From Newsgroup: uk.music.charts
On 04/10/2020 11:12, Chris Brown wrote:
Well, I'm not in Indiana but it's windy and rainy enough in Harrow
today, thanks.
The south seems to have had a nasty few days of wind and rain. It rained
all yesterday but the sun was shining this morning.
Chart dated: 8th October 1977
The month when singles sales started to pick up rapidly in the UK
building to then record breaking levels in late 1978 / early 1979.
An interesting chart with many nationalities represented here. There
were slim pickings for British acts. In the top 10 only Yes were from
the UK.
1.-a-a (2) David Soul-a-a-a Silver Lady
I didn't care much for any of his hits but this was probably the best of
them.
2.-a-a (1) Elvis Presley-a-a-a Way Down
The death of Elvis was the top celebrity death of 1977. I've posted
about this before but his death kept open the RCA record factory which
was located in my town. It had been earmrked for closure in July 1977
but the death of Elvis led to such a demand for his albums and led to 24
hour working for several months. The factory did eventually close in 1981.
Awful song.
3.-a-a (8) La Belle Epoque-a-a-a Black Is Black
Another of those Euro disco hits that were by this point making the
charts with ease.
4.-a-a (7) The Emotions-a-a-a Best Of My Love
First record in this chart I owned. I loved this back then and still
think it's a great song.
5.-a-a (3) Space-a-a-a Magic Fly
Second single I owned. La Belle Epoque were a French based act with a
French singer. Space were French as was Jean Michel-Jarre at number 11.
This is still a brilliant instrumental track. And Daft Punk must have
been influenced by the video.
6.-a-a (9) Patsy Gallant-a-a-a From New York To L.A.
Keeping the French connection alive, Patsy is a Canadian of French
heritage and grew up in a French speaking household. Indeed her early
releases were sung entirely in French. Shades of Celine Dion's career in
the 1980s.
7.-a (16) Yes-a-a-a Wonderous Stories
The only UK act in the top 10 with one of the most unlikeliest top 10
hits of 1977.
8.-a (11) Danny Mirror-a-a-a I Remember Elvis Presley
Just awful. At least this was meant as a heartfelt ribute to Elvis by
the Dutchman. Follow up single 'We Wish You (A Merry Christmas)' was
enough to have Elvis turning in his grave
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9D9Ugnppdk
I don't know if he's trying to sound like Elvis in the above (and
failing badly) or if that is his natural singing voice. Either way it's
worse than his hit single. Fortunately his Christmas single was only
released in the Netherlands.
9.-a-a (6) Meri Wilson-a-a-a Telephone Man
A silly novelty record. Meri's career seems to have been guided by car accidents. Her first car accident was in 1975 and left her in a body
cast for months. She passed the time by writing novelty songs thus
moving her (until then) unsuccessful music career in a more successful direction. Unfortunately a second car accident in 2002 killed both her
career and sadly Meri herself stone dead.
10.-a (5) Donna Summer-a-a-a Down Deep Inside
Donna Summer's cahrt career went into overdrive in the second half of
1977. This is the theme tune from a long forgotten fil called "The
Deep". Not her best but not too bad. Co-written by Donna and John Barry.
11.-a (4) Jean-Michel Jarre-a-a-a Oxygene Part IV
An influential artist. While this track isn't bad I always thought it
was a bit lighweight.
12. (10) Elkie Brooks-a-a-a Sunshine After The Rain
Miss Warbly Voice but I quite like this one.
13. (20) The Stranglers-a-a-a No More Heroes
One of their best singles. Great song.
14. (24) Baccara-a-a-a Yes Sir I Can Boogie
On its way to number 1. Awful song by the two Spanish ladies.
15. (14) The Boomtown Rats-a-a-a Looking After Number One
I quite liked this one.
16. (18) Ram Jam-a-a-a Black Betty
And this one too. And even the 1990 remix.
17. (21) Donna Summer I Remember Yesterday
From her concept album of the same name that had already spawned the
number 1 single 'I Remember Yesterday'. I think only Donna could have
got away with this strange mix of disco and a 1940s sound.
18. (15) Rods-a-a-a Do Anything You Wanna Do
I bought this single. Great song. Produced and co-written by Ed Hollis,
the late brother of the now late Mark Hollis of Talk Talk.
19. (13) The Dooleys-a-a-a I Think I'm Gonna Fall In love With You
Dreaful song by a dreadful band.
20. (12) Carly Simon-a-a-a Nobody Does It Better
Theme to the James Bond movie "The Spy Who Loved Me". Great song.
23. (27) David Essex-a-a-a Cool Out Tonight
He was struggling with mid chart mediocrity by now.
25. (30) Giorgio-a-a-a From Here To Eternity
An excellent elctro-disco single from Giorgio Moroder.
26. (23) The Adverts-a-a-a Gary Gilmore's Eyes
A good song but probably not something to be taken seriously. Previous
single 'One Chord Wonders' is much better
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USKocNP6WIk
In places the above reminds me of 'Wild World' by Cat Stevens.
28. (NE) The Clash-a-a-a Complete Control
This fell from the all-important top 30 (which was all Radio 1 broadcast
at the time) the following week. At the time it was a very rare example
of a single entering so high up the chart and falling the following week.
32. (NE) Status Quo-a-a-a Rockin' All Over The World
One of my favourite Quo records. Great song.
33. (32) Stevie Wonder-a-a-a Another Star
From 'Songs In The Key Of Life', one of the best albums of the 1970s.
46. (NE) Peter Blake-a-a-a Lipsmackin' Rock N' Rollin'
Started life as a Pepsi Coke advert.
49. (NE) The Carpenters-a-a-a Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft
(The Recognized Anthem Of World Contact Day)
By The Carpenters standards, a very bizarre song. A cover of a track by Canadian band Klaatu.
STAR BREAKERS
b01 (b08) STARDANCE - John Forde
b02 (b05) RIGHT ON TIME - Brothers Johnson
b03 (NEW) HIGHER & HIGHER - Rita Coolidge (Chart Entry 15-Oct-1977 at
No. 49)
b04 (b03) SUNSHINE OF YOUR LOVE - Rosetta Stone
b05 (NEW) IT'S ECSTASY WHEN YOU LAY DOWN NEXT TO ME - Barry White (Chart
Entry 15-Oct-1977 at No. 41)
b06 (NEW) I BELIEVE YOU - Dorothy Moore (Chart Entry 15-Oct-1977 at No. 46)
b07 (b06) THEME FROM BIG TIME - Smokey Robinson
b08 (NEW) YOU MAKE LOVING FUN - Fleetwood Mac
b09 (NEW) SHE'S NOT THERE - Santana (Chart Entry 15-Oct-1977 at No. 50)
-a-a-a-aChris
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