Mike Smith's Top Hundred UK Hits

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MIKE SMITH’S HOT HUNDRED UK HITS

1972

1972 was the year that saw Glam Rock become the most popular form of music in the UK. The main exponents of the genre were T Rex, Slade, and Sweet. The music was simply good Rock ‘n’ Roll/Pop played by bands who dressed flamboyantly and usually wore make up on their faces. Other successful acts in this year included Elton John, Rod Stewart, David Bowie and Gilbert O’Sullivan.

From America, the band Bread had four hits in the UK/USA, as did the young Michael Jackson. Newcomers, Donny Osmond and David Cassidy had much success, whilst old-stager Elvis Presley also enjoyed four chart hits in the UK. Also from America came the Eagles with their Country-flavoured rock sound, and smooth Soul vocal group the Stylistics. All these acts enjoyed long and successful careers.

These are my personal favourite recordings from this particular year, listed in the order in which they entered the UK hit singles chart. You may not agree with my choices, but these were UK chart hits that had plenty of air play on the music radio stations of the day, such as BBC Radio 1 and Radio Luxembourg.

Title: Morning Has Broken
Artist: Cat Stevens
Writer(s): Lyrics by Eleanor Farjeon set to a traditional Scottish Gaelic tune, "Bunessan"
Entered chart 1 Jan 1972; Highest Position 9; Weeks on chart: 13.

Cat Stevens was born on 21 Jul 1948 in central London, England. His father was Greek-Cypriot and his mother Swedish. They ran a restaurant in the West End of London, and the family lived above it. Cat developed an interest in music at a young age and at 15 had his first guitar. Once he had left school he began performing in local pubs and coffee bars. When only 18 he was spotted by a record producer who arranged a recording contract. His first hit came in the autumn of 1966, "I Love My Dog", which he had written himself, and which reached number 28 in the UK charts. His next release, "Matthew And Son", taken from his debut album of the same title, climbed to number two in the charts. He enjoyed considerable success though to the late 1970s, but in 1979 converted to the Muslim faith and went into musical retirement. At that time he changed his name to Yusuf Islam. He returned to some recording again in the 2000s under his new name.
# This song was a track on Stevens' album "Teaser And The Firecat", which reached number three on the album chart in autumn 1971, and remained on the chart for 93 weeks.
# "Morning Has Broken" is a Christian hymn first published in 1931. Cat Stevens' recording led to the song being known internationally. The piano arrangement on Stevens' recording was arranged and performed by Rick Wakeman, a classically trained keyboardist who joined the English progressive rock band Yes soon afterwards. In 2000, Wakeman released an instrumental version of "Morning Has Broken" on an album of the same title. Wakeman also included a version on his 2017 album of piano arrangements "Piano Portraits".

Title: Brand New Key
Artist: Melanie
Writer(s): Melanie Safka
Entered chart 1 Jan 1972; Highest Position 4; Weeks on chart: 12.

Melanie (whose surname was Safka) (3 Feb 1947 - 23 Jan 2024) was born in New York City, USA. She began singing in New York bars as a teenager in the early 1960s. Her first hit single came in 1969, and she performed at the Woodstock Music Festival that year as well. Her first UK hit was in 1970 when she recorded the Rolling Stones song "Ruby Tuesday" which reached the Top 10. That recording and "Brand New Key" brought her TV appearances and much acclaim in the UK. Unfortunately, this hit turned out to be her last substantial chart entry in the UK. Only three minor hits followed, one each in the years 1972, 1974 and 1983. Nevertheless she continued to record and perform into the 2010s, but died aged 76 in January 2024.

Title: Moon River
Artist: Greyhound
Writer(s): Henry Mancini & Johnny Mercer
Entered chart 8 Jan 1972; Highest Position 12; Weeks on chart: 11.

British Reggae band Greyhound began as the Rudies in the late 1960s, led by Danny Smith and Freddie Notes. They made several records, one of which, "Montego Bay", reached number 45 in the UK charts during October 1970. Notes then left the band, and the name was changed to Greyhound in late 1970. Under the new name they had the Top 10 hit "Black And White" in the summer of 1971, followed by two Top 20 hits in 1972. Their popularity waned after that and the members went their separate ways.
# The song "Moon River" was featured in the 1961 film "Breakfast at Tiffany's", starring Audrey Hepburn, who performed the song in the movie. The writers received an Academy Award ("Oscar") for Best Original Song. Danny Williams had the big hit with the song in the UK, whose version reached Number One on the British charts in late 1961 (see year 1961, song 83). The co-writer, Henry Mancini, took his version with his orchestra and chorus to number 44 in the British charts during December 1961.

Title: Family Affair
Artist: Sly & The Family Stone
Writer(s): Sly Stone
Entered chart 8 Jan 1972; Highest Position 15; Weeks on chart: 8.

