9 May 1974 "Aha!", the elders would say: "Joe Cuddy sang that!" This was a common reaction in the Ireland of 1991 to Jason Donovan topping the Irish charts with 'Any Dream Will Do'. (Other reactions were also available.) Joe Cuddy topped the Irish charts with it too. It was his second number one of … Continue reading Joe Cuddy – ‘Any Dream Will Do’
Tag: 70s
ABBA – ‘Waterloo’
25 April 1974 The unluckiest pop song in history is 'Si' by Italian singer Gigliola Cinquetti. An impressive blend of hushed early-'70s bedsit folk-pop and sweeping orchestral balladry, it was selected as Italy's entry for the 1974 Eurovision. That's when its problems began. Eurovision 1974 happened to coincide with campaigning in Italy for a yes-no … Continue reading ABBA – ‘Waterloo’
Terry Jacks – ‘Seasons In The Sun’
18 April 1974 Sometimes my French still comes in handy. 'Seasons In The Sun' is a translation and cover of a Jacques Brel song called 'Le Moribond', a title which means 'The Dying Man'. Brel's original, like other songs of his, is set to an upbeat martial tempo, and it has a cynical, worldly-wise humour; … Continue reading Terry Jacks – ‘Seasons In The Sun’
Paper Lace – ‘Billy, Don’t Be A Hero’
4 April 1974 This is the first of two number ones in a row that are death ballads. It's also the first of two huge 1974 hits for Paper Lace, and the second of those, the knuckle-gnawingly awful 'The Night Chicago Died', deals with death too. I can also confirm that listening to 'Billy, Don't … Continue reading Paper Lace – ‘Billy, Don’t Be A Hero’
Tina – ‘Cross Your Heart’
21 March 1974 Sharing its name with a brand of bra which could well have been the template for the singer's slightly daring dress at Eurovision 1974, 'Cross Your Heart' was one of eight songs all performed by Tina at Ireland's national selection contest. Yes, you're right: we've already seen Tina at the top of … Continue reading Tina – ‘Cross Your Heart’
Alvin Stardust – ‘Jealous Mind’
7 March 1974 Never mind your favourite James Bond; who's your favourite Alvin Stardust? I've only just found out that the familiar leather-clad, mulleted and sideboarded Alvin Stardust is not the Alvin Stardust who appeared on Alvin Stardust's debut hit, 'My Coo Ca Choo'. That record was written, produced, performed and initially promoted by Alvin … Continue reading Alvin Stardust – ‘Jealous Mind’
Suzi Quatro – ‘Devil Gate Drive’
28 February 1974 Would it be doing the dog on my ongoing "Chinn & Chapman, the Stock Aitken & Waterman of glam" narrative to suggest that with Suzi Quatro they even had their own Kylie? Maybe not. After all, she had star quality and seemed perfect for their writing-production style, but only ever seemed to … Continue reading Suzi Quatro – ‘Devil Gate Drive’
The Sweet – ‘Teenage Rampage’
14 February 1974 The key information you need in advance for 'Teenage Rampage' is that, this time around, Steve Priest's pre-chorus bit is not camp. I repeat: not camp. Even in the TV appearances, such as the video below, he's not fluttering his fingers while staring down the camera straight into your there-to-be-corrupted soul. Without … Continue reading The Sweet – ‘Teenage Rampage’
Mud – ‘Tiger Feet’
31 January 1974 Here's the first of three chart-topping singles in a row in early 1974 for the writer-producer duo of Chinn & Chapman - the Stock Aitken & Waterman of glam, and I mean that to hurt. We already saw their wares at the top of the Irish charts in 1973 with The Sweet's … Continue reading Mud – ‘Tiger Feet’
The New Seekers – ‘You Won’t Find Another Fool Like Me’
24 January 1974 We know these songs today from retro clip shows, but what exactly was the new bubblegum pop of 1974? The Americanised "darn well" in its pre-chorus suggests 'You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me' took its pop with a splash of late-'60s Broadway showtune bluster and a dash of Nashville country sentimentality. … Continue reading The New Seekers – ‘You Won’t Find Another Fool Like Me’
