( 65 ) SKY PILOT Eric Burden & The Animals
63 ( 70 ) COUNTRY GIRL – CITY MAN Billy Vera & Judy Clay
64 ( 67 ) THE RADIO SONG The Parade
65 ( 51 ) ANNIVERSARY WALTZ Anita Harris
66 ( 71 ) NO REGRETS Tom Rush
67 ( 73 ) SWEET INSPIRATION The Sweet Inspirations
68 ( 72 ) THE END OF OUR ROAD Gladys Knight & The Pips
69 ( 57 ) GREEN TAMBOURINE The Lemon Pipers
70 ( NEW ) LOVE IS BLUE Jeff Beck

71 ( 74 ) IF YOU CAN WAIT Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
72 ( 56 ) PARADISE LOST The Herd
73 ( NEW ) AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS The Formations
74 ( 75 ) THAT’S A LIE Ray Charles
75 ( NEW ) IF THIS WORLD WERE MINE Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

My 2017 Charts – April – June

Gran Canaria mountain scenery

 

25th June 2017

It’s a second week on top for some classic Summer Wine – I should have had some in Copenhagen for the Midsummer Festival partying last week, but I was mainly walking round streets of old buildings, oops! I did note the music scene had become tropical housed, poor dears seem to have caught the bug. Even Drake’s Passionfruit had been covered and lost a lot of it’s fruityness. So not many new entries as I’ve been starved of the UK music scene. I also did Sweden, but it was Sunday and it was closed.

Main chart stat: OMD scrape in with a new track, for 37 years of entries…

1 1 1 2 SUMMER WINE Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood 340000
2 6 2 9 BUSTED AND BLUE Gorillaz 637000
3 2 1 4 SHE’S LEAVING HOME The Beatles 435000
4 3 1 7 INTO THE FIRE VINAI featuring Anjulie 945000
5 12 5 2 THE MAN The Killers 95000
6 11 6 6 CRYING IN THE CLUB Camila Cabello 171100
7 8 7 7 CLASSIC The Knocks featuring Powers 325000
8 4 2 6 THE FIGHTER Keith Urban featuring Carrie Underwood 463000
9 5 5 6 FEEL IT STILL Portugal. The Man 297000
10 16 10 4 WALL OF GLASS Liam Gallagher 106200

11 14 11 7 AVERDAVGI Agy 173800
12 7 2 10 BEAUTIFUL ONES Hurts 732000
13 9 9 7 BATMAN & ROBIN Cazzie Opeia & Jin x Jin 232800
14 17 14 7 YOUNG RICH AND RADICAL Club Cheval 133650
15 15 5 10 HURRICANE Drones Club 408000
16 32 16 8 APOCALYPSE Cigarettes After Sex 106200
17 20 17 5 THIS MOMENT Chase & Status and Blossoms 96300
18 13 7 7 ONE AND ONE Robert Miles featuring Maria Naylor 252000
19 24 19 6 SWISH SWISH Katy Perry featuring Nicki Minaj 95300
20 39 20 8 DESPACITO (REMIX) Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber 96850

21 19 3 11 IN MY WORLD Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie 482750
22 21 10 10 WHAM BANG SHANG-A-LANG Silver 232950
23 23 5 9 WAY BACK TLC featuring Snoop Dogg 321800
24 33 24 2 THE WAY YOU USED TO DO Queens Of The Stone Age 36700
25 25 1 14 CHARIOTS Paper Route 737750
26 26 13 10 PASSIONFRUIT Drake 212350
27 22 1 12 FEELS LIKE SUMMER Weezer 739900
28 29 28 6 KISSING STRANGERS DNCE featuring Nicki Minaj 84100
29 40 29 5 SHOULD’VE BEEN YOU Imelda May 63500
30 38 30 5 MALIBU Miley Cyrus 67050

31 31 31 9 DOUBLE BARREL Dave & Ansel Collins 159500
32 27 27 4 ALL ALONE AT THE GREAT TIMES DANCE Ourselves On TV 64100
33 18 18 7 OCCIDENTALI’S KARMA Francesco Gabbani 104100
34 35 34 5 ADIOS Glen Campbell 75900
35 30 30 8 BON APPETIT Katy Perry featuring Migos 112400
36 66 36 2 OH WOMAN OH MAN London Grammar 24200
37 28 17 6 KRYPTONITE George Maple 119600
38 50 38 3 EVERYBODY’S TALKING Glen Campbell 35600
39 45 39 6 CITY LIGHTS Blanche 68850
40 46 40 4 SLOW HANDS Niall Horan 43050

41 37 5 14 LOST ON YOU LP 475800
42 36 5 14 TRUTH IS A BEAUTIFUL THING London Grammar 452700
43 34 29 5 LOVE AIN’T SOMETHING YOU CAN GET FOR FREE Elkie Brooks 71900
44 10 10 9 SOUTHERN NIGHTS Glen Campbell 170450
45 59 45 3 DREAMS OF THE EVERYDAY HOUSEWIFE Glen Campbell 30200
46 48 46 8 THE CHAIN Fleetwood Mac 82050
47 47 1 15 ALONE AGAIN OR Love 790450
48 41 24 9 CRAVING YOU Thomas Rhett featuring Maren Morris 129400
49 44 1 14 WE GOT THE POWER Gorillaz featuring Jehnny Beth 841150
50 71 50 3 SWERLK MNDR & Scissor Sisters 23000

51 53 51 5 JESSICA The Allman Brothers Band 46800
52 60 52 3 CARNIVAL BEGIN Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie 26300
53 51 34 11 IT’S ALRIGHT Pet Shop Boys 157000
54 58 54 4 LAST CHANCE TO DANCE Ekkah 36500
55 57 55 3 RED SUN Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie 28000
56 49 2 11 CRAZY (ASH HOWES RADIO EDIT) Bird 395000
57 55 1 20 CHAINED TO THE RHYTHM Katy Perry featuring Skip Marley 1345200
58 42 25 10 THE CURE Lady Gaga 137200
59 68 59 2 CAME HERE FOR LOVE Sigala & Ella Eyre 16500
60 54 36 7 REASONS Jillian Jacqueline 91000

61 43 24 6 PAPER Svala 94500
62 52 20 10 STORY OF A HEART Steps 144900
63 67 63 3 ROULETTE Katy Perry 19400
64 63 1 35 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU Abba 1076700
65 NEW 65 1 OK Robin Schulz featuring James Blunt 7000
66 75 66 2 UNPREDICTABLE Olly Murs & Louisa Johnson 11800
67 62 50 5 THUNDER Imagine Dragons 42400
68 61 5 14 WAITING FOR THE STARS Vitalic featuring David Shaw and The Beat 383400
69 NEW 69 1 STRIP THAT DOWN Liam Payne featuring Quavo 6200
70 NEW 70 1 DISCONNECT Clean Bandit & Marina And The Diamonds 6000

71 73 71 3 LIVE FOREVER Oasis 16600
72 74 72 2 TOO FAR GONE Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie 10800
73 NEW 73 1 DON’T MATTER NOW George Ezra 5400
74 65 1 15 SEASONS (WAITING ON YOU) Future Islands 690900
75 NEW 75 1 ISOTYPE Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark 5000

DROP OUTS
56 10 13 LONG COOL WOMAN (IN A BLACK DRESS) The Hollies 222400
64 64 3 CURIOUS Alison Valentine 19100
69 57 4 PRAY WITH ME Rick Astley 29200
70 70 5 BLACK HOLE SUN Soundgarden 27800
72 35 6 GRAVITY Hovig 82800

18th June 2017

Straight in from nowhere (because it’s topping the US advert music charts, and I follow Nancy on twitter – legend!) it’s Summer Wine from the same summer as Sgt Pepper, 50 years ago. Nancy & Lee just have a brilliant trippie back catalogue, cult faves over the decades without ever being huge as a duo – Lee was the gravel-voiced songwriter and producer, Nancy the sweet voice and groovy image. The song has topped my charts before, for The Corrs and Bono back in 2003, but the original is still the best, and gives them a first number one since Some Velvet Morning topped as an oldie in 2007 – I heard it blaring out from a boat at sea off the coast of Crete just after Lee died. Did You Ever was their first hit in 1971 in my charts, topping in 1977 as part of an EP, and Nancy also topped with her dad Frank (Somethin’ Stupid), with a Lee song (Boots), and a Bond theme (You Only Live Twice).

Glen goes up with all of his tracks, notably 1977 hit, Guardians soundtrack, Southern Nights finally breaking into the top 10 (the ragtime retro track peaked at 17). The Killers are back with a fab single, new in at 12, love it, and also Queens Of The Stone Age, back after a gap of 14 years, and with only their 3rd (and highest-charting) best-to-date track. Also new: Sigala & Ella Eyre, London Grammar, Olly & Louisa.

1 NEW 1 1 SUMMER WINE Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood 170000
2 1 1 3 SHE’S LEAVING HOME The Beatles 350000
3 2 1 6 INTO THE FIRE VINAI featuring Anjulie 880000
4 3 2 5 THE FIGHTER Keith Urban featuring Carrie Underwood 415000
5 6 5 5 FEEL IT STILL Portugal The Man 252000
6 4 2 8 BUSTED AND BLUE Gorillaz 522000
7 5 2 9 BEAUTIFUL ONES Hurts 697000
8 8 8 6 CLASSIC The Knocks featuring Powers 275000
9 9 9 6 BATMAN & ROBIN Cazzie Opeia & Jin x Jin 200800
10 20 10 8 SOUTHERN NIGHTS Glen Campbell 157200

11 16 11 5 CRYING IN THE CLUB Camila Cabello 116100
12 NEW 12 1 THE MAN The Killers 35000
13 7 7 6 ONE AND ONE Robert Miles featuring Maria Naylor 230000
14 14 14 6 AVERDAVGI Agy 136800
15 11 5 9 HURRICANE Drones Club 381000
16 19 16 3 WALL OF GLASS Liam Gallagher 64200
17 22 17 6 YOUNG RICH AND RADICAL Club Cheval 104650
18 36 18 6 OCCIDENTALI’S KARMA Francesco Gabbani 86400
19 15 3 10 IN MY WORLD Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie 463000
20 26 20 4 THIS MOMENT Chase & Status and Blossoms 73300

21 12 10 9 WHAM BANG SHANG-A-LANG Silver 213450
22 18 1 11 FEELS LIKE SUMMER Weezer 721500
23 13 5 8 WAY BACK TLC featuring Snoop Dogg 302550
24 39 24 5 SWISH SWISH Katy Perry featuring Nicki Minaj 74300
25 23 1 13 CHARIOTS Paper Route 719000
26 21 13 9 PASSIONFRUIT Drake 193850
27 37 27 3 ALL ALONE AT THE GREAT TIMES DANCE Ourselves On TV 46300
28 17 17 5 KRYPTONITE George Maple 102300
29 42 29 5 KISSING STRANGERS DNCE featuring Nicki Minaj 65800
30 33 30 7 BON APPETIT Katy Perry featuring Migos 94900

31 31 31 8 DOUBLE BARREL Dave & Ansel Collins 141600
32 32 32 7 APOCALYPSE Cigarettes After Sex 81200
33 NEW 33 1 THE WAY YOU USED TO DO Queens Of The Stone Age 17700
34 29 29 4 LOVE AIN’T SOMETHING YOU CAN GET FOR FREE Elkie Brooks 58400
35 38 35 4 ADIOS Glen Campbell 58300
36 27 5 13 TRUTH IS A BEAUTIFUL THING London Grammar 438950
37 30 5 13 LOST ON YOU LP 461800
38 46 38 4 MALIBU Miley Cyrus 49050
39 48 39 7 DESPACITO (REMIX) Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber 76850
40 47 40 4 SHOULD’VE BEEN YOU Imelda May 45300

41 24 24 8 CRAVING YOU Thomas Rhett featuring Maren Morris 117100
42 25 25 9 THE CURE Lady Gaga 127000
43 28 24 5 PAPER Svala 87000
44 35 1 13 WE GOT THE POWER Gorillaz featuring Jehnny Beth 829050
45 51 45 5 CITY LIGHTS Blanche 51750
46 61 46 3 SLOW HANDS Niall Horan 26050
47 45 1 14 ALONE AGAIN OR Love 777950
48 49 48 7 THE CHAIN Fleetwood Mac 69300
49 40 2 10 CRAZY (ASH HOWES RADIO EDIT) Bird 384400
50 68 50 2 EVERYBODY’S TALKING Glen Campbell 18400