Sly & The Family Stone was a Soul-Funk band formed in San Francisco in 1966. It was fronted by Sly Stone (born 15 Mar 1943), and included family members Freddie and Rose Stone, and was one of the first multi-racial groups in the USA. Their first release was "Dance To The Music" (see year 1968, song 58), which led to a successful career. They had five Top 10 hits, including three Number Ones, in the USA between 1968 and 1971. In the UK the follow-up singles only reached lower positions on the charts. As the 1970s went on they tended to concentrate on the Funk sound, but by 1975 Sly's drug-taking, and squabbles between group members led to the band splitting up. Sly was declared bankrupt in 1976, but he continued performing with a changing roster of band members until 1987 when his worsening drug problem forced retirement.
# This recording reached Number One in the USA. In the UK, the band had one more Top 20 hit, also in 1972, and then no more.

Title: Lets Stay Together
Artist: Al Green
Writer(s): Al Green, Willie Mitchell, Al Jackson Jr., Kieran Lenssen
Entered chart 8 Jan 1972; Highest Position 7; Weeks on chart: 12.

Al Green was born on 13 Apr 1946 in Arkansas, USA. The family moved to Michigan in the late 1950s, and by his teens he had left home. He formed a Soul band in the mid-1960s, but eventually he went solo. He signed a recording contract in 1969, and his first album featured the song "Tired Of Being Alone". Released as a single, it reached number eleven in the USA and number four in Britain. His second album contained the recording "Let's Stay Together" which reached Number One in the USA (number seven in the UK). His success in the album and singles charts continued into the late 1970s when Green decided to record and perform Gospel music. However, he returned to Soul/R&B in the late 1980s, and had a few small hits in the UK after that time. He has continued performing and occasionally recording into the 2010s.
# In the UK, Green had several more hits, but they achieved mostly lower positions in the charts.
# In 1983, American singer Tina Turner recorded the song, and her version reached number six in the UK charts that year. It was taken from her album "Private Dancer", and marked her first hit as a solo performer.

Title: Where Did Our Love Go
Artist: Donnie Elbert
Writer(s): Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier & Eddie Holland (known as Holland-Dozier-Holland)
Entered chart 8 Jan 1972; Highest Position 8; Weeks on chart: 10.

Donnie Elbert (25 May 1936 - 26 Jan 1989) was born in New Orleans, USA, but his family relocated to Buffalo, New York State when he was a child. In 1955 he formed a Doo-wop group. They recorded a single, but Elbert left in 1957 for a solo career. For the next decade he toured and recorded, but made little impact on the charts. He recorded the Supremes hit "Where Did Our Love Go" 1966, but that version was not a hit. However, in 1970 he recorded it again, and this time it was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic. He had another couple of hits in the USA and UK, but not after 1972. By the mid-1980s, Elbert had retired from performing and became director of A&R for Polygram's Canadian division. He suffered a massive stroke and died in 1989, at the age of 52.
# The original hit version of this song was made by the Supremes, who reached number three in the UK with it in 1964 (see year 1964, song 75).

Title: All I Ever Need Is You
Artist: Sonny & Cher
Writer(s): Jimmy Holiday & Eddie Reeves
Entered chart 15 Jan 1972; Highest Position 8; Weeks on chart: 12.

Sonny & Cher were Sonny Bono (16 Feb 1935 - 5 Jan 1998) and Cherilyn Sarkisian (born 20 May 1946), who has always gone by the single name of Cher (pronounced 'share'). They first met in 1962 when Sonny was working for record producer Phil Spector, and Cher was looking for work as a singer. They began performing together as backing singers on many of Spector's recording sessions. Bono was also writing songs at this time, and he produced a Sonny & Cher album in early 1965, called "Look At Us", and the single "I Got You Babe" (see year 1965, song 70) was taken from that album. The single was a great success, reaching Number One in the USA, UK and elsewhere. The duo fitted the "hippie movement" image which was beginning at this time, and the song was regarded as a hippie anthem. More duets were issued, but the two released solo recordings as well. The pair had their own TV series in the early 1970s, but eventually the act broke up. Sonny Bono went on to an acting career and later entered politics. As a politician he was mayor of Palm Springs, California from 1988 to 1992, and a USA Congressman from 1992 to his death. He was killed in a skiing accident in 1998 at the age of 62. Cher went on to become an internationally famous, Grammy Award-winning solo singer and an Academy Award-winning actress.
# This song was originally offered to Country singer Kenny Rogers, but he turned it down. R&B singer Ray Charles recorded it for an album before Sonny & Cher.
# This turned out to be the duo's last entry in the UK singles charts until "I Got You Babe" grazed the charts in 1993 when it was re-released.

Title: Baby I'm A Want You
Artist: Bread
Writer(s): David Gates
Entered chart 15 Jan 1972; Highest Position 14; Weeks on chart: 10.

