9 December 1971 This seems to be the first number one single anywhere for Andrew Lloyd Webber, although Jesus Christ Superstar had topped the US album charts the previous year. (Earlier in 1971, Helen Reddy's version of ‘I Don’t Know How To Love Him’ had cracked the top twenty Stateside but neither it nor a … Continue reading Tina and The Real McCoy – ‘I Don’t Know How To Love Him’ →

25 November 1971 Bolan was the first. Bowie was the hippest. Roxy were the artiest. The Sweet were the campiest. Sparks were the edgiest. Slade, though, could claim to be the glam act that were the most popular. After all, they had six UK number ones—the same amount as in Ireland—and were the biggest-selling British … Continue reading Slade – ‘Coz I Luv You’ →

18 November 1971 Taking an early lead over Brendan Shine in the race to be Ireland's most prolific Irish chart-topper of the '70s, here's An Camán Dearg with his second number one of 1971. 'Kiss Me Goodbye' had previously been recorded by Petula Clark, for whom it was a US top twenty hit in 1968, … Continue reading Red Hurley and The Nevada – ‘Kiss Me Goodbye’ →

7 October 1971 Two total ledgebags at number one with 'Did You Ever' - not Linda Martin and Mick McCarthy with their unlikely 1991 duet, but Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood twenty years earlier. The Nancy n' Lee songbook of sunkissed and sometimes sinister country-pop still sounds thrilling and sophisticated today. In particular, 'These Boots … Continue reading Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood – ‘Did You Ever’ →

30 September 1971 There ain't nothing like shaggin'. My baby sure can shag. Hey, what's the matter? I'm only telling you the names of the 1987 comeback hit by The Tams and its 1988 follow-up single! The shag was the name of an early-'60s dance style which formed the basis of a 1988 US retro … Continue reading The Tams – ‘Hey Girl Don’t Bother Me’ →

16 September 1971 The wait is over: it's September 1971 and Ireland finally has a number one single from Motown. That's not to say we were theretofore completely oblivious to the brilliance coming out of Hitsville: The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, The Four Tops, Mary Wells, The Temptations and Marvin Gaye had all had Irish top … Continue reading Diana Ross – ‘I’m Still Waiting’ →

26 August 1971 Imagine the online fan feuding there would have been on '70s social media between old Seeker-heads and the New Seeker army, with maybe even Judith Durham mic-dropping a Mariah-esque "I don't know them". That's how I lifted my spirits while in the depths of listening to this. Quick re-up: the OG Seekers … Continue reading The New Seekers – ‘Never Ending Song Of Love’ →

12 August 1971 Already here in mid-1971 we have one of the signature hits of T. Rex and glam - but perhaps not yet the signature sound of either. As with most of the tracks on parent album Electric Warrior, 'Get It On' still has a groove rather than a stomp, the lyrics are still … Continue reading T. Rex – ‘Get It On’ →

31 July 1971 The showbands hadn't gone away. What's more, the '70s bring a new wave of them, with more technically capable singers who'd probably have gone into musical theatre if Dublin had its own West End or Broadway. Instead, they work the cabaret angle, make the occasional tilt at getting selected for Eurovision, and … Continue reading Red Hurley and The Nevada – ‘Sometimes’ →

19 June 1971 With five number one singles dotting the decade like bird droppings, Brendan Shine can claim to be Ireland's biggest chart-topping star of the '70s. It may somewhat colour this accolade for you to know that his nearest competitor in this was Red Hurley with four; the showband-dominated '60s Irish charts congealed into … Continue reading Brendan Shine – ‘O’Brien Has No Place To Go’ →