51 34 34 10 IT’S ALRIGHT Pet Shop Boys 145750
52 41 20 9 STORY OF A HEART Steps 137500
53 56 53 4 JESSICA The Allman Brothers Band 35050
54 43 36 6 REASONS Jillian Jacqueline 81000
55 53 1 19 CHAINED TO THE RHYTHM Katy Perry featuring Skip Marley 1334800
56 10 10 13 LONG COOL WOMAN (IN A BLACK DRESS) The Hollies 222400
57 66 57 2 RED SUN Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie 17200
58 59 58 3 LAST CHANCE TO DANCE Ekkah 25500
59 64 59 2 DREAMS OF THE EVERYDAY HOUSEWIFE Glen Campbell 17200
60 75 60 2 CARNIVAL BEGIN Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie 15000

61 52 5 13 WAITING FOR THE STARS Vitalic featuring David Shaw and The Beat 377000
62 50 50 4 THUNDER Imagine Dragons 35800
63 63 1 34 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU Abba 1069600
64 65 64 3 CURIOUS Alison Valentine 19100
65 54 1 14 SEASONS (WAITING ON YOU) Future Islands 685700
66 NEW 66 1 OH WOMAN OH MAN London Grammar 6800
67 72 67 2 ROULETTE Katy Perry 12200
68 NEW 68 1 CAME HERE FOR LOVE Sigala & Ella Eyre 6400
69 57 57 4 PRAY WITH ME Rick Astley 29200
70 70 70 5 BLACK HOLE SUN Soundgarden 27800

71 74 71 2 SWERLK MNDR & Scissor Sisters 11000
72 44 35 6 GRAVITY Hovig 82800
73 73 73 2 LIVE FOREVER Oasis 10800
74 NEW 74 1 TOO FAR GONE Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie 5200
75 NEW 75 1 UNPREDICTABLE Olly Murs & Louisa Johnson 5000

DROP OUTS
55 55 4 DIG DOWN Muse 33500
58 48 5 HEY MAMMA Sunstroke Project 56350
60 60 5 YOU’RE IN LOVE WITH A PSYCHO Kasabian 34200
62 62 2 TO THE DOOR HMLTD 14800
67 23 5 AMAR PELOS DOIS Salvador Sobral 75600
69 69 3 IN THE NAME OF MAN Plan B 17600
71 38 4 PLASTIC MACHINERY The Charlatans featuring Johnny Marr 43050

11th June 2017

I was too young to have started my charting 50 years ago – but had there been streaming available to me it’s pretty sure that The Beatles would have dominated both the real world and personal singles charts with Sgt Pepper. So it’s only fitting that She’s Leaving Home returns to number one 9 years since the last time it was on top, the best track on the classic album that can still top the UK album chart half a century on. Just to put that in some sort of perspective that would have been unthinkable in 1967, not least because recorded music didn’t stretch back half a century in any lastingly popular sense. Songs did, but not recorded music as an art form.

The Hollies finally get that Black Dress into my top 10 after 45 years patiently waiting, and in a quiet week for movement the highest new track is a Glen Campbell classic 60’s track that has never charted, but is on his new album Adios/Hits double-pack: Dreams Of The Everyday Housewife was on the first album that I owned, This Is Glen Campbell, I was mad on him as a kid. He also enters with a song that I loved at that period, a cover of the Nilsson hit, Everybody’s Talking from the movie Midnight Cowboy, and is one of the last tracks Glen recorded for his final album.

Fleetwood Mac have 2 new tracks joining their Rumours classic (The Chain) though they are labelled Buckingham/McVie. Don’t trust labels, the Mac did some of them at their last concert at the O2 – I was there! And finally, Scissor Sisters pop back (with MNDR) after being away a while, hooray! 13 years since they first topped my chart….

1 4 1 2 SHE’S LEAVING HOME The Beatles 235000
2 1 1 5 INTO THE FIRE VINAI featuring Anjulie 795000
3 2 2 4 THE FIGHTER Keith Urban featuring Carrie Underwood 350000
4 3 2 7 BUSTED AND BLUE Gorillaz 467000
5 5 2 8 BEAUTIFUL ONES Hurts 647000
6 6 6 4 FEEL IT STILL Portugal The Man 192000
7 7 7 5 ONE AND ONE Robert Miles featuring Maria Naylor 198000
8 8 8 5 CLASSIC The Knocks featuring Powers 227000
9 10 9 5 BATMAN & ROBIN Cazzie Opeia & Jin x Jin 155800
10 20 10 12 LONG COOL WOMAN (IN A BLACK DRESS) The Hollies 211800

11 11 5 8 HURRICANE Drones Club 354000
12 13 10 8 WHAM BANG SHANG-A-LANG Silver 193700
13 9 5 7 WAY BACK TLC featuring Snoop Dogg 283300
14 14 14 5 AVERDAVGI Agy 107800
15 15 3 9 IN MY WORLD Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie 442000
16 17 16 4 CRYING IN THE CLUB Camila Cabello 79100
17 19 17 4 KRYPTONITE George Maple 84000
18 12 1 10 FEELS LIKE SUMMER Weezer 702000
19 29 19 2 WALL OF GLASS Liam Gallagher 39200
20 22 20 7 SOUTHERN NIGHTS Glen Campbell 115200

21 16 13 8 PASSIONFRUIT Drake 175350
22 23 22 5 YOUNG RICH AND RADICAL Club Cheval 81650
23 18 1 12 CHARIOTS Paper Route 700250
24 26 24 7 CRAVING YOU Thomas Rhett featuring Maren Morris 103100
25 30 25 8 THE CURE Lady Gaga 113250
26 33 26 3 THIS MOMENT Chase & Status and Blossoms 53300
27 21 5 12 TRUTH IS A BEAUTIFUL THING London Grammar 421550
28 24 24 4 PAPER Svala 73500
29 34 29 3 LOVE AIN’T SOMETHING YOU CAN GET FOR FREE Elkie Brooks 40800
30 25 5 12 LOST ON YOU LP 444500

31 31 31 7 DOUBLE BARREL Dave & Ansel Collins 123700
32 38 32 6 APOCALYPSE Cigarettes After Sex 63400
33 36 33 6 BON APPETIT Katy Perry featuring Migos 76900
34 37 34 9 IT’S ALRIGHT Pet Shop Boys 134000
35 28 1 12 WE GOT THE POWER Gorillaz featuring Jehnny Beth 815800
36 54 36 5 OCCIDENTALI’S KARMA Francesco Gabbani 64400
37 56 37 2 ALL ALONE AT THE GREAT TIMES DANCE Ourselves On TV 27900
38 43 38 3 ADIOS Glen Campbell 40800
39 40 39 4 SWISH SWISH Katy Perry featuring Nicki Minaj 55300
40 32 2 9 CRAZY (ASH HOWES RADIO EDIT) Bird 372300

41 27 20 8 STORY OF A HEART Steps 126000
42 50 42 4 KISSING STRANGERS DNCE featuring Nicki Minaj 47600
43 39 36 5 REASONS Jillian Jacqueline 70000
44 35 35 5 GRAVITY Hovig 77200
45 41 1 13 ALONE AGAIN OR Love 765450
46 49 46 3 MALIBU Miley Cyrus 31850
47 58 47 3 SHOULD’VE BEEN YOU Imelda May 28300
48 53 48 6 DESPACITO (REMIX) Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber 59750
49 51 49 6 THE CHAIN Fleetwood Mac 57000
50 60 50 3 THUNDER Imagine Dragons 28400

51 55 51 4 CITY LIGHTS Blanche 38750
52 46 5 12 WAITING FOR THE STARS Vitalic featuring David Shaw and The Beat 369500
53 52 1 18 CHAINED TO THE RHYTHM Katy Perry featuring Skip Marley 1324000
54 47 1 13 SEASONS (WAITING ON YOU) Future Islands 678700
55 59 55 4 DIG DOWN Muse 33500
56 65 56 3 JESSICA The Allman Brothers Band 23800
57 67 57 3 PRAY WITH ME Rick Astley 23000
58 48 48 5 HEY MAMMA Sunstroke Project 56350
59 74 59 2 LAST CHANCE TO DANCE Ekkah 15300
60 66 60 5 YOU’RE IN LOVE WITH A PSYCHO Kasabian 34200

61 71 61 2 SLOW HANDS Niall Horan 13300
62 62 62 2 TO THE DOOR HMLTD 14800
63 63 1 33 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU Abba 1062400
64 NEW 64 1 DREAMS OF THE EVERYDAY HOUSEWIFE Glen Campbell 7100
65 75 65 2 CURIOUS Alison Valentine 12000
66 NEW 66 1 RED SUN Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie 6800
67 42 23 5 AMAR PELOS DOIS Salvador Sobral 75600
68 NEW 68 1 EVERYBODY’S TALKING Glen Campbell 6400
69 69 69 3 IN THE NAME OF MAN Plan B 17600
70 73 70 4 BLACK HOLE SUN Soundgarden 21800

71 44 38 4 PLASTIC MACHINERY The Charlatans featuring Johnny Marr 43050
72 NEW 72 1 ROULETTE Katy Perry 5600
73 NEW 73 1 LIVE FOREVER Oasis 5400
74 NEW 74 1 SWERLK MNDR & Scissor Sisters 5200
75 NEW 75 1 CARNIVAL BEGIN Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie 5000

DROP OUTS
45 45 3 DON’T TAKE THE MONEY Bleachers 30400
57 48 4 FLY WITH ME Artsvik 47100
61 21 7 LONG TIME Blondie 109200
64 4 11 CAN I SIT NEXT TO YOU Spoon 396500
68 44 4 I CAN’T GO ON Robin Bengtsson 46150
70 58 5 SYSTEMAGIC Goldfrapp 42000
72 2 17 BETTER MAN Little Big Town 663150

4th June 2017

It’s Vinai for a 4th week on top, firing off a fighting challenge from Keith Urban, not to mention the best track on Sgt Pepper, back on top of the UK charts a record breaking 50 years on. there aren’t enough superlatives to cover The Beatles achievements, suffice to say She’s Leaving Home topped my chart on one of the album’s regular revivals, it was a fave in 1977 when Bryan Ferry covered it, and when I bought Sgt Pepper for the first time (vinyl of course). A music expert was on telly last night explaining the melody style is a centuries-old tradition, with roots in European folk music. Whatever, it’s one of the most glorious melodies ever written, and attached to some heart-breakingly touching lyrics. About time it was covered tropical-Alan-Walker-stylee and became a hit.

Guess who’s the highest new entry just behind Noel Gallagher guest on Gorillaz Power? Yes, bruv Liam has a solo record (most likely his best song) in at 29. Elkie Brooks rockets into the 40 with her best track since Gasoline Alley back in 1983, and Cigarettes After Sex sound like they should be on the new Twin Peaks soundtrack, and into the 40.