Bread was an American easy-listening Soft Rock band, led by David Gates (born 11 Dec 1940 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA). The band was formed in Los Angeles, California, and included Jimmy Griffin and Rob Royer who together wrote many of the band's hits along with Gates. Their first album was not a great success, but the second reached number 12 on the American album chart, and featured the single "Make It With You" (see year 1970, song 64), which was a Number One in the USA. Several more hit singles and albums followed, but after internal disagreements, the band split in 1973. Their record company released the album "The Best Of Bread" which remained on the USA album chart for over two years, and almost two years (100 weeks) on the UK album chart, where it peaked at number seven. In 1976 the group reunited for another album and concert tour, but broke up again in 1977. They all followed separate careers until 1996 when another reunion tour was arranged to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the band, but the members did not perform together again. In 2002 Gates issued an album called "The David Gates Songbook" which combined old Bread hits and some new solo recordings. It reached number eleven on the UK album chart. Gates is now retired and living in Washington state in north west USA.
# This was the band's first UK hit since their chart debut in August 1970, although they had been enjoying hits in the USA during that time.
# Their next hit came in April 1972 (song 36).

Title: Have You Seen Her
Artist: Chi-Lites
Writer(s): Barbara Acklin & Eugene Record
Entered chart 15 Jan 1972; Highest Position 3; Weeks on chart: 12.

The Chi-Lites were formed in Chicago, USA during 1964 with lead singer and songwriter Eugene Record and Marshall Thompson. Their first UK hit came in 1971, but in 1972 their recording "Have You Seen Her" reached number three on both sides of the Atlantic. This was followed by five Top 10 hits in the UK up to the summer of 1976. In the mid-1970s, most of the group's personnel changed, even seeing the departure of Eugene Record, although Marshall Thompson has remained throughout. The often-revised band has continued until the present time. A new album was released in 2006.
# In 1990 American rapper, M C Hammer recorded the song, and his version reached number three in the UK that year.

Title: Diamonds Are Forever
Artist: Shirley Bassey
Writer(s): John Barry & Don Black
Entered chart 15 Jan 1972; Highest Position 38; Weeks on chart: 6.

Shirley Bassey was born on 8 Jan 1937 in Tiger Bay, Cardiff, Wales. She went on to become an international star with countless hit singles and albums throughout the world. She began singing professionally in 1953, and performed up and down the UK. She signed a recording contract in 1956, and had her first Top 10 hit in 1957 ("Banana Boat Song"). She enjoyed a string of hits during the 1960s, and recorded three James Bond movie themes. She had her own TV series during the 1970s, and continued performing into the 21st century. By 2015 she had scored 33 hit singles and 39 hit albums. She was honoured with a Damehood in 2000, and was back in the recording studios in 2014.
# This recording was the theme from the James Bond film "Diamonds Are Forever", staring Sean Connery. Once again, a Bassey theme song failed to perform in the UK as well as would have been hoped (her recording of "Goldfinger" in 1964, from the Bond film of the same name, only reached number 21 in the UK).
# Bassey was next in the UK charts in March 1973 for her final Top 10 hit.

Title: Storm In A Teacup
Artist: The Fortunes
Writer(s): Lynsey de Paul (using psuedonym Rubin) & Ron Roker
Entered chart 29 Jan 1972; Highest Position 7; Weeks on chart: 11.

The Fortunes were established in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It was a five-piece band led by Rod Allen (1944-2008), and they were signed by Decca records in 1963. Their early releases were not hits, although one of those, "Caroline", was used as a theme song by the pirate radio ship Radio Caroline. The first hit, "You've Got Your Troubles", came in summer 1965, which reached the Top 10 in both the UK and USA. Their next two releases were hits, but no more came in the 1960s. They spent time in the USA during the late 1960s, and recorded some radio and TV commercial jingles there, including one for Coca-Cola titled "It's The Real Thing". They returned to the UK in the early 1970s and enjoyed two more hits in 1971-1972, both reaching the Top 10. With members coming and going they continued to perform on the nostalgia circuits into the 21st century. Even after the death of Rod Allen in 2008, the others recruited a new lead singer, and they still tour the UK theatres up to the present time.
# This was the band's follow-up to their autumn 1971 hit "Freedom Come Freedom Go" (year 1971, song 69). Unfortunately, "Storm In A Teacup" proved to be their final entry in the UK singles chart.

Title: Telegram Sam
Artist: T Rex
Writer(s): Marc Bolan
Entered chart 29 Jan 1972; Highest Position 1; Weeks on chart: 14.

