Second half.
20 - "Sing a Song of Freedom," Cliff Richard
Yep, him again, this time with this peacenik anthem. Sounds like the Partridge Family. Did Sir Cliff pave the way for David Cassidy's U.K. heartthrobbery? Perhaps.
19 - "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves," Cher
The first entry in her Wronged Woman Trilogy was denied a Triple Crown by the stingy Brits. I guess that makes them the thieves. I'm not sure who's who in the Canada-U.S. = Gypsies-Tramps equation.
18 - "Is This the Way to Amarillo," Tony Christie
The third of Yorkshireman Christie's five 70s hits was this Neil Sedaka-cowritten number about a man trying to return to a certain Texas city to reunite with his "sweet Maria." It only got this high then, but a re-release powered by comedian Peter Kay and the Comic Relief charity was a seven-week #1 in 2005. I think that's deserved. It's a fun singalong delivered boisterously.
17 - "Kara Kara," New World
The third of four U.K. hits for this Brisbane, Australia trio was this folky track about a man pledging to return to the island where his love lives. Quite boring.
16 - "Coz I Love You," Slade
Their first Number One was this catchy pop rocker about loving someone for who they are. And it has a sweet electric violins solo. I just like this thing they did.
15 - "Fireball," Deep Purple
The Purps' third hit was this fast rocker about ascribing magical qualities to a lover. And it's likely the biggest hit to ever open with the sound of an air conditioner being turned on. You can't deny that or its sweet bass and organ solos.
14 - "It Must be Love," Labi Siffre
The singer-poet-playwright's first hit is this simple, bright pop love song. Madness would have a bigger hit with it a decade later, but this is better.
13 - "Morning," Val Doonican
Irishman Doonican was a popular singer and BBC variety show host throughout the sixties, with a voice and style in the Williams/Como range. His penultimate hit was this country song about an affair with a married woman. It's good enough.
12 - "Mother of Mine," Neil Reid
Scot Reid was 12 when he won the talent show Opportunity Knocks singing this treacly tribute to his mum, and it went to #2. Another entry in the "children singing tributes to their older relations" genre that I never realized Britain loved so much. As for wee Neil, his voice broke two years later, and he's now a financial advisor in Blackpool.
11 - "Tokoloshe Man," John Kongos
South African Kongos picked up two early 70s U.K. Top Fives, the second being this threatening rocker about a murderous water sprite of African legend. Both of his hits are essential listening. And both were covered in 1990 by the Happy Mondays.
Please, no matter what you see on the Internet, don't eat the Top Ten.
10 - "I Just Can't Help Believin'," Elvis Presley
In Britain, the King was still rolling, picking up his seventh Top Ten of the decade with this live cover of a song that had been an American hit for B.J. Thomas
9 - "No Matter How I Try," Gilbert O'Sullivan
Ol' Gil had his first Top Five with this tale of a man who stands 5 foot 2 who is in love with a 6 foot 5 woman. Apparently this frustrates him to the point where he wishes he was a tire or a pound note. It's too weird to be boring. Which is a good description of O'Sullivan's entire body of work.
8 - "Sleepy Shores," The Johnny Pearson Orchestra
Pearson spent most of his career composing and conducting music for television, most famously as the orchestra leader on Top of the Pops. His biggest recording success came with this theme from a show called Owen, M.D. The tune is as slumberly sedative as the title would suggest.
7 - "Something Tells Me," Cilla Black
Pearson worked with Liverpudlian Black on some of her biggest hits, and here she is side by side with him with her last Top Five, a nice easy listener about romantic optimism. I get why the Beatles like her.
6 - "Theme from Shaft," Isaac Hayes
What's the Oscar-winning song that the Yanks got right and the Brits got wrong? You damn right! It only hit #4 here. Shut your gob!
5 - "Soley Soley," Middle of the Road
The last of three Top Fives for these Glaswegians was this song about wanting a lover to come back. Or maybe the sun, because they sing the repeated title word like "soleil." That's the most remarkable thing about this one.
4 - "Softly Whispering I Love You," The Congregation
More light pop, this time with a choir and a surprisingly soulful lead. The group never really had much of a profile, but as this sort of thing goes, it's very good.
3 - "Jeepster," T. Rex
Marc Bolan's boys had their fourth Top Two on the trot with this groovily glam tribute to a woman. Apparently, a "jeepster," is a man who pursues a lady out of his league. Clearly Bolan was more humble than the image he crafted.
2 - "Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)," Benny Hill
Southampton-born Hill became a British icon with his TV series featuring sketches involving him lecherously pursuing young women and telling naughty jokes. He also made some records, including 1971's Christmas charttopper, this tale of the romantic rivalry between a dairy deliverer and a bakery van driver that ended in a food fight that cost Ernie his life. Silly and dated, yet charming. And Ernie is the Uneasiest Rider in this chart.
And on top over there 46 years ago was...
1 - "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)," The New Seekers
The Brit singers' first of two #1s was this folk-pop song turned Coca-Cola jingle turned back to folk-pop song. And four decades later, we found out it was all an idea Don Draper came up with while meditating.
So there we are. I'll be back soon. I may even be a little more active on Facebook, and if I'm feeling really frisky, Twitter. Until then, farewell.
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