1 1 1 4 INTO THE FIRE VINAI featuring Anjulie 680000
2 3 2 3 THE FIGHTER Keith Urban featuring Carrie Underwood 265000
3 2 2 6 BUSTED AND BLUE Gorillaz 402000
4 NEW 4 1 SHE’S LEAVING HOME The Beatles 65000
5 4 2 7 BEAUTIFUL ONES Hurts 587000
6 6 6 3 FEEL IT STILL Portugal The Man 137000
7 11 7 4 ONE AND ONE Robert Miles featuring Maria Naylor 148000
8 8 8 4 CLASSIC The Knocks featuring Powers 179000
9 5 5 6 WAY BACK TLC featuring Snoop Dogg 251300
10 14 10 4 BATMAN & ROBIN Cazzie Opeia & Jin x Jin 110800

11 7 5 7 HURRICANE Drones Club 317000
12 9 1 9 FEELS LIKE SUMMER Weezer 680000
13 10 10 7 WHAM BANG SHANG-A-LANG Silver 158700
14 17 14 4 AVERDAVGI Agy 78800
15 12 3 8 IN MY WORLD Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie 415000
16 13 13 7 PASSIONFRUIT Drake 155600
17 24 17 3 CRYING IN THE CLUB Camila Cabello 54100
18 16 1 11 CHARIOTS Paper Route 681000
19 19 19 3 KRYPTONITE George Maple 61000
20 22 20 11 LONG COOL WOMAN (IN A BLACK DRESS) The Hollies 169800

21 15 5 11 TRUTH IS A BEAUTIFUL THING London Grammar 403150
22 29 22 6 SOUTHERN NIGHTS Glen Campbell 95200
23 27 23 4 YOUNG RICH AND RADICAL Club Cheval 62150
24 26 24 3 PAPER Svala 55200
25 21 5 11 LOST ON YOU LP 426500
26 28 26 6 CRAVING YOU Thomas Rhett featuring Maren Morris 84100
27 20 20 7 STORY OF A HEART Steps 112000
28 18 1 11 WE GOT THE POWER Gorillaz featuring Jehnny Beth 798300
29 NEW 29 1 WALL OF GLASS Liam Gallagher 18200
30 30 30 7 THE CURE Lady Gaga 94500

31 31 31 6 DOUBLE BARREL Dave & Ansel Collins 105800
32 25 2 8 CRAZY (ASH HOWES RADIO EDIT) Bird 355300
33 39 33 2 THIS MOMENT Chase & Status and Blossoms 34800
34 75 34 2 LOVE AIN’T SOMETHING YOU CAN GET FOR FREE Elkie Brooks 22600
35 35 35 4 GRAVITY Hovig 63950
36 40 36 5 BON APPETIT Katy Perry featuring Migos 59200
37 37 37 8 IT’S ALRIGHT Pet Shop Boys 116400
38 60 38 5 APOCALYPSE Cigarettes After Sex 45600
39 36 36 4 REASONS Jillian Jacqueline 56500
40 47 40 3 SWISH SWISH Katy Perry featuring Nicki Minaj 38200

41 41 1 12 ALONE AGAIN OR Love 752450
42 23 23 4 AMAR PELOS DOIS Salvador Sobral 69000
43 59 43 2 ADIOS Glen Campbell 23600
44 38 38 3 PLASTIC MACHINERY The Charlatans featuring Johnny Marr 37250
45 54 45 3 DON’T TAKE THE MONEY Bleachers 30400
46 32 5 11 WAITING FOR THE STARS Vitalic featuring David Shaw and The Beat 358000
47 33 1 12 SEASONS (WAITING ON YOU) Future Islands 667700
48 50 48 4 HEY MAMMA Sunstroke Project 46150
49 65 49 2 MALIBU Miley Cyrus 19100
50 53 50 3 KISSING STRANGERS DNCE featuring Nicki Minaj 33850

51 51 51 5 THE CHAIN Fleetwood Mac 44900
52 46 1 17 CHAINED TO THE RHYTHM Katy Perry featuring Skip Marley 1312750
53 57 53 5 DESPACITO (REMIX) Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber 47450
54 45 45 4 OCCIDENTALI’S KARMA Francesco Gabbani 47000
55 56 55 3 CITY LIGHTS Blanche 27000
56 NEW 56 1 ALL ALONE AT THE GREAT TIMES DANCE Ourselves On TV 10600
57 48 48 4 FLY WITH ME Artsvik 47100
58 72 58 2 SHOULD’VE BEEN YOU Imelda May 15800
59 67 59 3 DIG DOWN Muse 22700
60 68 60 2 THUNDER Imagine Dragons 16400

61 34 21 7 LONG TIME Blondie 109200
62 NEW 62 1 TO THE DOOR HMLTD 7400
63 61 1 32 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU Abba 1055200
64 43 4 11 CAN I SIT NEXT TO YOU Spoon 396500
65 69 65 2 JESSICA The Allman Brothers Band 13200
66 66 66 4 YOU’RE IN LOVE WITH A PSYCHO Kasabian 24200
67 70 67 2 PRAY WITH ME Rick Astley 12600
68 44 44 4 I CAN’T GO ON Robin Bengtsson 46150
69 74 69 2 IN THE NAME OF MAN Plan B 11400
70 58 58 5 SYSTEMAGIC Goldfrapp 42000

71 NEW 71 1 SLOW HANDS Niall Horan 5800
72 62 2 17 BETTER MAN Little Big Town 663150
73 73 73 3 BLACK HOLE SUN Soundgarden 15800
74 NEW 74 1 LAST CHANCE TO DANCE Ekkah 5200
75 NEW 75 1 CURIOUS Alison Valentine 5000

DROP OUTS
42 9 10 BECAUSE The Beatles 246900
49 19 9 SYMPHONY Clean Bandit featuring Zara Larsson 141750
52 18 7 THUMBS Sabrina Carpenter 119100
55 29 6 INDIGO Moment 80600
63 59 3 MAMA Jonas Blue featuring William Singe 24500
64 23 5 THIS OLD HOUSE Rick Astley 76050
71 71 2 HARD TIMES Paramore 11600

28th May 2017

It’s Vinai for a 3rd week on top, holding off Gorillaz from a second chart-topper, as Portugal The Man hits a new chart peak for him at 6. Steps hit the exact chart position the original Benny Andersson Band hit with the same song, at 20, and highest new entry is the closing track from the FA Cup BBC coverage, it’s Chase & Status and Blossoms together on a goodie.

Highest climber are The Charlatans with some fab guitar from Johnny Marr, who’s been working his magic for 34 years now, and most recently at the Royal Albert Hall for the Pet Shop Boys charity gig. Fab. Glen Campbell’s Guardians Of The Galaxy oldie from 1977 goes up, as his new lead track from his final album, Adios, recorded before his alzheimers reached the final stages, enters at 59. You can hear it in his voice, but Glen is a legend for me.

Another lost musician brings in The Allman Brothers Band to my charts for the first time, I think, rather shockingly, and it’s their instrumental great Jessica which pays tribute to Cher’s ex Greg Allman. Miley Cyrus is back after a break, Plan B is back after an even longer break, and Elkie Brooks is back after an even longer longer break – well over 20 years since she released something new that impressed me, and extends her chart run here to 40 years. Not bad.

1 1 1 3 INTO THE FIRE VINAI featuring Anjulie 510000
2 3 2 5 BUSTED AND BLUE Gorillaz 317000
3 4 3 2 THE FIGHTER Keith Urban featuring Carrie Underwood 150000
4 2 2 6 BEAUTIFUL ONES Hurts 527000
5 6 5 5 WAY BACK TLC featuring Snoop Dogg 206300
6 15 6 2 FEEL IT STILL Portugal The Man 82000
7 7 5 6 HURRICANE Drones Club 280000
8 8 8 3 CLASSIC The Knocks featuring Powers 131000
9 5 1 8 FEELS LIKE SUMMER Weezer 645000
10 12 10 6 WHAM BANG SHANG-A-LANG Silver 126700

11 14 11 3 ONE AND ONE Robert Miles featuring Maria Naylor 88000
12 10 3 7 IN MY WORLD Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie 388000
13 16 13 6 PASSIONFRUIT Drake 130600
14 18 14 3 BATMAN & ROBIN Cazzie Opeia & Jin x Jin 68800
15 13 5 10 TRUTH IS A BEAUTIFUL THING London Grammar 383400
16 11 1 10 CHARIOTS Paper Route 659000
17 20 17 3 AVERDAVGI Agy 49800
18 17 1 10 WE GOT THE POWER Gorillaz featuring Jehnny Beth 780000
19 24 19 2 KRYPTONITE George Maple 40000
20 25 20 6 STORY OF A HEART Steps 93600

21 19 5 10 LOST ON YOU LP 407750
22 22 22 10 LONG COOL WOMAN (IN A BLACK DRESS) The Hollies 149800
23 30 23 3 AMAR PELOS DOIS Salvador Sobral 55250
24 49 24 2 CRYING IN THE CLUB Camila Cabello 31100
25 21 2 7 CRAZY (ASH HOWES RADIO EDIT) Bird 337500
26 33 26 2 PAPER Svala 36200
27 36 27 3 YOUNG RICH AND RADICAL Club Cheval 42900
28 39 28 5 CRAVING YOU Thomas Rhett featuring Maren Morris 65600
29 32 29 5 SOUTHERN NIGHTS Glen Campbell 75700
30 35 30 6 THE CURE Lady Gaga 76500

31 34 31 5 DOUBLE BARREL Dave & Ansel Collins 87900
32 23 5 10 WAITING FOR THE STARS Vitalic featuring David Shaw and The Beat 345250
33 26 1 11 SEASONS (WAITING ON YOU) Future Islands 655200
34 31 21 6 LONG TIME Blondie 101700
35 38 35 3 GRAVITY Hovig 46450
36 40 36 3 REASONS Jillian Jacqueline 39400
37 37 37 7 IT’S ALRIGHT Pet Shop Boys 99100
38 66 38 2 PLASTIC MACHINERY The Charlatans featuring Johnny Marr 24000
39 NEW 39 1 THIS MOMENT Chase & Status and Blossoms 17100
40 50 40 4 BON APPETIT Katy Perry featuring Migos 41800

41 29 1 11 ALONE AGAIN OR Love 738450
42 9 9 10 BECAUSE The Beatles 246900
43 27 4 10 CAN I SIT NEXT TO YOU Spoon 389400
44 44 44 3 I CAN’T GO ON Robin Bengtsson 39750
45 52 45 3 OCCIDENTALI’S KARMA Francesco Gabbani 36000
46 41 1 16 CHAINED TO THE RHYTHM Katy Perry featuring Skip Marley 1301250
47 61 47 2 SWISH SWISH Katy Perry featuring Nicki Minaj 21200
48 48 48 3 FLY WITH ME Artsvik 36700
49 28 19 9 SYMPHONY Clean Bandit featuring Zara Larsson 141750
50 53 50 3 HEY MAMMA Sunstroke Project 33850

51 55 51 4 THE CHAIN Fleetwood Mac 33150
52 43 18 7 THUMBS Sabrina Carpenter 119100
53 56 53 2 KISSING STRANGERS DNCE featuring Nicki Minaj 21850
54 68 54 2 DON’T TAKE THE MONEY Bleachers 17400
55 42 29 6 INDIGO Moment 80600
56 72 56 2 CITY LIGHTS Blanche 16200
57 57 57 4 DESPACITO (REMIX) Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber 36200
58 58 58 4 SYSTEMAGIC Goldfrapp 36000
59 NEW 59 1 ADIOS Glen Campbell 10100
60 63 60 4 APOCALYPSE Cigarettes After Sex 28400

61 60 1 31 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU Abba 1048000
62 51 2 16 BETTER MAN Little Big Town 657550
63 59 59 3 MAMA Jonas Blue featuring William Singe 24500
64 45 23 5 THIS OLD HOUSE Rick Astley 76050
65 NEW 65 1 MALIBU Miley Cyrus 7000
66 73 66 3 YOU’RE IN LOVE WITH A PSYCHO Kasabian 17400
67 70 67 2 DIG DOWN Muse 12600
68 NEW 68 1 THUNDER Imagine Dragons 6400
69 NEW 69 1 JESSICA The Allman Brothers Band 6200
70 NEW 70 1 PRAY WITH ME Rick Astley 6000

71 71 71 2 HARD TIMES Paramore 11600
72 NEW 72 1 SHOULD’VE BEEN YOU Imelda May 5600
73 75 73 2 BLACK HOLE SUN Soundgarden 10400
74 NEW 74 1 IN THE NAME OF MAN Plan B 5200
75 NEW 75 1 LOVE AIN’T SOMETHING YOU CAN GET FOR FREE Elkie Brooks 5000

DROP OUTS
46 10 10 UNDER YOUR SKIN SeeB and R. City 247150
47 17 9 ON MY MIND Disciples 171100
54 27 7 BHANGRA PAUNDI PBN featuring Sharky and Manpreet Toor 98500
62 22 5 HIGH AND LOW Oliver Moldan 74100
64 40 4 WE ARE BOUND Jack Savoretti 51300
65 33 5 GREAT ROMANCES Texas 76300
67 42 4 LONG LONG ROAD Paul Weller 44500
69 69 1 GRAB THE MOMENT Jowst 6200
74 1 21 A DIFFERENT CORNER George Michael 1352450

 

21st May 2017

It’s VINAI still at one for a second week, holding off Hurts who have spent 2 weeks at 2, a second Gorillaz top 3 of the year, utterly different to the last one, and the highest new entry in at 4 for Keith Urban with Carrie Underwood. Both are huge in Country music, and neither of them has ever made my charts. If ya gonna do it, do it big!

The Beatles Abbey Road track goes top 10 – it would be quicker to list the ones that havent made my top 10 than have, but they topped my first ever chart with Hey Jude almost 49 years ago, when I was a foetus. Portugal The Man is back with a bang, his second top 20, at 15 with the retro-sounding Feel It Still. Batman & Robin rocket into the top 20 – and look they are being chased by Kryptonite at 24. Good thing Superman isn’t on the record too! Agy has a 46 place sprint into the 20, Thomas Rhett gets a 3rd top 40, and Nicki Minaj gets 2 new entries! Actually she does lends a quick rap to DNCE’s 3rd hit, and Katy Perry’s 3rd hit in this week’s chart.