T Rex was a British Glam Rock band formed in 1967 by vocalist and guitarist Marc Bolan (30 Sep 1947 - 16 Sep 1977). The band was originally called Tyrannosaurus Rex, and they released a few Psychedelic tracks in 1968-9. They changed their style to a more mainstream sound and shortened the name in 1970 which resulted in their first Top 10 hit, "Ride A White Swan" in the autumn of that year. They went on to enjoy enormous success in the first half of the 1970s, and became one of the biggest bands in the UK during that time. From 1970 to 1973 they had a run of eleven Top 10 singles, with four of those reaching Number One. They also had three consecutive Number One albums in the early seventies. However, their popularity began to wane after about 1975, and sadly, Marc Bolan will killed in a car crash in 1977, just before his 30th birthday, which brought the band to an end.
# This was the band's follow-up to their November 1971 hit "Jeepster" (year 1971, song 87). They were next in the UK Top 10 in April this year when their 1968 recordings of "Debora" and "One Inch Rock" were reissued. The band's next new entry came in May (song 39).

Title: Son Of My Father
Artist: Chicory Tip
Writer(s): Giorgio Moroder & Michael Holm
Entered chart 29 Jan 1972; Highest Position 1; Weeks on chart: 13.

Chicory Tip was a British five-piece band formed in 1967. Their first releases failed to chart, but then their manager came across the song "Son Of My Father". The band made the recording and the single climbed to Number One and sold a million copies. They had two further Top 20 chart entries and then no more. The group broke up in 1975. However in 1996 three of the original members reformed the band, and they have continued performing into the 21st century with two original members.

Title: Without You
Artist: Nilsson
Writer(s): Pete Ham & Tom Evans
Entered chart 5 Feb 1972; Highest Position 1; Weeks on chart: 20.

Harry Nilsson (15 Jun 1941 - 15 Jan 1994) was born in New York City, USA. His father abandoned the family when Nilsson was three, and he was largely brought up by his grandparents who were circus performers. Once in his teens he moved to Los Angeles and took work as a computer programmer. He wrote songs in his spare time, and had some recorded by popular artists in the late 1960s. He recorded his first album in 1967. Looking for songs to fill his second album, he recorded "Everybody's Talkin". It was selected for the soundtrack of the 1969 film "Midnight Cowboy", starring Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman. Released as a single, it reached number six in the USA charts. His most successful album came in 1971. Titled "Nilsson Schmilsson", it included the single "Without You" which went to Number One in both the UK and USA during early 1972. From the beginning of the 1980s he did little recording, and during the early 1990s he suffered from ill-health. He died from a heart attack early in 1994 at the age of 52.
# This was Nilsson's first UK hit since "Everybody's Talkin'" charted in autumn 1969. He had no more significant hits in the UK.
# The song was written by two members of the British band Badfinger. It was recorded by Badfinger for an album, but never released as a single. The Nilsson version was a world-wide hit, reaching Number One in several countries including the USA. In 1994 the song was recorded by American vocalist Mariah Carey, and her version reached Number One in the UK during the spring of that year.

Title: Got To Be There
Artist: Michael Jackson
Writer(s): Elliot Willensky
Entered chart 12 Feb 1972; Highest Position 5; Weeks on chart: 11.

Michael Jackson (29 Aug 1958 – 25 Jun 2009) was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. He made his professional debut in 1964 with his brothers in the group Jackson Five. Their first UK hit came in 1970 (see year 1970, song 8). Michael began recording solo, as well as remaining part of the group. This was his first solo recording. By the 1980s he was an international superstar with million-selling albums throughout the world. His 1983 album "Thriller" is the biggest-selling album ever, with sales in excess of 60 million. In later years, his behavior and physical appearance attracted much media attention, but he continued to sell records in vast quantities, and enjoyed four Number One singles in the UK in the 1990s alone. In 2005, he was tried and acquitted of child sexual abuse allegations and several other charges. In 2009, while preparing for a series of comeback concerts, Jackson died from an overdose of sedatives administered by his personal physician.
# His next hit came in May (song 45).

Title: Say You Don't Mind
Artist: Colin Blunstone
Writer(s): Denny Laine (former member of Moody Blues and future member of Wings)
Entered chart 12 Feb 1972; Highest Position 15; Weeks on chart: 9.

Colin Blunstone was born on 24 Jun 1945 in Hatfield, England. He met Rod Argent and others at high school, and they formed a band called the Zombies in 1961 whilst still at school. The band won a talent contest and they recorded their first single "She's Not There" (see year 1964, song 70), which was a hit in the UK and USA. Only one minor hit entered the British charts after that and the band broke up in 1967. Rod Argent formed a new band called Argent (see song 21), and Blunstone went solo. This was his first hit as a solo artist, and although it reached only a modest number 15 in the UK (his biggest solo hit), Blunstone has continued recording and performing up to the present time.
# His next hit came in November (song 89).

Title: Mother And Child Reunion
Artist: Paul Simon
Writer(s): Paul Simon
Entered chart 19 Feb 1972; Highest Position 5; Weeks on chart: 12.

