It's a chart of two halves, and this is the second one.
20 - "If You Can't Give Me Love," Suzi Quatro
Born in Detroit in 1950, Susan Kay Quatro saw Elvis for the first time at age 5 and decided that was what she wanted to be. And once she moved to England in the early 70s, she gave it a pretty good run with her style and attitude. She only hit once at home with the duet "Stumblin' In," but in Britain she was a major star, scoring eleven Top 40s and two Number Ones. This pop-rocker about turning down the advances of a smooth loverboy went Top Five. It's good, but I'm intrigued to hear more from the lady I once knew as Leather Tuscadero.
19 - "Rumour Has It," Donna Summer
As big as she was at home during the disco era, she was even bigger here, with even more hit singles. One that hit here but not in the States was this song about a hoping the one you once loved will find his way back to you again. Not as strong as her bigger hits, so I see how this would have fallen short in America. But it seems to improve with every listen.
18 - "Whenever You Want My Love," The Real Thing
The fifth hit for these Liverpool soulsters is romantic disco that reminds me a lot of the O'Jays. Sounds good, but not a must-hear.
17 - "Lilac Wine," Elkie Brooks
Elkie again, with her third hit, a cover of an oft-performed song that dates back to 1950. It's about drowning your sorrow over a lost love in alcohol made from flowers. Brooks gives a dramatic, powerhouse performance that conveys everything the song was meant to. For someone I'd never heard of a couple months ago, I like her a lot.
16 - "Ally's Tartan Army," Andy Cameron
More soccer music, this time a tune performed by comedian Cameron to celebrate his native Scotland`s qualification for the upcoming World Cup in Argentina. Set to a melody that dates back to the American Civil War, the song sings the praises of the team's manager, Alistair "Ally" MacLeod (referred to as "our Muhammad Ali,"), and reminds everyone that they are Britain's only representative in the tournament ("England cannae do it 'cause they didnae qualify.") A fun artifact. Unfortunately, the Scots didn't come close to winning the Cup, as Cameron had boasted they would; they went out in the first round.
15 - "Fantasy," Earth, Wind and Fire.
This midtempo funk ballad offering a trip to an eternal utopia was EWF's ninth U.S. Top 40, but only their second here. But it charted higher here. Advantage: Britain.
14 - "Every 1's a Winner," Hot Chocolate
And yet this classic slab of funk by Britain's own charted higher in the States. I don't get that. That riff! In this case, the Americans were the winners.
13 - "Is This Love," Bob Marley and the Wailers
Born on a farm is Saint Anne Parrish, Jamaica, Robert Nesta Marley moved to Kingston at age twelve, and began a music career with a band made up of his friends in the early sixties, combining the emerging ska sound with American R&B to help create what would become known as reggae. In the 70s, with his band, The Wailers, he became an international sensation, and his move to England in 1977 helped further his popularity. An underground phenomenon in the U.S. during his life, Marley was a genuine pop star in Britain, and this was his third Top Ten. It's a fairly straightforward love song inviting a woman to come live with him in his small room and "share the shelter of my single bed." One of his best known songs, and deservedly so.
12 - "Emotions," Samantha Sang
The Aussie singer's Gibb-written sole major hit reached #3 in the States, but only #11 here. Destiny's Child's 2001 cover, however, hit #3 here and #10 in the U.S. Interesting.
11 - "Mr. Blue Sky," Electric Light Orchestra
My ELO favorite Happy epic sunshine. Top Ten here, barely Top 40 in the U.S. I'm with U, K.
10 - "I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass," Nick Lowe
Surrey's Lowe is best known in the States for his 1979 hit "Cruel to be Kind," but his biggest hit at home was this pop-rock shuffle about how he finds "the noises of destruction" relaxing. Head-bobbingly wonderful.
9 - "Stayin' Alive," The Bee Gees
The disco monster that everyone knows because it is truly great. You may not want to believe that, but it's undeniable. How did it only get to #4 here?
8 - "Take a Chance on Me," ABBA
Almost as well known as "Stayin' Alive." Not quite the masterpiece, but still, I love it, and I will not change my mind.
7 - "Come Back My Love," Darts
Another of the major players in Britain's retro-rock scene, this Brighton group picked up eight hits between '77 and '80, and this cover of a 1955 hit by The Wrens was the first of three #2s. It's okay, but I imagine the original is better. Still, a good listen.
6 - "Wishing on a Star," Rose Royce
The L.A. funk band hit #1 in the U.S. with 1976's "Car Wash," but that only hit #9 here. This one didn't even reach the Billboard Hot 100, but it was the first of two British Top Fives. It's a fine, lush ballad about hoping to get back together with a lover. Britain wins the taste contest again.
5 - "I Can't Stand the Rain," Eruption
The biggest hit by this British-based Afro-Caribbean disco group, this cover of Memphis soul lady Ann Peebles' 1973 song hit #18 in America and got this high here. It's well sung, but the spare grit of the original blows it away.
4 - "Baker Street," Gerry Rafferty
The Scotsman's biggest worldwide hit was inspired by his struggles getting out of the contracts signed by his former band Stealers Wheel. #2 in the U.S, #3 here, so it was up to Canada to give it it's true charttopping due. And I'm not sure which is the most famous saxophone melody in pop history is, this one or the one from "Careless Whisper." Maybe the latter now, because of it's use in Deadpool.
3 - "Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs," Brian and Michael
This Manchester duo were actually Kevin and Michael, because Brian had left them just before this song hit. It's a folk-pop song about the life and art of L.S. Lowry, a painter who became famous in the thirties for his depictions of working-class life in the Salford and Ancoats areas of Manchester, and would go on to be the official artist of Queen Elizabeth's coronation. It's a catchy singalong, aided by the backing of the St. Winifred's School Choir. I can't help but enjoy its sincerity and earnestness.
2 - "Denis," Blondie
Before they hit the American charts, Debbie Harry and her pop-punk cohorts had four hits in Britain, the first being this cover of a 1963 hit "Denise" by one-hit wonders Randy and the Rainbows. They flipped genders and made it about a Frenchman named "den-NEE," complete with Harry improvising French lyrics. A good tone setter for the band's pattern of combining existing pop styles with their own unique sound.
And topping the charts a whopping 38 years ago was...
1 - "Wuthering Heights," Kate Bush
From Kent, Bush was only 19 when she topped the U.K. charts with this ballad based on Emily Bronte's 1847 novel. It depicts the protagonist, Heathcliff, being haunted by visions of his unrequited childhood love, Catherine. The gothic atmosphere of the music and lyrics are only enhanced by Bush's distinctive voice, which sounds like that of a lovesick banshee. But in the most wonderful way. Music wouldn't be the same without that voice. Anyway, with all that taken into account, I give Kate this week's Uneasy Rider. Let her into your window.
That's a wrap for another chart. Still on 1 Twitter follower @MrBGlovehead, but I'm still doing stuff. Maybe I'll ramp it up soon, maybe I won't. Only one way to find out. See you all again real soon. Why? Because I like you.
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