The Charlatans are back! 27 years on since they brought their brand of fab 60’s infused Madchester Britpop into the charts, while Muse and Paramore also return after a much less long lay-off. 11 years away from my charts for the Charlatans, in fact. Finally, the late Chris Cornell joins Robert Miles in my chart in what I hope is not a 90’s pop star trend, both were not old, with Soundgarden sneaking in with their classic record.

1 1 1 2 INTO THE FIRE VINAI featuring Anjulie 340000
2 2 2 5 BEAUTIFUL ONES Hurts 462000
3 8 3 4 BUSTED AND BLUE Gorillaz 202000
4 NEW 4 1 THE FIGHTER Keith Urban featuring Carrie Underwood 65000
5 3 1 7 FEELS LIKE SUMMER Weezer 600000
6 10 6 4 WAY BACK TLC featuring Snoop Dogg 146300
7 5 5 5 HURRICANE Drones Club 230000
8 12 8 2 CLASSIC The Knocks featuring Powers 83000
9 11 9 9 BECAUSE The Beatles 233150
10 6 3 6 IN MY WORLD Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie 353000

11 4 1 9 CHARIOTS Paper Route 659000
12 17 12 5 WHAM BANG SHANG-A-LANG Silver 84700
13 7 5 9 TRUTH IS A BEAUTIFUL THING London Grammar 356400
14 18 14 2 ONE AND ONE Robert Miles featuring Maria Naylor 51000
15 NEW 15 1 FEEL IT STILL Portugal The Man 27000
16 16 16 5 PASSIONFRUIT Drake 98600
17 9 1 9 WE GOT THE POWER Gorillaz featuring Jehnny Beth 758000
18 32 18 2 BATMAN & ROBIN Cazzie Opeia & Jin x Jin 39800
19 15 5 9 LOST ON YOU LP 388000
20 66 20 2 AVERDAVGI Agy 26800

21 13 2 6 CRAZY (ASH HOWES RADIO EDIT) Bird 318750
22 28 22 9 LONG COOL WOMAN (IN A BLACK DRESS) The Hollies 130300
23 14 5 9 WAITING FOR THE STARS Vitalic featuring David Shaw and The Beat 327450
24 NEW 24 1 KRYPTONITE George Maple 19000
25 25 25 5 STORY OF A HEART Steps 73600
26 20 1 10 SEASONS (WAITING ON YOU) Future Islands 637500
27 22 4 9 CAN I SIT NEXT TO YOU Spoon 375900
28 19 19 8 SYMPHONY Clean Bandit featuring Zara Larsson 129650
29 23 1 10 ALONE AGAIN OR Love 724450
30 30 30 2 AMAR PELOS DOIS Salvador Sobral 36000

31 21 21 5 LONG TIME Blondie 84100
32 36 32 4 SOUTHERN NIGHTS Glen Campbell 57500
33 NEW 33 1 PAPER Svala 17700
34 34 34 4 DOUBLE BARREL Dave & Ansel Collins 70000
35 38 35 5 THE CURE Lady Gaga 58500
36 64 36 2 YOUNG RICH AND RADICAL Club Cheval 24500
37 37 37 6 IT’S ALRIGHT Pet Shop Boys 81800
38 51 38 2 GRAVITY Hovig 28950
39 47 39 4 CRAVING YOU Thomas Rhett featuring Maren Morris 48300
40 75 40 2 REASONS Jillian Jacqueline 22000

41 26 1 15 CHAINED TO THE RHYTHM Katy Perry featuring Skip Marley 1288500
42 29 29 5 INDIGO Moment 69800
43 24 18 6 THUMBS Sabrina Carpenter 107600
44 44 44 2 I CAN’T GO ON Robin Bengtsson 26500
45 33 23 4 THIS OLD HOUSE Rick Astley 68950
46 27 10 10 UNDER YOUR SKIN SeeB and R. City 247150
47 31 17 9 ON MY MIND Disciples 171100
48 49 48 2 FLY WITH ME Artsvik 24400
49 NEW 49 1 CRYING IN THE CLUB Camila Cabello 12100
50 65 50 3 BON APPETIT Katy Perry featuring Migos 24800

51 43 2 15 BETTER MAN Little Big Town 650150
52 52 52 2 OCCIDENTALI’S KARMA Francesco Gabbani 23000
53 56 53 2 HEY MAMMA Sunstroke Project 21850
54 45 27 7 BHANGRA PAUNDI PBN featuring Sharky and Manpreet Toor 98500
55 73 55 3 THE CHAIN Fleetwood Mac 21400
56 NEW 56 1 KISSING STRANGERS DNCE featuring Nicki Minaj 10600
57 57 57 3 DESPACITO (REMIX) Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber 25800
58 58 58 3 SYSTEMAGIC Goldfrapp 25800
59 63 59 2 MAMA Jonas Blue featuring William Singe 17300
60 59 1 30 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU Abba 1040500

61 NEW 61 1 SWISH SWISH Katy Perry featuring Nicki Minaj 7500
62 35 22 5 HIGH AND LOW Oliver Moldan 74100
63 72 63 3 APOCALYPSE Cigarettes After Sex 18400
64 40 40 4 WE ARE BOUND Jack Savoretti 51300
65 39 33 5 GREAT ROMANCES Texas 76300
66 NEW 66 1 PLASTIC MACHINERY The Charlatans 6800
67 42 42 4 LONG LONG ROAD Paul Weller 44500
68 NEW 68 1 DON’T TAKE THE MONEY Bleachers 6400
69 NEW 69 1 GRAB THE MOMENT Jowst 6200
70 NEW 70 1 DIG DOWN Muse 6000

71 NEW 71 1 HARD TIMES Paramore 5800
72 NEW 72 1 CITY LIGHTS Blanche 5600
73 74 73 2 YOU’RE IN LOVE WITH A PSYCHO Kasabian 10600
74 71 1 21 A DIFFERENT CORNER George Michael 1352450
75 NEW 75 1 BLACK HOLE SUN Soundgarden 5000

DROP OUTS
41 41 4 STANDING WHEN IT ALL FALLS DOWN John De Sohn featuring Roshi 39200
46 9 9 YOU WANT IT DARKER (PAUL KALKBRENNER REMIX) Leonard Cohen 229200
48 3 13 TOI ET MOI Paradis 604850
50 38 4 ULTRALIFE Oh Wonder 54950
53 20 7 SOLO DANCE Martin Jensen 115650
54 54 4 LUST FOR LIFE Lana Del Ray featuring The Weeknd 38800
55 31 5 FALCON EYE Off Bloom 69300
60 60 3 DAMN I WISH I WAS YOUR LOVER Sophie B. Hawkins 25600
61 1 16 LOVE LIKE WE USED TO Captain Cuts featuring Nateur 825350
62 62 3 MONKEY SPANNER Dave & Ansel Collins 20800
67 67 1 BOY K.I.D. featuring CupcakKe 6600
68 68 5 LEFT TO MY OWN DEVICES (SUPER VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 29200
69 9 11 GENTLE ON MY MIND Alison Krauss 242650
70 70 1 CHILDREN Robert Miles 6000

14th May 2017

In from nowhere a belting 2016 track from an Italian production duo I’ve never heard of: Vinai. maybe that makes up for Italy not winning Eurovision as expected by the bookies. Their track is in at 52 here, along with a host of Euro-tracks, headed up by the winner, the lovely ballad by the Portugal brother-sister singer-writer low-key and non-manufactured charm of Salvador Sobral in at 30. Had I compiled a top 200 current fave tracks (too much hard work!) the UK entry would not feature in it…

Another electronic music duo are in at 12, The Knocks, with a goodie. Knock Knock Who’s There, as Mary Hopkin once said in her 1970 UK Eurovision song (now I could hum that one!) – answer: no-one, just The Knocks. The late Robert Miles has his 2 great singles enter my chart, topped by One And One in at 18, still lovely. Highest climber is a mid-70’s American hit from Guardians Of The Galaxy, I’m very into Wham Bang Shang-A-Lang right now. In fact I’d rate it higher than both Bang Shang-A Lang by The Archies (1968) and Shang A Lang by The Bay City Rollers (1974) but not quite up to Wham! standards.

There aren’t enough songs about superheroes. There just aren’t. We’ve had Supergirl (Graham Bonney) and Donovan’s Sunshine Superman (which also mentioned Green Lantern), Batdance (Prince’s movie theme mash-up), well at long last there’s another goodie to add: Batman & Robin, all about a naughty dream. Fun n fab, and in at 32 for the wonderfully puntastically-named Cazzie Opeia & Jin x Jin (a swedish/kpop hookup) a singalong a la Charli X.

1 NEW 1 1 INTO THE FIRE VINAI featuring Anjulie 170000
2 3 2 4 BEAUTIFUL ONES Hurts 347000
3 1 1 6 FEELS LIKE SUMMER Weezer 540000
4 2 1 8 CHARIOTS Paper Route 622000
5 7 5 4 HURRICANE Drones Club 180000
6 4 3 5 IN MY WORLD Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie 311000
7 5 5 8 TRUTH IS A BEAUTIFUL THING London Grammar 324400
8 10 8 3 BUSTED AND BLUE Gorillaz 117000
9 6 1 8 WE GOT THE POWER Gorillaz featuring Jehnny Beth 735000
10 13 10 3 WAY BACK TLC featuring Snoop Dogg 91300

11 12 11 8 BECAUSE The Beatles 188150
12 NEW 12 1 CLASSIC The Knocks featuring Powers 35000
13 11 2 5 CRAZY (ASH HOWES RADIO EDIT) Bird 299000
14 8 5 8 WAITING FOR THE STARS Vitalic featuring David Shaw and The Beat 308200
15 9 5 8 LOST ON YOU LP 367000
16 16 16 4 PASSIONFRUIT Drake 73600
17 49 17 4 WHAM BANG SHANG-A-LANG Silver 49700
18 NEW 18 1 ONE AND ONE Robert Miles featuring Maria Naylor 22000
19 24 19 7 SYMPHONY Clean Bandit featuring Zara Larsson 111350
20 14 1 9 SEASONS (WAITING ON YOU) Future Islands 619000

21 25 21 4 LONG TIME Blondie 66200
22 15 4 8 CAN I SIT NEXT TO YOU Spoon 357500
23 17 1 9 ALONE AGAIN OR Love 706250
24 18 18 5 THUMBS Sabrina Carpenter 94100
25 29 25 4 STORY OF A HEART Steps 54850
26 21 1 14 CHAINED TO THE RHYTHM Katy Perry featuring Skip Marley 1274500
27 20 10 9 UNDER YOUR SKIN SeeB and R. City 234400
28 28 28 8 LONG COOL WOMAN (IN A BLACK DRESS) The Hollies 111050
29 35 29 4 INDIGO Moment 56050
30 NEW 30 1 AMAR PELOS DOIS Salvador Sobral 18000

31 19 17 8 ON MY MIND Disciples 158600
32 NEW 32 1 BATMAN & ROBIN Cazzie Opeia & Jin x Jin 17800
33 23 23 3 THIS OLD HOUSE Rick Astley 55950
34 34 34 3 DOUBLE BARREL Dave & Ansel Collins 52400
35 22 22 4 HIGH AND LOW Oliver Moldan 66700
36 37 36 3 SOUTHERN NIGHTS Glen Campbell 39700
37 39 37 5 IT’S ALRIGHT Pet Shop Boys 64500
38 50 38 4 THE CURE Lady Gaga 41000
39 33 33 4 GREAT ROMANCES Texas 69300
40 40 40 3 WE ARE BOUND Jack Savoretti 44200

41 52 41 4 STANDING WHEN IT ALL FALLS DOWN John De Sohn featuring Roshi 39200
42 42 42 3 LONG LONG ROAD Paul Weller 37900
43 36 2 14 BETTER MAN Little Big Town 638400
44 NEW 44 1 I CAN’T GO ON Robin Bengtsson 13250
45 27 27 6 BHANGRA PAUNDI PBN featuring Sharky and Manpreet Toor 87500
46 26 9 9 YOU WANT IT DARKER (PAUL KALKBRENNER REMIX) Leonard Cohen 229200
47 47 47 3 CRAVING YOU Thomas Rhett featuring Maren Morris 31200
48 32 3 13 TOI ET MOI Paradis 604850
49 NEW 49 1 FLY WITH ME Artsvik 12100
50 38 38 4 ULTRALIFE Oh Wonder 54950

