20 March 1971 Surprisingly, Paul McCartney won't have a post-Beatles UK number one single until 'Mull Of Kintyre' in 1977 - and that's his only UK chart-topping single of the entire '70s. It's surprising not only because he was a Beatle and was still having loads of hits, but also because Paul's sentimental, whimsical old-fashioned … Continue reading Paul McCartney – ‘Another Day’
Tag: 70s
George Harrison – ‘My Sweet Lord’
30 January 1971 Ireland's first solo Beatle number one is also our first chart-top encounter with copyright controversy. Since then we've had loads of hugely entertaining courtroom action: singer shenanigans with 'Ride On Time' and 'Return To Innocence'; riff-based rifts with 'Ice Ice Baby' and 'I'll Be Missing You'; vibes-based karmic retribution for 'Blurred Lines'. … Continue reading George Harrison – ‘My Sweet Lord’
Dave Edmunds – ‘I Hear You Knocking’
25 December 1970 British rock and pop of the '60s never shook off its worship of bluesy '50s US rock & roll, so you can't really say 'I Hear You Knocking' embodies the start of the new decade's '50s revival. That said, a tinny, crappy vocal track on a much-covered old song suggests the creative … Continue reading Dave Edmunds – ‘I Hear You Knocking’
Dermot Henry and The Virginians – ‘If Those Lips Could Only Speak’
18 December 1970 So, what lips would those be? Well, the "life-like features" in a portrait of the main character's wife: he's filthy rich and has everything in his mansion except her in the flesh. The maudlin song and setting nudge us to assume that she has died, but that's not actually stated in the … Continue reading Dermot Henry and The Virginians – ‘If Those Lips Could Only Speak’
Margo & The Country Folk – ‘I’ll Forgive And I’ll Try To Forget’
27 November 1970 Only a few weeks after Freda Payne's epic 'Band Of Gold' ended its run at number one, here's another 1970 Irish chart-topper already from a woman with a song calling out a dysfunctional marriage. What's more, it's by a country & Irish showband act - and the singer is even a blood … Continue reading Margo & The Country Folk – ‘I’ll Forgive And I’ll Try To Forget’
Freda Payne – ‘Band Of Gold’
2 October 1970 Ireland didn't have any number ones at all from Motown during the '60s - and here in October 1970 we still didn't, as despite its classic Motown sound 'Band Of Gold' is on Holland-Dozier-Holland's own Invictus label after they had left Hitsville. The parting with Berry Gordy was evidently acrimonious; ongoing legal … Continue reading Freda Payne – ‘Band Of Gold’
The Poppy Family – ‘Which Way You Goin’, Billy?’
25 September 1970 Here's our first number one single from Canada. This being the dawn of a decade featuring real-life Osmonds and fictional Partridges, you'd assume The Poppy Family were indeed a household as advertised. In fact, they were mostly singer Susan Jacks and her husband Terry, the latter soon of 'Seasons In The Sun' … Continue reading The Poppy Family – ‘Which Way You Goin’, Billy?’
The Kinks – ‘Lola’
7 August 1970 As with my few lines on 'All About That Bass', I don't have personal experience or insight that would give me any sort of informed view on the themes raised by 'Lola'. Similarly, some people with that personal experience and insight could have found it helpful and some could have found it … Continue reading The Kinks – ‘Lola’
Elvis Presley – ‘The Wonder Of You’
31 July 1970 Let's be honest: our favourite Elvis is late-career Vegas Elvis sweatily gurning and shuddering through the cheesy cabaret hits, with oversized flares and collars flapping on his white rhinestone-studded onesie. This is our popular image of Elvis now and for posterity. Hear his name and this is what you see in your … Continue reading Elvis Presley – ‘The Wonder Of You’
Cliff Richard – ‘Goodbye Sam, Hello Samantha’
10 July 1970 I admit: I'm a wee bit disappointed that 'Goodbye Sam, Hello Samantha' is not Cliff's take on trans "issues", if only because it denies the world what could have been the most spectacularly offensive and disastrous pop song ever. Turns out that going from Sam to Samantha, Joe to Joanne and Lou … Continue reading Cliff Richard – ‘Goodbye Sam, Hello Samantha’
