We're closing.
20 - "Rockaria," Electric Light Orchestra
The band's third Top Ten was this tale of a rock fan meeting an opera diva and turning her and her fellow classical musicians on to more modern sounds. A fun little collision.
19 - "Isn't She Lovely," David Parton
Famously, Stevie Wonder would not allow Motown to release this sweet tribute to his newborn daughter Aisha from Songs in the Key of Life as a single, so Newcastle singer Parton took it upon himself to do a soundalike cover. Good karaoke, nothing more.
18 - "Knowing Me, Knowing You," ABBA
The Swedish pop machine scored their fifth U.K. #1 with this slick breakup song. I love it. There is nothing I can do.
17 - "Baby I Know," The Rubettes
The ninth and last hit for these MOR poppers was this folky tune about knowing your lover is stepping out. Pretty average radio pop of the time.
16 - "Sideshow," Barry Biggs
The biggest of this Jamaican reggae star's four U.K. hits was this pretty straight cover of Blue Magic's 1974 hit about a circus of the lonely. You can afford to pass this byear for the original.
15 - "Sound + Vision," David Bowie
Another hit for Mr. Bowie, this time a bouncy yet dark funk-rocker about craving sensory stimulation in solitude. This would be the first taste the public got of what would be his influential "Berlin trilogy," and these ears find it quite delectable.
14 - "They Shoot Horses, Don't They," Racing Cars
This Welsh band's only hit was this ballad clearly inspired by its namesake, a 1969 Jane Fonda movie about a Depression-era dance marathon. The song's a bit of downer, but from what I read of the film, it's a laugh riot by comparison. And for some reason, the song reminds me of April Wine.
13 - "Don't Leave Me This Way," Thelma Houston
This disco classic was a #1 in the States, but only got this high here. But there might be an explanation for that coming up.
12 - "Torn Between Two Lovers," Mary MacGregor
The Minnesotan's adultery admission was a #1 at home and a Top Five here. It's not good, not bad, it just is.
11 - "This is Tomorrow," Bryan Ferry
Ferry had been having solo hits from the beginning of Roxy Music's stardom, and his output increased during the band's 1976-79 hiatus. This one's a stylish rock tune about looking forward to the future. Greatness.
10 - "What Can I Say," Boz Scaggs
From the breakthrough Silk Degrees LP, this is a smooth take-me-back disco track that somehow missed the Top 40 in the U.S. That's a lowdown shame, one might say.
9 - "Jack in the Box," The Moments
The men behind "Love on a Two-Way Street" had three Top Tens in Britain, the last being this dance number in which a man assures his lover that his devotion is as much of a fact as that clown coming out of his container when his crank is turned, the Three Bears catching Goldilocks, and Little Boy Blue having a horn. Interesting choices. Still, very good song.
8 - "Sing Me," The Brothers
The only hit for the fivery Bayou Brothers from the island nation of Mauritius was this reggae song about being someone's song, ship, and kite. This was a time for slightly weird analogies, apparently.
7 - "Don't Leave Me This Way," Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes
The original version of this song was by these Philly stalwarts, and it was released as a single here in the wake of the Houston version. Not only that, it outcharted it. I wouldn't say it's better or worse, it's just it's own wonderful thing.
6 - "Don't Give Up on Us," David Soul
Hutch sings. It's a hit. America is satiated, but Britain came back for more.
5 - "Don't Cry for Me Argentina," Julie Covington
Londoner Covington was an established stage and TV actress when she was selected to sing the lead role on the Evita LP. It's the project's most famous song, Eva Peron's justification for her actions and plea for the continued love of her public. Covington does very well with it, but am I a heretic if I say I like Madonna's version better?
4 - "Romeo," Mr. Big
Before the American hair farmers of "To be With You" in My, there were these Brits and their pop-rock imagining of a tryst between Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers. Apparently, lyrics like "step back inside me, take me to your bed" were considered too hot for the BBC, who briefly banned it. That adds a bit of a kick to it's general, pleasantly catchy 70sness.
3 - "Chanson D'Amour," The Manhattan Transfer
The only #1 for the New York jazz vocal quartet was this cover of a 1958 hit by Al and Dotty Todd. Janis Siegel sounds more than a little like Edith Piaf on this, which captures the vibe perfectly. And that feeling of another eradicated gives it this chart's Uneasy Rider.
2 - "Boogie Nights," Heatwave
#2 on both sides of the pond, but still the best in town nevertheless.
And on top some 40 years ago was...
1 - "When I Need You," Leo Sayer
Not much to say about this, except that I just learned that Leo had to settle a lawsuit from Leonard Cohen because of the strong similarities between this song's chorus and that of "Famous Blue Raincoat." Never noticed that before, but yeah, it's definitely there. I miss Leonard. But maybe I can be with him if I just close my eyes. I heard that somewhere.
Another entry, another chart. There will be more soon.
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