51 NEW 51 1 GRAVITY Hovig 11750
52 NEW 52 1 OCCIDENTALI’S KARMA Francesco Gabbani 11500
53 30 20 7 SOLO DANCE Martin Jensen 115650
54 54 54 4 LUST FOR LIFE Lana Del Ray featuring The Weeknd 38800
55 31 31 5 FALCON EYE Off Bloom 69300
56 NEW 56 1 HEY MAMMA Sunstroke Project 10600
57 75 57 2 DESPACITO (REMIX) Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber 15400
58 73 58 2 SYSTEMAGIC Goldfrapp 15600
59 55 1 29 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU Abba 1030500
60 60 60 3 DAMN I WISH I WAS YOUR LOVER Sophie B. Hawkins 25600

61 48 1 16 LOVE LIKE WE USED TO Captain Cuts featuring Nateur 825350
62 62 62 3 MONKEY SPANNER Dave & Ansel Collins 20800
63 NEW 63 1 MAMA Jonas Blue featuring William Singe 7200
64 NEW 64 1 YOUNG RICH AND RADICAL Club cheval 7100
65 71 65 2 BON APPETIT Katy Perry featuring Migos 12800
66 NEW 66 1 AVERDAVGI Agy 6800
67 NEW 67 1 BOY K.I.D. featuring CupcakKe 6600
68 68 68 5 LEFT TO MY OWN DEVICES (SUPER VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 29200
69 43 9 11 GENTLE ON MY MIND Alison Krauss 242650
70 NEW 70 1 CHILDREN Robert Miles 6000

71 63 1 20 A DIFFERENT CORNER George Michael 1347250
72 72 72 2 APOCALYPSE Cigarettes After Sex 11200
73 74 73 2 THE CHAIN Fleetwood Mac 10600
74 NEW 74 1 YOU’RE IN LOVE WITH A PSYCHO Kasabian 5200
75 NEW 75 1 REASONS Jillian Jacqueline 5000

DROP OUTS
41 20 5 LET ME OUT Gorillaz featuring Mavis Staples & Pusha T 72900
44 30 5 CAVE Future Islands 72950
45 45 3 SIGN OF THE TIMES Harry Styles 38500
46 14 8 WATERFALL Stargate featuring P!nk and Sia 146200
51 27 4 NAKED Christopher 54250
53 15 7 NEW DAY Take That 146550
56 12 12 HARD AS DIAMONDS NUSSY 237600
57 6 14 FIRE IN MY SOUL Walk Off The Earth 368300
58 58 1 MR. BLUE SKY Electric Light Orchestra 10200
59 28 7 SCARED OF THE DARK Steps 96800
61 23 8 HOME Schwarz 115450
64 5 16 BEAUTIFUL CRIME Tamer 575650
65 65 2 STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER The Beatles 13800
66 10 12 GIANTS Take That 240500
67 34 8 iT Christine And The Queens 82350
69 69 1 LAST DANCE Rhys 6200
70 5 11 SOMETHING JUST LIKE THIS The Chainsmokers and Coldplay 253150

7th May 2017

2 weeks on top for Weezer, just holding a revived Paper Route, both very exciting tracks, as is Drones Club into the 10. Lush Gorillaz also hits 10 for 2 consecutive top 10’s, Busted & Blue showing they have got the power (and were on Graham Norton singing that track to prove it). TLC and Snoop shoot up into the 20, yay! Drake overcomes my usual ambivalence and also grabs a 3rd or 4th top 20, Passionfruit is actually quite understated and non-annoying.

Steps take that Bjorn & Benny song back into the 40 5 years on, and keep the 20-years-run going, as Mr Blue Sky (a former chart topper) returns along with The Chain (a former top 20) both dating from 1976/7 and both featuring in fab scenes in Guardians Of The Galaxy, along with already charting 1977 hit Southern Nights, and the only track I’ve never charted before (as I’d never heard of it) Wham Bam from Silver.

1 1 1 5 FEELS LIKE SUMMER Weezer 455000
2 5 1 7 CHARIOTS Paper Route 557000
3 2 2 3 BEAUTIFUL ONES Hurts 232000
4 3 3 4 IN MY WORLD Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie 256000
5 8 5 7 TRUTH IS A BEAUTIFUL THING London Grammar 274400
6 4 1 7 WE GOT THE POWER Gorillaz featuring Jehnny Beth 690000
7 12 7 3 HURRICANE Drones Club 120000
8 6 5 7 WAITING FOR THE STARS Vitalic featuring David Shaw and The Beat 279200
9 9 5 7 LOST ON YOU LP 340000
10 15 10 2 BUSTED AND BLUE Gorillaz 69000

11 7 2 4 CRAZY (ASH HOWES RADIO EDIT) Bird 267000
12 14 12 7 BECAUSE The Beatles 151150
13 37 13 2 WAY BACK TLC featuring Snoop Dogg 49300
14 10 1 8 SEASONS (WAITING ON YOU) Future Islands 599000
15 11 4 7 CAN I SIT NEXT TO YOU Spoon 338000
16 34 16 3 PASSIONFRUIT Drake 48600
17 13 1 8 ALONE AGAIN OR Love 687000
18 18 18 4 THUMBS Sabrina Carpenter 75100
19 17 17 7 ON MY MIND Disciples 140700
20 19 10 8 UNDER YOUR SKIN SeeB and R. City 216000

21 16 1 13 CHAINED TO THE RHYTHM Katy Perry featuring Skip Marley 1256000
22 29 22 3 HIGH AND LOW Oliver Moldan 49200
23 24 23 2 THIS OLD HOUSE Rick Astley 38250
24 25 24 6 SYMPHONY Clean Bandit featuring Zara Larsson 90350
25 39 25 3 LONG TIME Blondie 46450
26 21 9 8 YOU WANT IT DARKER (PAUL KALKBRENNER REMIX) Leonard Cohen 216450
27 28 27 5 BHANGRA PAUNDI PBN featuring Sharky and Manpreet Toor 74500
28 32 28 7 LONG COOL WOMAN (IN A BLACK DRESS) The Hollies 92750
29 47 29 3 STORY OF A HEART Steps 36100
30 20 20 6 SOLO DANCE Martin Jensen 104400

31 33 31 4 FALCON EYE Off Bloom 58500
32 26 3 12 TOI ET MOI Paradis 592550
33 35 33 3 GREAT ROMANCES Texas 52200
34 38 34 2 DOUBLE BARREL Dave & Ansel Collins 34800
35 44 35 3 INDIGO Moment 37850
36 31 2 13 BETTER MAN Little Big Town 624900
37 75 37 2 SOUTHERN NIGHTS Glen Campbell 22300
38 42 38 3 ULTRALIFE Oh Wonder 42950
39 49 39 4 IT’S ALRIGHT Pet Shop Boys 47200
40 58 40 2 WE ARE BOUND Jack Savoretti 27200

41 22 20 5 LET ME OUT Gorillaz featuring Mavis Staples & Pusha T 72900
42 57 42 2 LONG LONG ROAD Paul Weller 24150
43 43 9 10 GENTLE ON MY MIND Alison Krauss 236450
44 30 30 5 CAVE Future Islands 72950
45 46 45 3 SIGN OF THE TIMES Harry Styles 38500
46 40 14 8 WATERFALL Stargate featuring P!nk and Sia 146200
47 69 47 2 CRAVING YOU Thomas Rhett featuring Maren Morris 18700
48 48 1 15 LOVE LIKE WE USED TO Captain Cuts featuring Nateur 817850
49 62 49 3 WHAM BANG SHANG-A-LANG Silver 26700
50 67 50 3 THE CURE Lady Gaga 23800

51 27 27 4 NAKED Christopher 54250
52 64 52 3 STANDING WHEN IT ALL FALLS DOWN John De Sohn featuring Roshi 25200
53 36 15 7 NEW DAY Take That 146550
54 60 54 3 LUST FOR LIFE Lana Del Ray featuring The Weeknd 27800
55 54 1 28 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU Abba 1020400
56 56 12 12 HARD AS DIAMONDS NUSSY 237600
57 45 6 14 FIRE IN MY SOUL Walk Off The Earth 368300
58 NEW 58 1 MR. BLUE SKY Electric Light Orchestra 10200
59 41 28 7 SCARED OF THE DARK Steps 96800
60 72 60 2 DAMN I WISH I WAS YOUR LOVER Sophie B. Hawkins 15600

61 23 23 8 HOME Schwarz 115450
62 70 62 2 MONKEY SPANNER Dave & Ansel Collins 13400
63 59 1 19 A DIFFERENT CORNER George Michael 1341450
64 53 5 16 BEAUTIFUL CRIME Tamer 575650
65 66 65 2 STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER The Beatles 13800
66 51 10 12 GIANTS Take That 240500
67 50 34 8 iT Christine And The Queens 82350
68 71 68 4 LEFT TO MY OWN DEVICES (SUPER VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 22800
69 NEW 69 1 LAST DANCE Rhys 6200
70 55 5 11 SOMETHING JUST LIKE THIS The Chainsmokers and Coldplay 253150

71 NEW 71 1 BON APPETIT Katy Perry featuring Migos 5800
72 NEW 72 1 APOCALYPSE Cigarettes After Sex 5600
73 NEW 73 1 SYSTEMAGIC Goldfrapp 5400
74 NEW 74 1 THE CHAIN Fleetwood Mac 5200
75 NEW 75 1 DESPACITO (REMIX) Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber 5000

DROP OUTS
52 4 12 ANOTHER CHANCE Above And Beyond presenting Oceanlab 350050
61 27 5 HIPPOPOTAMUS Sparks 79800
63 59 4 I DON’T KNOW WHAT CAME OVER ME Mike + The Mechanics 30600
65 16 10 LOVE Lana Del Ray 174600
68 10 11 KALEIDOSCOPE Fenech-Soler 198950
73 73 2 FIRE Beth Ditto 10400
74 74 1 AUTOMATIC Amy MacDonald 5200

 

30th April 2017

It’s Weezer on top. They took Buddy Holly to 10 in 1995, Hash Pipe to 5, and Island In The Sun to 8 in 2001, and last charted in 2008, but 22 years late they finally get a number one with fab hooky inspirational Feels Like Summer. Hurts have topped twice before, in 2013 with Calvin Harris, and in 2015 with song Wings. Band Wings topped my charts in 1972, Emeli Sande topped last year with the song Hurts, so will the band Hurts get a 3rd to bring it full circle? At the mo they are up at 2.

Highest new entry is a 3rd top 20 in a few weeks for Gorillaz, a gorgeous album track called Busted and Blue. Busted and Blue are also bands, though only Blue has topped my chart (Fly By II), spoiling my theme…! This Ole House was a Shakin Stevens hit. Happily, Rick Astley hasn’t covered that one, he’s done a very Ragnbone Man styled track which is possibly his best record since Never Gonna Give You Up. Rick on a roll! In at 24.

Drake shoots up to 34 with Passionfruit. Yes, I know, his first top 40 here for 2 or 3 years after I went right off his mega-autotuning-based recent over-rated drones. 5 years on since he hit 4 with Rihanna – Take Care. TLC are back! With Snoop filling in for the late lamented Left-Eye, and like Weezer, debuting in the mid-90’s. TLC only had to wait 5 years to top my chart though (Waterfalls, 1999). Good to have ’em back, it’s been a gap of 15 years!

Record Store day has an influx of oldie faves this week, while Guardians Of The Galaxy adds another soundtrack oldie – and I’ve yet to see the film I expect to be my top film of 2017 till Star Wars (no expectations to live up to then!) – Glen Campbell’s Southern Nights, originally hit my top 10 in 1977. Paul Weller is back, for a smooth 40 years of chart success since The Jam popped in, also in 1977. Amy MacDonald is also back, but she’s only had a mere 10 years of chart entries.