Paul Simon was one half of the famous duo Simon & Garfunkel, who enjoyed numerous hits in the latter half of the 1960s (see year 1966, song 27). Paul Simon was born on 13 Oct 1941 in Newark, New Jersey, USA. After his partnership with Art Garfunkel broke up in 1970, Simon launched a solo career. This was his first solo hit in the UK, and is taken from his album "Paul Simon". His main success was in the sale of albums rather than singles, and he has enjoyed having many Top 10 albums in the UK album chart up to and including his latest in 2018. He has won numerous awards for his songs including 12 Grammy Awards and two Brit Awards.
# The song was recorded at Dynamic Sounds Studios at Torrington Bridge in Kingston, Jamaica, with Jimmy Cliff's backing group.
# His next hit came in April (song 37).

Title: Meet Me On The Corner
Artist: Lindisfarne
Writer(s): Rod Clements
Entered chart 26 Feb 1972; Highest Position 5; Weeks on chart: 11.

Lindisfarne was a Folk-Rock band formed in Newcastle, England in 1968. The band comprised Alan Hull, Ray Jackson, Ray Laidlaw, Rod Clements and Simon Cowe. Rod Clements was their bass guitarist, and he wrote this song. Early releases failed to chart, but they built a following by live performance in concerts and festivals. As a result, their second album ("Fog On The Tyne") went to Number One, and spawned this hit single. More hit singes and albums followed in 1972. Following disagreements, Laidlaw, Clements and Cowe left the band in 1973 and were replaced. However, the magic was gone, further releases failed, and the band split in 1976. Following a couple of reunion concerts, the original five regrouped in 1978 and were back in the singles charts with two hits in that year. They continued performing until 2004 when they disbanded for the final time.
# Their next hit came in May (song 43).
# Lindisfarne (also known as Holy Island) is a tidal island off the northeast coast of England. It has a recorded history from the 6th century AD and was an important centre of Celtic Christianity. After the Viking invasions, and the Norman conquest of England in 1066, a priory was established, and a small castle was built on the island in 1550. (Info from Wikipedia)

Title: Alone Again (Naturally)
Artist: Gilbert O'Sullivan
Writer(s): Gilbert O'Sullivan
Entered chart 4 Mar 1972; Highest Position 3; Weeks on chart: 12.

Gilbert O'Sullivan was born on 1 Dec 1946 in Waterford, Ireland. When he was just seven years old his family moved to England where he grew up. He began playing when at art college in the 1960s. He signed a recording contract in 1967, but no hit recordings came from that. It was not until 1970 when he came under the management of Gordon Mills that things took off. To gain publicity, he went for an unusual appearance comprising a pudding basin haircut, cloth cap and short trousers. This did attract attention, and by late 1970 he was in the UK charts with his debut hit "Nothing Rhymed". His style and songs were certainly unique, and he enjoyed enormous success for the first half of the 1970s. He changed his appearance to a college boy look after a year or so, and the hits continued. He had eleven Top 20 hits up to the end of 1974, two of which were Number Ones, and he achieved four Top 10 albums during that period as well. He also enjoyed three Top 10 hits in the USA including a Number One. Later in the 1970s however, he realised that he had not received a fair proportion of his earnings from his management company. He sued them, but it was not until 1982 that the courts found in his favour and awarded him seven million pounds. His career had been on hold for most of the second half of the 1970s, but he had another Top 20 hit in 1980. He has continued to record and perform, issuing four new albums between 2007 and 2018. He has also toured the UK and Ireland in recent years.
# This was his follow-up to his hit of November 1971, "No Matter How I Try" (year 1971, song 92). This song reached Number One in the USA. He enjoyed three British Top 10 hits in 1972, the next coming in June (song 51).

Title: Beg, Steal Or Borrow
Artist: New Seekers
Writer(s): Tony Cole & Steve Wolfe
Entered chart 4 Mar 1972; Highest Position 2; Weeks on chart: 13.

The New Seekers was a British five-piece vocal group, formed by Australian musician Keith Potger, after the break up of his group the Seekers. The New Seekers comprised female lead singers Eve Graham (born in Auchterarder, Scotland on 19 Apr 1943) and Lyn Paul (born in Manchester, England on 16 Feb 1949), plus three males. The first version of the group, formed in 1969, did not include Lyn Paul, but after the first album release, several personnel changes were made, including the addition of Paul. They had a minor hit in late 1970, but made the big time in the summer of 1971 with their first Top 10 entry "Never Ending Song Of Love". This was followed later in the year by "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing", which was their first Number One chart hit. They enjoyed considerable success through to the mid-1970s, but broke up in the second half of 1974. However, they reformed in 1976, but without Lyn Paul. They had three smallish hits until 1978, when Eve Graham left. With new personnel, the group has continued to tour and perform.
# This was their follow-up to the group's hit of November 1971, "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing" (year 1971, song 98). "Beg, Steal Or Borrow" by the New Seekers was also the UK's entry in the 1972 Eurovision Song Contest where it came second to Luxembourg with singer Vicky Leandros (see song 38).
# The group was next in the UK charts in June (song 48).

