November 1975. On the 6th, a group called the Sex Pistols played their first gig at London’s St. Martin’s Art College. They did three covers before the band they were opening for, Bazooka Joe, pulled the plug on them. However, one member of Bazooka Joe liked the Pistols’ performance, and as a result soon left the band. That member was a bass player who would later be known as...Adam Ant. Meanwhile, on a blissfully ignorant British music scene...
40 - “Change with the Times,” Van McCoy
The man behind “The Hustle,” with more disco funk, but this time there’s lyrics! And they’re about being adaptable and open minded. Good solid dance floor fodder.
39 - “Are You Being Served, Sir,” John Inman
Inman was an actor who gained his greatest fame as Mr. Humphries, an exaggeratedly “camp” menswear salesman at a department store, on the sitcom Are You Being Served? This led to this single, a cabaret number laced with innuendo and naughty rhymes being pre-emoted. It’s silly, it’s dated, and it has what it takes to bring about the return of the Uneasy Rider.
38 - “You Sexy Thing,” Hot Chocolate
Still their best known song. It’s still great, in spite of it becoming a cliche. That didn’t seem possible, but I believe in miracles.
37 - “This Will Be,” Natalie Cole
Princess Cole scraped into the Top 40 here with her U.S. Top Ten debut. I’m not hooked by its jaunty jazziness, but I still think she shouldn’t have had to wait thirteen years for another hit here.
36 - “Paloma Blanca,” George Baker Selection
The Dutch group’s weird bit of schlager-pop about a farmer dreaming of the freedom that birds have. It tricks me into liking it. I’m not sure how. But I’ll be facing off with it again sooner than you think.
35 - “Dreamy Lady,” T. Rex
From the down side of the Rex’s career comes this love song with reggae and disco influences. And Bolan almost croons. It brings to mind that great British phrase “lost the plot.”
34 - “Lyin’ Eyes,” Eagles
This country tune about young women who cheat on their rich old husbands was their second hit here. This is the Glenn Frey I can tolerate.
33 - “Darlin’,” David Cassidy
The last hit of Keith Partridge’s big 70s run was a cover of a 1967 Beach Boys hit. Bruce Johnston even co-produces and plays on it. It’s not a bad effort to try and grow out of teeny-bop, but it was too late.
32 - “Big Ten,” Judge Dread
More naughty reggae from Alex Hughes. A little tame by his standards. And I question the accuracy of his account of what knights did with telegraph poles.
31 - “Supership,” George “Bad” Benson
The jazz guitarist’s first U.K. hit came with a superfluous nickname, but it brought enough funk to make me want to sail on this vessel. Board the Love Train upon reaching shore, and that’s a fine soul travel experience.
30 - “Right Back Where We Started From,” Maxine Nightingale
The international breakthrough for the woman from Wembley. It split the difference between disco and Northern Soul, and the result is glorious.
29 - “No Woman No Cry,” Bob Marley and the Wailers
Marley’s first hit single was this live-in-London version of a song that first appeared on the 1974 LP Natty Dread. It’s a passionate promise that hard times will pass. It’s a song that makes clear the through line between American blues and Jamaican reggae.
28 - “L-L-Lucy,” Mud
Their ninth Top Ten was this speed-glam warning to a fast-living lady. It’s catchy, breakneck rock with pop sheen, and for some reason, that’s one of my sweet spots.
27 - “Una Paloma Blanca,” Jonathan King
This creepy popportunist’s version of this was a bigger hit than the George Baker original. Inferior in every way. If this was the only take available, I wouldn’t like the song at all.
26- “Sky High,” Jigsaw
The big hit by this Coventry combo has the feel of a song that could be theme to a film that tried to combine a Bond-style spy story with Hong Kong martial arts. And conveniently enough it was. Won’t see the movie, but the version of it this evokes is good enough for me.
25 - “Imagine,” John Lennon
The secular hymn reached #6 after being finally being released as a single here, four years after appearing on the album of the same name. It’s a beautiful song of faith, even if that faith is in humanity rather than a spiritual being.
24 - “Who Loves You,” The Four Seasons
I’m not much for the Jersey Boys’ mid-70s output, but this is the best of the bunch. It sounds like them, and the modern production enhances rather than interferes.
23 - “Rock on Brother,” Chequers
Led by Aylesbury Brothers John and Richard Mathias, this band’s only significant hit was this instrumental combining funk, disco, and Philly soul influences. Good strutting music. Track it down.
22 - “Funky Moped/Magic Roundabout,” Jasper Carrott
The Birmingham-born comedian born Robert Davis had a Top Five hit with this double-sided single.. The A is a tale of a boy who swears he will win back his biker-loving object of affection once his motorized bicycle is fixed. It was produced by none other than ELO’s Jeff Lynne. The B is a standup comedy bit naughtily spoofing a popular children’s stop-motion animated series. I don’t know the show, so I don’t get it. But obviously it also deserves an Uneasy Rider.
21 - “It’s Time for Love,” The Chi-Lites
Two years after their last home pop Top 40, the Chicago soul outfit could still rack the Top Five here with another example of their sublime romantic balladry.
In Part Two: greeting, spelling, and a stiff drink.
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