1 7 1 4 FEELS LIKE SUMMER Weezer 285000
2 13 2 2 BEAUTIFUL ONES Hurts 147000
3 3 3 3 IN MY WORLD Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie 191000
4 2 1 6 WE GOT THE POWER Gorillaz featuring Jehnny Beth 635000
5 1 1 6 CHARIOTS Paper Route 442000
6 5 5 6 WAITING FOR THE STARS Vitalic featuring David Shaw and The Beat 231200
7 4 2 3 CRAZY (ASH HOWES RADIO EDIT) Bird 230000
8 6 6 6 TRUTH IS A BEAUTIFUL THING London Grammar 214400
9 9 5 6 LOST ON YOU LP 295000
10 8 1 7 SEASONS (WAITING ON YOU) Future Islands 570000

11 10 4 6 CAN I SIT NEXT TO YOU Spoon 311000
12 12 12 2 HURRICANE Drones Club 70000
13 11 1 7 ALONE AGAIN OR Love 664000
14 18 14 6 BECAUSE The Beatles 116150
15 NEW 15 1 BUSTED AND BLUE Gorillaz 27000
16 15 1 12 CHAINED TO THE RHYTHM Katy Perry featuring Skip Marley 1236250
17 17 17 6 ON MY MIND Disciples 119700
18 19 18 3 THUMBS Sabrina Carpenter 53100
19 14 10 7 UNDER YOUR SKIN SeeB and R. City 196000
20 25 20 5 SOLO DANCE Martin Jensen 86400

21 16 9 7 YOU WANT IT DARKER (PAUL KALKBRENNER REMIX) Leonard Cohen 197950
22 20 20 4 LET ME OUT Gorillaz featuring Mavis Staples & Pusha T 58900
23 24 23 7 HOME Schwarz 107950
24 NEW 24 1 THIS OLD HOUSE Rick Astley 19000
25 30 25 5 SYMPHONY Clean Bandit featuring Zara Larsson 71350
26 21 3 11 TOI ET MOI Paradis 573250
27 31 27 3 NAKED Christopher 42500
28 29 28 4 BHANGRA PAUNDI PBN featuring Sharky and Manpreet Toor 56100
29 52 29 2 HIGH AND LOW Oliver Moldan 29700
30 32 30 4 CAVE Future Islands 59700

31 27 2 12 BETTER MAN Little Big Town 607500
32 39 32 6 LONG COOL WOMAN (IN A BLACK DRESS) The Hollies 74450
33 33 33 3 FALCON EYE Off Bloom 40600
34 70 34 2 PASSIONFRUIT Drake 23600
35 40 35 2 GREAT ROMANCES Texas 34500
36 26 15 6 NEW DAY Take That 135300
37 NEW 37 1 WAY BACK TLC featuring Snoop Dogg 17300
38 NEW 38 1 DOUBLE BARREL Dave & Ansel Collins 17200
39 56 39 2 LONG TIME Blondie 27700
40 22 14 7 WATERFALL Stargate featuring P!nk and Sia 133450

41 28 28 6 SCARED OF THE DARK Steps 86700
42 50 42 2 ULTRALIFE Oh Wonder 25750
43 23 9 9 GENTLE ON MY MIND Alison Krauss 222950
44 64 44 2 INDIGO Moment 20350
45 38 6 13 FIRE IN MY SOUL Walk Off The Earth 357900
46 46 46 2 SIGN OF THE TIMES Harry Styles 25500
47 73 47 2 STORY OF A HEART Steps 17900
48 47 1 14 LOVE LIKE WE USED TO Captain Cuts featuring Nateur 805550
49 55 49 3 IT’S ALRIGHT Pet Shop Boys 30100
50 34 34 7 iT Christine And The Queens 75750

51 36 10 11 GIANTS Take That 233700
52 37 4 12 ANOTHER CHANCE Above And Beyond presenting Oceanlab 350050
53 42 5 15 BEAUTIFUL CRIME Tamer 568550
54 53 1 27 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU Abba 1009600
55 45 5 10 SOMETHING JUST LIKE THIS The Chainsmokers and Coldplay 247150
56 48 12 11 HARD AS DIAMONDS NUSSY 227000
57 NEW 57 1 LONG LONG ROAD Paul Weller 10400
58 NEW 58 1 WE ARE BOUND Jack Savoretti 10200
59 54 1 18 A DIFFERENT CORNER George Michael 1334250
60 66 60 2 LUST FOR LIFE Lana Del Ray featuring The Weeknd 16800

61 35 27 5 HIPPOPOTAMUS Sparks 79800
62 63 62 2 WHAM BANG SHANG-A-LANG Silver 14600
63 59 59 4 I DON’T KNOW WHAT CAME OVER ME Mike + The Mechanics 30600
64 67 64 2 STANDING WHEN IT ALL FALLS DOWN John De Sohn featuring Roshi 13700
65 41 16 10 LOVE Lana Del Ray 174600
66 NEW 66 1 STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER The Beatles 6800
67 74 67 2 THE CURE Lady Gaga 11800
68 51 10 11 KALEIDOSCOPE Fenech-Soler 198950
69 NEW 69 1 CRAVING YOU Thomas Rhett featuring Maren Morris 6200
70 NEW 70 1 MONKEY SPANNER Dave & Ansel Collins 6000

71 72 71 3 LEFT TO MY OWN DEVICES (SUPER VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 16400
72 NEW 72 1 DAMN I WISH I WAS YOUR LOVER Sophie B. Hawkins 5600
73 75 73 2 FIRE Beth Ditto 10400
74 NEW 74 1 AUTOMATIC Amy MacDonald 5200
75 NEW 75 1 SOUTHERN NIGHTS Glen Campbell 5000

DROP OUTS
43 11 11 CLOUDBUSTING Just Us 240550
44 35 7 BEST BEHAVIOUR Louisa Johnson 107100
49 2 14 BE THE ONE Dua Lipa 672350
57 1 24 WHEN YOU KNOW Robbie Williams 2086650
58 58 4 RUN THROUGH THE JUNGLE Creedence Clearwater Revival 33900
60 60 4 BARTENDER James Blunt 30600
61 40 7 WHEN I LOOK IN YOUR EYES Nancy Sinatra 90500
62 26 8 LOSING YOU Alison Krauss 124700
65 38 6 CLOUD 9 Jamiroquai 72050
68 20 8 LET’S WORK IT OUT Texas 121900
69 40 6 GREEN LIGHT Lorde 55300
71 71 2 AWOO Sofi Tukker featuring Betta Lemme 11600

 

23rd April 2017

It’s Paper Route, a Nashville band that sound nothing Country at all, and not unlike The Chemical Brothers and The Prodigy at their peak, on top with the fab Chariots. Love that climax. That knocks off Gorillaz fab Power and holds off Buckingham-McVie aka Fleetwood Mac as shoulda-been at 3, back at their melodic best. Highest new entry is Drone Club, an anonymous British band (presumably) at 12, just ahead of Hurts, powering back with another epic EDM track, albeit this one with a tinge of current Tropical/EDM vibes (obviously learnt from Gaga – back at the lower end of the chart – and Maroon 5, that adopting new music sounds is a way of getting attention).

A huge sprint for Thumbs, as Sabrina Carpenter tales a very Black & Gold-ish/Aguilera-ish dance track into the 20, just ahead of a 2nd Gorillaz track, giving Mavis Staples her first top 30 since 1974. That’s a helluva chart gap! Texas get a new top 40, very 60’s girl-group, off the new album as the first single exits the 40. Harry Styles grabs a solo entry, following where Zayn trail-blazed, albeit with a power rock ballad. Blondie extend their run of hits this year to 2, some 37 years on from debuting in 1978. Talking of oldies, a track that never charted in the UK (or my charts) pops in off the new Guardians Of The Galaxy soundtrack. I’m sure I’ll love it, and Silver’s song, even more – I didn’t know the track. Drake’s back. I swore I wouldn’t, but I have! Also, Steps get a second entry with an Abba-related song which previously charted in 2009 and peaked at 20 for The Benny Andersson Band, who wrote it. Steps always were wannabe Abba’s…

1 4 1 5 CHARIOTS Paper Route 382000
2 1 1 5 WE GOT THE POWER Gorillaz featuring Jehnny Beth 570000
3 19 3 2 IN MY WORLD Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie 106000
4 2 2 2 CRAZY (ASH HOWES RADIO EDIT) Bird 180000
5 7 5 5 WAITING FOR THE STARS Vitalic featuring David Shaw and The Beat 176200
6 8 6 5 TRUTH IS A BEAUTIFUL THING London Grammar 166400
7 9 7 3 FEELS LIKE SUMMER Weezer 115000
8 3 1 6 SEASONS (WAITING ON YOU) Future Islands 528000
9 5 5 5 LOST ON YOU LP 250000
10 10 4 5 CAN I SIT NEXT TO YOU Spoon 274000

11 6 1 6 ALONE AGAIN OR Love 632000
12 NEW 12 1 HURRICANE Drones Club 35000
13 NEW 13 1 BEAUTIFUL ONES Hurts 32000
14 17 10 6 UNDER YOUR SKIN SeeB and R. City 175000
15 12 1 11 CHAINED TO THE RHYTHM Katy Perry featuring Skip Marley 1211250
16 11 9 6 YOU WANT IT DARKER (PAUL KALKBRENNER REMIX) Leonard Cohen 178200
17 21 17 5 ON MY MIND Disciples 96700
18 18 18 5 BECAUSE The Beatles 87150
19 59 19 2 THUMBS Sabrina Carpenter 31100
20 45 20 3 LET ME OUT Gorillaz featuring Mavis Staples & Pusha T 39400

21 13 3 10 TOI ET MOI Paradis 554750
22 14 14 6 WATERFALL Stargate featuring P!nk and Sia 116950
23 16 9 8 GENTLE ON MY MIND Alison Krauss 209450
24 26 24 6 HOME Schwarz 88700
25 25 25 4 SOLO DANCE Martin Jensen 66400
26 15 15 5 NEW DAY Take That 117900
27 20 2 11 BETTER MAN Little Big Town 589600
28 28 28 5 SCARED OF THE DARK Steps 72700
29 48 29 3 BHANGRA PAUNDI PBN featuring Sharky and Manpreet Toor 37800
30 39 30 4 SYMPHONY Clean Bandit featuring Zara Larsson 52600

31 69 31 2 NAKED Christopher 24100
32 37 32 3 CAVE Future Islands 41700
33 73 33 2 FALCON EYE Off Bloom 22900
34 46 34 6 iT Christine And The Queens 63750
35 27 27 4 HIPPOPOTAMUS Sparks 72300
36 24 10 10 GIANTS Take That 221950
37 23 4 11 ANOTHER CHANCE Above And Beyond presenting Oceanlab 338550
38 29 6 12 FIRE IN MY SOUL Walk Off The Earth 344900
39 47 39 5 LONG COOL WOMAN (IN A BLACK DRESS) The Hollies 56650
40 NEW 40 1 GREAT ROMANCES Texas 17000

41 22 16 9 LOVE Lana Del Ray 167600
42 32 5 14 BEAUTIFUL CRIME Tamer 557300
43 31 11 11 CLOUDBUSTING Just Us 240550
44 35 35 7 BEST BEHAVIOUR Louisa Johnson 107100
45 49 5 9 SOMETHING JUST LIKE THIS The Chainsmokers and Coldplay 236350
46 NEW 46 1 SIGN OF THE TIMES Harry Styles 12750
47 41 1 13 LOVE LIKE WE USED TO Captain Cuts featuring Nateur 793250
48 36 12 10 HARD AS DIAMONDS NUSSY 216400
49 42 2 14 BE THE ONE Dua Lipa 672350
50 NEW 50 1 ULTRALIFE Oh Wonder 12000

51 44 10 10 KALEIDOSCOPE Fenech-Soler 192550
52 NEW 52 1 HIGH AND LOW Oliver Moldan 11500
53 53 1 26 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU Abba 998600
54 51 1 17 A DIFFERENT CORNER George Michael 1324150
55 63 55 2 IT’S ALRIGHT Pet Shop Boys 18000
56 NEW 56 1 LONG TIME Blondie 10600
57 52 1 24 WHEN YOU KNOW Robbie Williams 2086650
58 58 58 4 RUN THROUGH THE JUNGLE Creedence Clearwater Revival 33900
59 61 59 3 I DON’T KNOW WHAT CAME OVER ME Mike + The Mechanics 23400
60 62 60 4 BARTENDER James Blunt 30600

61 40 40 7 WHEN I LOOK IN YOUR EYES Nancy Sinatra 90500
62 30 26 8 LOSING YOU Alison Krauss 124700
63 NEW 63 1 WHAM BANG SHANG-A-LANG Silver 7200
64 NEW 64 1 INDIGO Moment 7100
65 38 38 6 CLOUD 9 Jamiroquai 72050
66 NEW 66 1 LUST FOR LIFE Lana Del Ray featuring The Weeknd 6800
67 NEW 67 1 STANDING WHEN IT ALL FALLS DOWN John De Sohn featuring Roshi 6600
68 33 20 8 LET’S WORK IT OUT Texas 121900
69 50 40 6 GREEN LIGHT Lorde 55300
70 NEW 70 1 PASSIONFRUIT Drake 6000