Title: Hold Your Head Up
Artist: Argent
Writer(s): Rod Argent & Chris White
Entered chart 4 Mar 1972; Highest Position 5; Weeks on chart: 12.

Argent was an English Rock band formed in 1969 by Rod Argent, formerly of the group the Zombies. The band also included Russ Ballard, formerly of Adam Faith's Roulettes and Unit 4 Plus 2. The band had three hit singles and two hit albums, but they broke up in 1976. Rod Argent went solo after the split, recorded a few albums and wrote music for television. He is still occasionally performing. Russ Ballard mostly concentrated on songwriting, and he composed Hot Chocolate's 1977 UK chart topper "So You Win Again", and Rainbow's 1979 hit "Since You Been Gone". He has also written many songs which have appeared on the albums of several artists.
# The band's third hit was "God Gave Rock And Roll To You" in 1973 (written by Russ Ballard) and it was recorded by American Rock band Kiss in 1992, reaching number four in the UK charts that year.

Title: Too Beautiful To Last
Artist: Engelbert Humperdinck
Writer(s): Richard Rodney Bennett & Paul Francis Webster
Entered chart 4 Mar 1972; Highest Position 14; Weeks on chart: 10.

Engelbert Humperdinck was born on 2 May 1936 in Madras, India to British parents while his father was serving in the British army in that country. They all returned to England in 1946 where he completed his schooling. He began singing in his late teens using the stage name Gerry Dorsey, and had the opportunity to start recording in 1958, but none of his output reached the charts. In 1965 he changed management to Gordon Mills who was Tom Jones' manager. Mills suggested changing his name to that of a 19th century German composer. So as Engelbert Humperdinck, he started a new career. His breakthrough came in 1967, when having recorded "Release Me", he was able to perform the song on the popular TV show "Sunday Night At The London Palladium", standing in for the unwell Dickie Valentine. This instantly changed his life. The record climbed to Number One in the UK charts, remaining on the charts for an amazing 56 weeks, and keeping the Beatles off the top spot in March 1967. Two more major hits followed in the same year, and by the end he had the top three best-selling singles of 1967. Success continued through the following decades, and from the mid-1970s onwards he spent a great deal of time performing in the USA, much of it in Las Vegas. He has continued to perform and record into the 21st century, giving concerts in most parts of the world. An album celebrating his 50 years in the charts was released in 2017, which reached number five in the UK album chart. He splits his time between homes in Leicestershire, England and Los Angeles, California.
# This was Humperdinck's final Top 20 hit in the UK, although he has had a few minor hits up to 2012. In the album chart, he has had several hits compilation albums, and new releases have been in the Top 5 as recently as 2017 and 2018.
# This recording was the theme from the 1971 historical film "Nicholas and Alexandra", about the last Russian Tsar, Nicholas II of Russia, and his wife, Tsarina Alexandra.

Title: Floy Joy
Artist: The Supremes
Writer(s): Smokey Robinson
Entered chart 4 Mar 1972; Highest Position 9; Weeks on chart: 10.

Founding member of the Supremes, Diana Ross, had left the group in 1970. She had been replaced by Jean Terrell, with Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong continuing with their roles in the trio. This new lineup enjoyed great success in the UK with five Top 10 hits by 1972. They had two Top 10 hits in the USA. With some more personnel changes, the trio continued recording after 1972, but with little chart success. They remained a popular live act however, continuing to 1977, when they performed their farewell concert (in London), and then disbanded. For more info about the group see year 1965, song 10.
# The group was next in the UK charts in July for their final Top 10 hit (song 56).

Title: Sweet Talkin' Guy
Artist: The Chiffons
Writer(s): Doug Morris
Entered chart 18 Mar 1972; Highest Position 4; Weeks on chart: 14.

The Chiffons were a group of four girls from New York, USA. Their first release as a quartet was "He's So Fine" (see year 1963, song 33) which went to Number One in the USA, although it only reached the Top 20 in the UK. Two other recordings charted in the UK, but they were up against the wealth of British bands that were dominating the UK charts in the mid 1960s. Their follow-up, "One Fine Day" (song 57) scraped into the Top 30 in the summer of 1963, but their next hit was not until 1966. That was "Sweet Talkin' Guy", which stalled at number 31 initially, but when re-released in 1972, it raced up to number four on the British charts.
# This recording was made in 1966 when it reached the Top 10 of the American charts.

