MAY 1974

The highlight of the month – if you could call it such – was being visited by the woman from the Hamilton Advertiser, asking what the child prodigy was up to now. He was writing stuff on his Smith-Corona typewriter (both typewriter and I appeared on the cover) and putting together his elaborate versions of the weekly singles chart. Of the 1974 charts I commented “They trace from January until the present” and spoke further in what the reporter described as “peculiar, grown-up vocabulary.” Nothing came of any of it.

 

Otherwise, Soul Train STILL hasn’t been shown in the UK (even though a hopeless British equivalent briefly aired on Channel 4 in the eighties); these days I really like and appreciate “Sugar Baby Love” and the art, or artifice, behind it  – Tony Waddington followed me on the eX-social media website and I hope he makes it over to the one where the sky is blue; nobody was fooled by “I Can’t Stop”; “The Night Chicago Died” indeed stopped at number three here but unexpectedly made it to the top of the Billboard Hot 100; that’s how Mouth and MacNeal were spelled on the label; I was right about “Si” being better than “Go”; Ferry’s reworking of “Chance Meeting” sounds like Boards Of Canada to me now; and Lena reckons “Hey Rock And Roll” sounds like the Ramones, or possibly vice versa.

 

5 May

 

MFSB: TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia) (Featuring The Three Degrees)/Something For Nothing (Featuring Thom Bell) (Philadelphia International PIR 2289)

 

 

The theme from Soul Train, a reputedly great music show that nobody will broadcast over here, so this probably won’t be that big a hit, although it ought to be; big, dynamic and anybody can dance to it. Sensational when the Three Degrees do their thing at the end. It’s jazz, really. B-side is moody and dramatic but good, like the music for a television detective show.

 

 

 

JIM STAFFORD: Spiders & Snakes/Undecided (MGM 2006 374)

 

 

Fun country-rock novelty – what Ray Stevens could be like if he was funnier.

 

 

 

THE RUBETTES: Sugar Baby Love/You Could Have Told Me (Polydor 2058 442)

 

 

Kitchen sink Four Seasons tribute with a few words strung together which probably don’t mean very much at all, although to some people they will mean everything. Corny and maybe on purpose but this is going to be a number one and it would easily have won Eurovision for the UK if they’d entered it.

 

 

 

THE OSMONDS: I Can’t Stop/Flower Music (MCA 129)

 

 

The boys all sound about five years old on this. Oh I see, it isn’t their normal label, this is obviously their old record company trying to make some quick money and cash in. I wonder how many fans will be fooled that it’s their new one. Not that many, I’d guess.

 

 

 

THE BAY CITY ROLLERS: Shang-A-Lang/Are You Ready For That Rock & Roll (Bell 1355)

 

 

Back with a vengeance (and a new lead singer) – this is catchy on an Archies level and it’s obviously going to be huge. Hard to dislike the song; if they can keep going, they could be the biggest Scottish pop group since Middle Of The Road.

 

 

 

 

12 May

 

DAVID CASSIDY: If I Didn’t Care/Frozen Noses (Bell 1350)

 

 

This is an old Ink Spots song from the 1940s which will go right over the heads of David’s teen fans – perhaps he’s more interested in winning over their grandparents these days.

 

 

 

SPARKS: This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us/Barbecutie (Island WIP 6193)

 

 

Oh my GOODNESS, this is the first hit song this year that I’ve wanted to BE! It’s all over the place, like three songs playing at once and the drums going backwards. The singer squeals about it being the end of the world in four different nightmares but there’s no way you’re going to get rid of him, no sirree. This is like pop music being blown up and we have to sort out the jigsaw puzzle it leaves behind. I missed the fuss about “Virginia Plain” two years ago but this has nothing to do with ANYTHING except now.

 

 

STATUS QUO: Break The Rules/Lonely Night (Vertigo 6059 101)

 

 

Boogie half the speed of “Caroline” but they know what they want to do and are pretty good at doing it.

 

 

 

PAPER LACE: The Night Chicago Died/Can You Get It When You Want It (Bus Stop BUS 1016)

 

 

They’re looking for another number one. They won’t quite get it, I don’t think, but this is like a melodramatic sequel to “The Ballad Of Bonnie And Clyde” by Georgie Fame, which is not surprising since that was written by the same people.

 

 

 

ALVIN STARDUST: Red Dress/Little Darlin’ (Magnet MAG 8)

 

 

Third soundalike record in a row – a bit harder and more echoey than the other two but fundamentally not different. Obviously another top ten but I can’t see it, or him, lasting.

 

 

 

 

19 May

 

MOUTH & McNEAL: I See A Star/My Friend (Decca F R 13504)

 

 

The Dutch Eurovision entry – came third. More oompah-oompah but catchier and funnier than boring Olivia and the Salvation Army.

 

 

 

R. DEAN TAYLOR: There’s A Ghost In My House/Let’s Go Somewhere (Tamla Motown TMG 896)

 

 

Wasn’t expecting the “Indiana Wants Me” guy back but this has come from NOWHERE (actually Northern Soul). He doesn’t have many hits but something weird always happens to him in them. On this one he is singing like the club is going to crouch down and squash him. I read that the DJ got this from a budget Music For Pleasure compilation. Up there with Pinky and Perky? Well I never. It’s great, of course, like all Motown.

 

 

 

GIGLIOLA CINQUETTI: Go (Before You Break My Heart)/Si (CBS 2294)

 

 

The Italian Eurovision song – it came second but was definitely the best song, if maybe too understated for people really to get. As usual, the English language version sounds a bit contrived, but the original is on the B-side and we will be playing that a lot more. My mother agrees it was the best song but of course she would!

 

 

 

 

26 May

 

COCKNEY REBEL: Judy Teen/Spaced Out (EMI 2128)

 

 

Hooray, Cockney Rebel have got a hit! My father doesn’t agree much with me about pop music these days but we both agree this band have that little bit extra about them. The Human Menagerie is a wonderful album that more people should have bought. This comes from the new one (definitely going to get that when it comes out) and is catchy but not in a crass way. Stops and starts all the time and Steve Harley’s voice is smart enough to avoid being grabbed. Good stuff.

 

 

 

BRYAN FERRY: The ‘In’ Crowd/Chance Meeting (Island WIP 6196)

 

 

Good heavens, a picture sleeve for once – Bryan Ferry offering a tribute to Mark Spitz! Not sure about his cover versions these days. “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” was scary and swung, but this sounds a bit pointless. Does he know where he wants to go any more? The B-side – a reworking of a song from the first Roxy Music album – is much better; voice and electric piano (and distant guitar, shouting from the other side?) standing at the edge of a dark abyss, sipping blackcurrant cocktails.

 

 

 

SHOWADDYWADDY: Hey Rock And Roll/You Will Lose Your Love Tomorrow (Bell 1357)

 

 

From New Faces. Two rock ‘n’ roll revival bands slammed together as far as I can see. This is surprisingly earthy, as if rock ‘n’ roll had been burned down to its basic elements.

 

 

 

CLIFF RICHARD: (You Keep Me) Hangin’ On/Love Is Here (EMI 2150)

 

 

Cliff in a country and western mood – sort of - but up here I don’t think Sydney Devine has anything to worry about (he’s from Bellshill and he’s going to be BIG in Lanarkshire).