71 71 71 2 AWOO Sofi Tukker featuring Betta Lemme 11600
72 75 72 2 LEFT TO MY OWN DEVICES (SUPER VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 10600
73 NEW 73 1 STORY OF A HEART Steps 5400
74 NEW 74 1 THE CURE Lady Gaga 5200
75 NEW 75 1 FIRE Beth Ditto 5000

DROP OUTS
34 29 6 NO MORE SAD SONGS Little Mix featuring Machine Gun Kelly 106800
43 5 11 THE LAST OF THE SECRET AGENTS Nancy Sinatra 319000
54 28 9 GIVE ME A BREAK STOP NOW REOL 130400
55 26 5 THINKING OF YOU Sister Sledge 79600
56 38 5 YOU’RE A f***ING JOKE Bec Sandridge 66200
57 8 13 MOVING ON AND GETTING OVER John Mayer 308400
60 37 7 SAVING LIGHT Gareth Emery & Standerwick featuring HALIENE 96950
64 2 21 SECRETS The Weeknd featuring Tears For Fears 992000
65 65 3 CIAO ADIOS Anne-Marie 21000
66 66 6 SAY HELLO WAVE GOODBYE Soft Cell 37200
67 16 7 ONLY YOU Jack Savoretti 111550
68 68 3 HARVEST MOON Neil Young 18400
70 57 4 A NIGHT AND A DAY Pepe Deluxe 31900
72 72 3 NO PARTICULAR PLACE TO GO Chuck Berry 15600
74 35 5 TURBO KILLER Carpenter Brut 59300

 

16th April 2017

Gorillaz grab a second chart-topper over a decade on from the last one, Dare – that time it was Shaun Ryder giving a helping hand, this time it’s old rival Noel Gallagher and Jehnny Beth on support. Noel has had 4 chart-toppers with Oasis, and another on support for the Chemical Brothers. Highest new entry in at 2, and a record and act I’d never heard of 24 hours ago, is Bird – if you like Sugababes circa Round Round thumping dance then this may be one for you – and a new female act debut single.

Vitalic 80’s-influenced dance fabbie goes top 10, and London Grammar’s best record to date gives them a first top 10 track, while Weezer hit 9, and a 4th top 10, 9 years since they last charted and 21 years since they first did it. In at 19 it’s a new duo. I say new – it’s Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie with a brand new tuneful Mac-ish track. By rights it should be the new Fleetwood Mac single lead for a new Fleetwood Mac album featuring the classic Rumours line-up for the first time in nearly 30 years as Christine returns to the fold. Sadly, Stevie Nicks seems to have decided it’s not really a combined group effort (presumably as she has no songs or contribution) so we have instead an elderly duo debut. Lindsey, Stevie’s ex, first charted with Mac back in 1976 and as a duo with Stevie (Buckingham Nicks), while Christine was lead vocalist with Chicken Shack who hit with I’d Rather Go Blind in 1969 – so a whopping 48 year span of chart success with new material after a gap of 20 years. Christine is the ex-wife of John McVie, of Fleetwood Mac. Any mention of Mac leads to a massive list of soap opera references…!

Future Islands oldie is knocked off the top of my chart, but the newie (Cave) enters the 40, and JK aka Jamiroquai gets a second one this year, he must be on Cloud 9. Ditto Clean Bandit, and Nancy Sinatra with another oldie. Following a fabulous concert at the Royal Albert Hall with Johnny Marr and the London Symphony Orchestra, chock-fulla lush strings, Pet Shop Boys pop back with the 2 most-effective tracks, It’s Alright in it’s original single form (very different from the album version) from 1989, and Left To My Own Devices, the epic orchestral delight that kicked off the evening, here in a new Super-Tour version due out any day now.

1 2 1 4 WE GOT THE POWER Gorillaz featuring Jehnny Beth 455000
2 NEW 2 1 CRAZY (ASH HOWES RADIO EDIT) Bird 115000
3 1 1 5 SEASONS (WAITING ON YOU) Future Islands 480000
4 6 4 4 CHARIOTS Paper Route 212000
5 5 5 4 LOST ON YOU LP 205000
6 3 1 5 ALONE AGAIN OR Love 595000
7 13 7 4 WAITING FOR THE STARS Vitalic featuring David Shaw and The Beat 116200
8 12 8 4 TRUTH IS A BEAUTIFUL THING London Grammar 111400
9 20 9 2 FEELS LIKE SUMMER Weezer 65000
10 4 4 4 CAN I SIT NEXT TO YOU Spoon 232000

11 9 9 5 YOU WANT IT DARKER (PAUL KALKBRENNER REMIX) Leonard Cohen 153200
12 7 1 10 CHAINED TO THE RHYTHM Katy Perry featuring Skip Marley 1184250
13 8 3 9 TOI ET MOI Paradis 535000
14 19 14 5 WATERFALL Stargate featuring P!nk and Sia 97450
15 15 15 4 NEW DAY Take That 99400
16 11 9 7 GENTLE ON MY MIND Alison Krauss 190200
17 10 10 5 UNDER YOUR SKIN SeeB and R. City 146000
18 21 18 4 BECAUSE The Beatles 65150
19 NEW 19 1 IN MY WORLD Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie 21000
20 14 2 10 BETTER MAN Little Big Town 571200

21 25 21 4 ON MY MIND Disciples 73700
22 16 16 8 LOVE Lana Del Ray 153600
23 17 4 10 ANOTHER CHANCE Above And Beyond presenting Oceanlab 321250
24 18 10 9 GIANTS Take That 204550
25 28 25 3 SOLO DANCE Martin Jensen 47650
26 33 26 5 HOME Schwarz 69700
27 27 27 3 HIPPOPOTAMUS Sparks 54800
28 34 28 4 SCARED OF THE DARK Steps 54400
29 24 6 11 FIRE IN MY SOUL Walk Off The Earth 327700
30 26 26 7 LOSING YOU Alison Krauss 117300

31 23 11 10 CLOUDBUSTING Just Us 227050
32 22 5 13 BEAUTIFUL CRIME Tamer 543550
33 30 20 7 LET’S WORK IT OUT Texas 115500
34 29 29 6 NO MORE SAD SONGS Little Mix featuring Machine Gun Kelly 106800
35 36 35 6 BEST BEHAVIOUR Louisa Johnson 93850
36 31 12 9 HARD AS DIAMONDS NUSSY 204100
37 67 37 2 CAVE Future Islands 23900
38 49 38 5 CLOUD 9 Jamiroquai 65050
39 59 39 3 SYMPHONY Clean Bandit featuring Zara Larsson 34600
40 42 40 6 WHEN I LOOK IN YOUR EYES Nancy Sinatra 83000

41 39 1 12 LOVE LIKE WE USED TO Captain Cuts featuring Nateur 780750
42 35 2 13 BE THE ONE Dua Lipa 660250
43 32 5 11 THE LAST OF THE SECRET AGENTS Nancy Sinatra 319000
44 43 10 9 KALEIDOSCOPE Fenech-Soler 180800
45 68 45 2 LET ME OUT Gorillaz featuring Mavis Staples & Pusha T 19400
46 54 46 5 iT Christine And The Queens 46150
47 53 47 4 LONG COOL WOMAN (IN A BLACK DRESS) The Hollies 39550
48 63 48 2 BHANGRA PAUNDI PBN featuring Sharky and Manpreet Toor 19600
49 40 5 8 SOMETHING JUST LIKE THIS The Chainsmokers and Coldplay 223350
50 50 40 5 GREEN LIGHT Lorde 49100

51 47 1 16 A DIFFERENT CORNER George Michael 1313150
52 51 1 23 WHEN YOU KNOW Robbie Williams 2076250
53 52 1 25 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU Abba 987350
54 37 28 9 GIVE ME A BREAK STOP NOW REOL 130400
55 41 26 5 THINKING OF YOU Sister Sledge 79600
56 38 38 5 YOU’RE A f***ING JOKE Bec Sandridge 66200
57 46 8 13 MOVING ON AND GETTING OVER John Mayer 308400
58 64 58 3 RUN THROUGH THE JUNGLE Creedence Clearwater Revival 23700
59 NEW 59 1 THUMBS Sabrina Carpenter 10100
60 44 37 7 SAVING LIGHT Gareth Emery & Standerwick featuring HALIENE 96950

61 71 61 2 I DON’T KNOW WHAT CAME OVER ME Mike + The Mechanics 13300
62 62 62 3 BARTENDER James Blunt 20600
63 NEW 63 1 IT’S ALRIGHT Pet Shop Boys 7200
64 58 2 21 SECRETS The Weeknd featuring Tears For Fears 992000
65 65 65 3 CIAO ADIOS Anne-Marie 21000
66 66 66 6 SAY HELLO WAVE GOODBYE Soft Cell 37200
67 45 16 7 ONLY YOU Jack Savoretti 111550
68 70 68 3 HARVEST MOON Neil Young 18400
69 NEW 69 1 NAKED Christopher 6200
70 57 57 4 A NIGHT AND A DAY Pepe Deluxe 31900

71 NEW 71 1 AWOO Sofi Tukker featuring Betta Lemme 5800
72 75 72 3 NO PARTICULAR PLACE TO GO Chuck Berry 15600
73 NEW 73 1 FALCON EYE Off Bloom 5200
74 48 35 5 TURBO KILLER Carpenter Brut 59300
75 NEW 75 1 LEFT TO MY OWN DEVICES (SUPER VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 5000

DROP OUTS
55 17 4 MAJOR TOM (VOLLIG LOSGELOST) Peter Schilling 66000
56 8 10 BLACK TEARS Imelda May featuring Jeff Beck 241850
60 60 4 HYPNOTISED Coldplay 30400
61 17 7 LOVE ON Dave Ramone featuring Minelli 115650
69 8 11 MOVE Saint Motel 250100
72 72 2 DEAR ADELAIDE Breanne Duren 11200
73 51 4 THAT’S WHAT I LIKE Bruno Mars 34350
74 4 25 CLOSER The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey 701600

 

9th April 2017

Its Future Islands on top as I get to see that amazing live performance from David Lettermans show a few years back – and coincidentally the band are back with a new album, and enter The Cave from it as well. Gorillaz also grab another entry with soul legend Mavis Staples and her second entry of 2017 as guest vocalist her last song oddly had the same title as the track held at 2 for Gorillaz. Exactly 45 years since she grabbed a number 3 in my charts with her dad and sister I’ll Take You There.

Not much movement this week as im on holiday in Gran Canaria but Vitalic leap up, as does London Grammar, into the 20, and Martin Jensen into the 40. Highest new entry is 90’s veteran act Weezer, well over 20 years since Buddy Holly debuted, now it Feels Like Summer. Mike + The Mechanics are also back after years away, and 32 years since Silent Running hit my top 10 – though if you count Mike Rutherford’s career in Genesis he first charted in 1974 when he knew what he liked in my wardrobe. I should probably rephrase that…! That leaves a bit of banging bhangra popping in at 63. I like to be varied…

1 3 1 4 SEASONS (WAITING ON YOU) Future Islands 395000
2 2 2 3 WE GOT THE POWER Gorillaz featuring Jehnny Beth 285000
3 1 1 4 ALONE AGAIN OR Love 540000
4 4 4 3 CAN I SIT NEXT TO YOU Spoon 190000
5 7 5 3 LOST ON YOU LP 145000
6 6 6 3 CHARIOTS Paper Route 147000
7 12 7 2 LOST ON YOU LP 85000
7 5 1 9 CHAINED TO THE RHYTHM Katy Perry featuring Skip Marley 1149250
8 8 3 8 TOI ET MOI Paradis 503000
9 12 9 4 YOU WANT IT DARKER (PAUL KALKBRENNER REMIX) Leonard Cohen 116200
10 10 10 4 UNDER YOUR SKIN SeeB and R. City 123000

11 9 9 6 GENTLE ON MY MIND Alison Krauss 165200
12 28 12 3 TRUTH IS A BEAUTIFUL THING London Grammar 63400
13 39 13 3 WAITING FOR THE STARS Vitalic featuring David Shaw and The Beat 66200
14 11 2 9 BETTER MAN Little Big Toiwn 551200
15 15 15 3 NEW DAY Take That 72400
16 16 16 7 LOVE Lana Del Ray 134100
17 14 4 9 ANOTHER CHANCE Above And Beyond presenting Oceanlab 302000
18 17 10 8 GIANTS Take That 185550
19 25 19 4 WATERFALL Stargate featuring P!nk and Sia 68450
20 NEW 20 1 FEELS LIKE SUMMER Weezer 20000