Title: I Am What I Am
Artist: Greyhound
Writer(s): Richard Kerr & Scott English
Entered chart 25 Mar 1972; Highest Position 20; Weeks on chart: 9.

This was the Reggae band's follow-up to their hit in January, "Moon River" (song 3). Unfortunately this proved to be their final hit single, and no albums reached the UK album chart.
# The two American song writers also composed the song "Mandy" which was a hit for Barry Manilow in 1975.

Title: Turn Your Radio On
Artist: Ray Stevens
Writer(s): Albert Brumley
Entered chart 25 Mar 1972; Highest Position 33; Weeks on chart: 4.

Ray Stevens was born on 24 January 1939 in Georgia, USA. Following his secondary education he went to college to study music. He was soon making records, often with a comedy slant. In 1966 he began recording more mainstream material, and several of his songs were recorded by other artists. In 1970 he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and became a record producer, whilst still making records himself. Also in 1970 he recorded his song "Everything Is Beautiful" which went to Number One in the USA charts. Several more hits followed during the 1970s, either comedy, Country, or mainstream. He has continued to record and perform in the Country/Comedy genre into the 2010s.
# This is a Gospel song, taken from Stevens' album, also called "Turn Your Radio On". The song was written by Albert Brumley, a Gospel songwriter, back in 1939. Whilst the recording has has a jaunty, Country music feel, it failed to breach the Top 10 of any USA music charts. The album from which it was taken peaked at number 14 on the American Country music album chart.
# His next UK hit came in May 1974.

Title: Back Off Boogaloo
Artist: Ringo Starr
Writer(s): Ringo Starr
Producer: George Harrison
Entered chart 1 Apr 1972; Highest Position 2; Weeks on chart: 10.

Ringo Starr was born on 7 Jul 1940 in Liverpool, England, and found fame as a member of the Beatles group. After the breakup of the band, Starr and the others pursued a solo career. His first solo hit came in April 1971 with "It Don't Come Easy" (year 1971, song 29), which reached number four in the UK charts. He had four Top 10 entries on the UK singles charts, one each in the years from 1971 to 1974. Two of those reached Number One in the USA. He also enjoyed two Top 10 albums in the British album chart. As well as performing and recording music, Starr also narrated the first two series of the children's television programme "Thomas & Friends" and portrayed "Mr. Conductor" during the first season of the PBS children's television series "Shining Time Station". Since 1989, he has frequently toured with his All-Starr Band. He has continued recording from time to time, and issued his twentieth album in 2019.
# His next hit came in October 1973.

Title: Until It's Time For You To Go
Artist: Elvis Presley
Writer(s): Buffy Sainte-Marie
Entered chart 1 Apr 1972; Highest Position 5; Weeks on chart: 9.

The King of Rock 'n' Roll (8 Jan 1935 - 16 Aug 1977) was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, USA. He and his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee when he was 13 years old. Soon afterwards he acquired his first guitar and began playing and singing. He started his recording career at Sun Records in Memphis, USA. It took several attempts to get Sun owner Sam Phillips to let Presley record, but eventually a session was arranged with guitarist Scotty Moore and upright bass player Bill Black providing backing. The resultant track "That's Alright" was soon on local radio in Memphis, and it became a local hit. Public performances followed, including numerous appearances on the "Louisiana Hayride" radio show which was broadcast to half the USA. Eventually he became famous enough for RCA records to buy out his Sun contract and take him to Nashville, in 1956. He rose to be arguably the biggest music star of the 20th century, with world-wide record sales of over one billion. Also in 1956 Elvis made his movie debut in the film "Love Me Tender". By the end of 1969 he had completed 31 films. He made no more movies after that, instead concentrating on live concert performances, including many in Las Vegas. His home in Memphis, "Graceland", is now a museum and major tourist attraction, and his recordings continue to be heard throughout the world.
# This was the second in a run of five Top 10 hits for Presley, and the first of four that he enjoyed in 1972. The song was written by Canadian singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie. She recorded it for an album in 1965, and it was a Top 20 hit for British group the Four Pennies in autumn 1965. The Presley version peaked at number 40 in the USA.
# Presley's next hit, "An American Trilogy" came in June, and the next hit in this list was in autumn 1972 (song 80).

Title: Radancer
Artist: Marmalade
Writer(s): Hugh Nicholson
Entered chart 1 Apr 1972; Highest Position 6; Weeks on chart: 12.

Marmalade was a five-piece band formed in 1961 in Glasgow, Scotland originally called the Gaylords. In the mid 1960s they went to London where they changed their name and signed with the same management as the Tremeloes. A recording deal with CBS was arranged. Their first releases failed to reach the charts but they became a popular act in the clubs of central London. Finally in 1968 they broke through with "Lovin' Things". This started a run of seven Top 10 hits until 1972, with a one-off number nine hit in 1976. There was a large turnover of personnel throughout the years, although the original inspiration, Junior Campbell was with them from 1966 to 1971, and he enjoyed a solo Top 10 hit in 1972 (song 83). The band still performs, with the lead singer Sandy Newman who has been with the band since 1975.
# This song was written by Hugh Nicholson who only joined the group in 1971 (replacing Junior Campbell), and left in 1973. It turned out to be the group's last hit until 1976, when they reached the Top 10 for one final time.

