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?’ →

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’ →

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’ →

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’ →

3 July 1970 If you were heading out-out for a feed of pints in '80s Ireland and planned on taking the car, you had to heed the official drink-driving campaign slogan: Just Two Will Do! In that light, the line from 'In The Summertime' that sticks out most to modern sensibilities—"have a drink, have a … Continue reading Mungo Jerry – ‘In The Summertime’ →

19 June 1970 This single on vinyl is one of the few records that were in my house when I was young. It wasn't on heavy rotation as the soundtrack of my childhood or anything; we simply found it and a record player at the back of a closet when we were in the process … Continue reading Dermot Hegarty and The Plainsmen – ‘Twenty One Years’ →

5 June 1970 When did pop music, traditionally for the kids, start pitching to adults too? Perhaps in the mid-'60s with The Beatles taking Dylan's influence on board, along with Paul going music-hall, and around the same time as the advent of Bacharach & David's sophisticated masterpieces. Later on, bubblegum pop was always made by … Continue reading Christie – ‘Yellow River’ →

29 May 1970 Remember 'Spaceman' by Babylon Zoo, that '90s chart-topper from a jeans ad that used its catchy electronica opening, only for the track itself to be a stodgy rocker? I wonder if 'Question' by The Moody Blues' gave the music punters of 1970 a similar bout of buyer's remorse. Its opening verses of … Continue reading The Moody Blues – ‘Question’ →

22 May 1970 I'm surprised to listen attentively to the original 'Spirit In The Sky' and find myself feeling a little disappointed. Okay, obviously the scuzzy minimalist riff is pure gold and the stompy clap-along beat is great fun: no issues there. And I'm already familiar with the buzz-killing Jesus namecheck, making this the first … Continue reading Norman Greenbaum – ‘Spirit In The Sky’ →