21 27 21 3 BECAUSE The Beatles 43150
22 13 5 12 BEAUTIFUL CRIME Tamer 525750
23 19 11 9 CLOUDBUSTING Just Us 209150
24 21 6 10 FIRE IN MY SOUL Walk Off The Earth 309500
25 34 25 3 ON MY MIND Disciples 53950
26 32 26 6 LOSING YOU Alison Krauss 99300
27 30 27 2 HIPPOPOTAMUS Sparks 36400
28 56 28 2 SOLO DANCE Martin Jensen 28900
29 29 29 5 NO MORE SAD SONGS Little Mix featuring Machine Gun Kelly 89200
30 20 20 6 LET’S WORK IT OUT Texas 97800

31 22 12 8 HARD AS DIAMONDS NUSSY 186700
32 18 5 10 THE LAST OF THE SECRET AGENTS Nancy Sinatra 305500
33 44 33 4 HOME Schwarz 51200
34 48 34 3 SCARED OF THE DARK Steps 36100
35 24 2 12 BE THE ONE Dua Lipa 646500
36 46 36 5 BEST BEHAVIOUR Louisa Johnson 76350
37 61 28 8 GIVE ME A BREAK STOP NOW REOL 119500
38 38 38 4 YOU’RE A f***ING JOKE Bec Sandridge 55600
39 31 1 11 LOVE LIKE WE USED TO Captain Cuts featuring Nateur 766750
40 36 5 7 SOMETHING JUST LIKE THIS The Chainsmokers and Coldplay 211250

41 26 26 4 THINKING OF YOU Sister Sledge 68800
42 42 42 5 WHEN I LOOK IN YOUR EYES Nancy Sinatra 66250
43 33 10 8 KALEIDOSCOPE Fenech-Soler 167550
44 37 37 6 SAVING LIGHT Gareth Emery & Standerwick featuring HALIENE 84950
45 23 16 6 ONLY YOU Jack Savoretti 104950
46 40 8 12 MOVING ON AND GETTING OVER John Mayer 298000
47 43 1 15 A DIFFERENT CORNER George Michael 1301400
48 35 35 4 TURBO KILLER Carpenter Brut 54100
49 50 49 4 CLOUD 9 Jamiroquai 47850
50 54 50 4 GREEN LIGHT Lorde 37100

51 49 1 22 WHEN YOU KNOW Robbie Williams 2064750
52 52 1 24 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU Abba 976100
53 60 53 3 LONG COOL WOMAN (IN A BLACK DRESS) The Hollies 27050
54 57 54 4 iT Christine And The Queens 33400
55 41 17 4 MAJOR TOM (VOLLIG LOSGELOST) Peter Schilling 66000
56 45 8 10 BLACK TEARSImelda May featuring Jeff Beck241850
57 59 57 3 A NIGHT AND A DAY Pepe Deluxe 25900
58 55 2 20 SECRETS The Weeknd featuring Tears For Fears 984900
59 62 59 2 SYMPHONY Clean Bandit featuring Zara Larsson 17500
60 63 60 4 HYPNOTISED Coldplay 30400

61 53 17 7 LOVE ON Dave Ramone featuring Minelli 115650
62 71 62 2 BARTENDER James Blunt 13200
63 NEW 63 BHANGRA PAUNDI PBN featuring Sharky P and Manpreet Toor 7300
64 68 64 2 RUN THROUGH THE JUNGLE Creedence Clearwater Revival 13500
65 65 65 2 CIAO ADIOS Anne-Marie 14000
66 66 66 5 SAY HELLO WAVE GOODBYE Soft Cell 30400
67 NEW 67 1 CAVE Future Islands 6600
68 NEW 68 1 LET ME OUT Gorillaz featuring Mavis Staples 6400
69 58 8 11 MOVE Saint Motel 250100
70 70 70 2 HARVEST MOON Neil Young 12000

71 NEW 71 1 DON’T KNOW WHAT CAME OVER ME Mike + The Mechanics 5800
72 72 72 2 DEAR ADELAIDE Breanne Duren 11200
73 51 51 4 THAT’S WHAT I LIKE Bruno Mars 34350
74 64 4 25 CLOSER The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey 701600
75 75 75 2 NO PARTICULAR PLACE TO GO Chuck Berry 10000

DROP OUTS
69 4 13 COWBOYS AND ANGELS George Michael 355250
74 74 1 NIRVANA Ryder 5200
67 67 2 REMEMBER ME Jennifer Hudson 13000
47 38 2 LIKE I LOVE YOU Greta Zazza 29700
73 73 1 MAMA NEVER TOLD ME Sister Sledge 5400

2nd April 2017

It’s Love for a second week on top just holding off Gorillaz lyrics for the moment and a storming track that needs to be a single ASAP, leaving them just one short of grabbing a second Number One (Dare was the last one). Gentle On My Mind makes my top 10 for Alison Krauss, the third version to do that since Dean Martin first did it in 1969. A pop track that should be getting some Spotify love (but isnt) is at 10, it gets Under Your Skin.

The late Leonard Cohen gets his biggest ever chart hit here, Take That add to their numerous top 20 tracks, Lana Del Ray grabs another, too, and so do Texas, who have had more than the pair of them put together. Probably. Veteran sixty-somethings Sparks are also back in at 30 with new quirky track Hippopotamus, for a sweet 43 years of being different from anyone else, right from the day they entered my charts in on high from nowhere on one hearing with This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us, one of those “Eh what was that!?” showstopper moments.

Lower down, a batch of current chart hits finally find a gap to sneak in, along with some oldies, CCR feature in the Kong movie, along with the Hollies CCR copycat track (the best thing about the film by far!), the late Chuck Berry and Joannie Sledge enter with some fave oldies, and The Beatles rocket into the top 30 with the gorgeous Abbey Road harmony track Because: beacuse the album’s just charted again, and because it’s featured effectively in a current advert and because I’ve never charted it before, and if it’s OK for Drake to stuff the singles chart with 22 album tracks, it’s more than OK for me to stuff my chart with non-Drake album tracks. So there!

1 1 1 3 ALONE AGAIN OR Love 455000
2 6 2 2 WE GOT THE POWER Gorillaz featuring Jehnny Beth 170000
3 3 3 3 SEASONS (WAITING ON YOU) Future Islands 225000
4 5 4 2 CAN I SIT NEXT TO YOU Spoon 125000
5 2 1 8 CHAINED TO THE RHYTHM Katy Perry featuring Skip Marley 1099250
6 11 6 2 CHARIOTS Paper Route 92000
7 12 7 2 LOST ON YOU LP 85000
8 4 3 7 TOI ET MOI Paradis 455000
9 15 9 5 GENTLE ON MY MIND Alison Krauss 128200
10 22 10 3 UNDER YOUR SKIN SeeB and R. City 81000

11 7 2 8 BETTER MAN Little Big Town 522200
12 24 12 3 YOU WANT IT DARKER (PAUL KALKBRENNER REMIX) Leonard Cohen 71200
13 13 5 11 BEAUTIFUL CRIME Tamer 506250
14 9 4 8 ANOTHER CHANCE Above And Beyond presenting Oceanlab 279000
15 27 15 2 NEW DAY Take That 45400
16 26 16 6 LOVE Lana Del Ray 109100
17 10 10 7 GIANTS Take That 163550
18 8 5 9 THE LAST OF THE SECRET AGENTS Nancy Sinatra 287600
19 14 11 8 CLOUDBUSTING Just Us 189900
20 25 20 5 LET’S WORK IT OUT Texas 79800

21 18 6 9 FIRE IN MY SOUL Walk Off The Earth 290500
22 17 12 7 HARD AS DIAMONDS NUSSY 167800
23 16 16 5 ONLY YOU Jack Savoretti 91950
24 19 2 11 BE THE ONE Dua Lipa 629000
25 33 25 3 WATERFALL Stargate featuring P!nk and Sia 47450
26 28 26 3 THINKING OF YOU Sister Sledge 54800
27 75 27 2 BECAUSE The Beatles 23400
28 59 28 2 TRUTH IS A BEAUTIFUL THING London Grammar 28400
29 32 29 4 NO MORE SAD SONGS Little Mix featuring Machine Gun Kelly 71000
30 NEW 30 1 HIPPOPOTAMUS Sparks 18000

31 21 1 10 LOVE LIKE WE USED TO Captain Cuts featuring Nateur 749650
32 36 32 5 LOSING YOU Alison Krauss 80800
33 20 10 7 KALEIDOSCOPE Fenech-Soler 154050
34 34 34 2 ON MY MIND Disciples 35200
35 37 35 3 TURBO KILLER Carpenter Brut 41800
36 23 5 6 SOMETHING JUST LIKE THIS The Chainsmokers and Coldplay 194250
37 40 37 5 SAVING LIGHT Gareth Emery & Standerwick featuring HALIENE 71700
38 56 38 3 YOU’RE A f***ING JOKE Bec Sandridge 38400
39 39 39 2 WAITING FOR THE STARS Vitalic featuring David Shaw and The Beat 34200
40 30 8 11 MOVING ON AND GETTING OVER John Mayer 285250

41 29 17 3 MAJOR TOM (VOLLIG LOSGELOST) Peter Schilling 55200
42 42 42 4 WHEN I LOOK IN YOUR EYES Nancy Sinatra 52500
43 41 1 14 A DIFFERENT CORNER George Michael 1288900
44 46 44 3 HOME Schwarz 33500
45 31 8 9 BLACK TEARS Imelda May featuring Jeff Beck 228250
46 49 39 4 BEST BEHAVIOUR Louisa Johnson 58950
47 38 38 2 LIKE I LOVE YOU Greta Zazza 29700
48 64 48 2 SCARED OF THE DARK Steps 19400
49 44 1 21 WHEN YOU KNOW Robbie Williams 2053000
50 50 50 3 CLOUD 9 Jamiroquai 35750

51 60 51 3 THAT’S WHAT I LIKE Bruno Mars 28950
52 51 1 23 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU Abba 964600
53 35 17 6 LOVE ON Dave Ramone featuring Minelli 108150
54 61 54 3 GREEN LIGHT Lorde 25100
55 52 2 19 SECRETS The Weeknd featuring Tears For Fears 974700
56 NEW 56 1 SOLO DANCE Martin Jensen 10600
57 70 57 3 iT Christine And The Queens 22400
58 47 8 10 MOVE Saint Motel 243900
59 73 59 2 A NIGHT AND A DAY Pepe Deluxe 15500
60 71 60 2 LONG COOL WOMAN (IN A BLACK DRESS) The Hollies 15800

61 43 28 7 GIVE ME A BREAK STOP NOW REOL 102200
62 NEW 62 1 SYMPHONY Clean Bandit featuring Zara Larsson 7400
63 66 63 3 HYPNOTISED Coldplay 20400
64 57 4 24 CLOSER The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey 696400
65 NEW 65 1 CIAO ADIOS Anne-Marie 7000
66 69 66 4 SAY HELLO WAVE GOODBYE Soft Cell 23600
67 68 67 2 REMEMBER ME Jennifer Hudson 13000
68 NEW 68 1 RUN THROUGH THE JUNGLE Creedence Clearwater Revival 6400
69 54 4 13 COWBOYS AND ANGELS George Michael 355250
70 NEW 70 1 HARVEST MOON Neil Young 6000

71 NEW 71 1 BARTENDER James Blunt 5800
72 NEW 72 1 DEAR ADELAIDE Breanne Duren 5600
73 NEW 73 1 MAMA NEVER TOLD ME Sister Sledge 5400
74 NEW 74 1 NIRVANA Ryder 5200
75 NEW 75 1 NO PARTICULAR PLACE TO GO Chuck Berry 5000

DROP OUTS
45 14 8 FUN Blondie 144000
48 8 12 SHAPE OF YOU Ed Sheeran 322000
53 5 10 YOU’RE GONNA LIVE FOREVER IN ME John Mayer 298150
55 34 5 SHOW YOU THE WAY Thundercat featuring Michael McDonald & Kenny Loggins 71000
58 7 12 CALL ON ME (RYAN RIBACK REMIX) Starley 335200
62 62 4 PINNACLE Tone Damli 25700
63 50 3 BEYOND MEMORY Nina 29800
65 23 6 PAPER GAMES Kaneholler 86250
67 67 2 HIGHS AND LOWS Emeli Sande 12800
72 48 6 DO IT AGAIN SOLDOUT featuring GOOSE 46900
74 26 5 A KIND OF LOVE Marc Almond 72850