Title: Saturday Night At The Movies
Artist: The Drifters
Writer(s): Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil
Entered chart 1 Apr 1972; Highest Position 3; Weeks on chart: 20.

The Drifters are an American vocal group, formed in the early 1950s, and with a constant rotation of members. A recent count has indicated that some 60 individuals have performed under the band name at one time or another. This recording was made in 1964 when it reached number 18 in the USA charts, but was not a hit in the UK at that time. However, re-released in 1972 it peaked at number three in the British charts. There have been several lead singers in the Drifters, but this recording features the lead of Johnny Moore (14 Dec 1934 - 30 Dec 1998). Following this hit and a further reissue, the Drifters, with lead singer Johnny Moore, based themselves in the UK and enjoyed several UK-only hits, including eight Top 10s from 1972 to 1976. The band has continued performing in the 21st century, but there have been numerous lawsuits over the use of the group name. No members of the hits-making versions of the band are in the current lineup.

Title: Could It Be Forever
Artist: David Cassidy
Writer(s): Wes Farrell & Danny Janssen
Entered chart 8 Apr 1972; Highest Position 2; Weeks on chart: 17.

David Cassidy (12 Apr 1950 – 21 Nov 2017) was born in Manhattan, New York City, USA. His parents were singers/actors and spent much time touring the USA. This resulted in Cassidy being raised mainly by his grandparents. His father divorced his first wife (Cassidy's mother), and in 1956 he married singer and actress Shirley Jones. In 1968 Cassidy moved in with his father, Shirley Jones and his half-siblings, in New York City. Cassidy's father fixed him up with a manager, and by 1969 he was acting on the Broadway stage. In 1970 Cassidy took a role in the TV musical sitcom The Partridge Family, which starred his step mother Shirley Jones. The show ran from 1970 to 1974. With Jones and others he recorded several songs as the Partridge Family, and these became hits on both sides of the Atlantic in the early 1970s. Simultaneously he was recording solo, and he enjoyed several hits during the first half of the 1970s in the UK. He became a teen idol, and his concert tours in the USA and UK were sell-outs, often with mass hysteria amongst the audience. By the mid-1970s he had decided to quit touring and acting to concentrate on songwriting and recording. By the 1980s he was performing in musical stage shows and had another UK Top 10 hit in 1985. Some sporadic performing and acting took place until his death at age 67 from liver failure.
# This recording was issued as a double A-side with song 32 below.

Title: Cherish
Artist: David Cassidy
Writer(s): Terry Kirkman
Entered chart 8 Apr 1972; Highest Position 2; Weeks on chart: 17.

This recordings was part of a double A-side release along with song 31 above. The two recordings were issued separately in the USA, and both were hits. This song was written in 1966 by Terry Kirkman, a member of the American band the Association, whose recording of the song was a Number One hit in the USA charts (see year 1966, song 80).
# The hit recording by Kool & The Gang in 1985, and the hit recording by Madonna in 1989 which are also called "Cherish" are both different songs from each other and different to this song.

Title: A Thing Called Love
Artist: Johnny Cash
Writer(s): Jerry Reed
Entered chart 15 Apr 1972; Highest Position 4; Weeks on chart: 14.

Johnny Cash (26 Feb 1932 - 12 Sep 2003) was an American Country-Folk music vocalist who enjoyed enormous success, with 136 hits in the USA Country music chart from 1956 to 2003. He was born in the state of Arkansas, USA to poor farmers. He joined the US Air Force in 1950 and spent time in Germany where he formed a band with air force colleagues. After discharge in 1954 he went to live in Memphis, Tennessee, and approached the now-famous Sun Records which at the time was noted for recording Blues and early Rock 'n' Roll. Cash cut several records which became hits on the Country music charts. He left Sun for Columbia (CBS) and later joined RCA records. His popularity grew worldwide, although he had several brushes with the law, mostly for alcohol and drug abuse. He also became famous for his performances at prisons, and two live albums "Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison" (1968) and "Johnny Cash at San Quentin" (1969) became major hits. From June 1969 to March 1971, Cash starred in his own television show, The Johnny Cash Show. He continued to record and perform but began to suffer from ill health from 1997. His last recordings were made at his home, just before his death in 2003 at the age of 71. In 2005, a biographical film based on his autobiographies was released. There is now a museum, which opened in 2013, in Nashville, Tennessee dedicated to his life and music.
# This song was written and originally recorded by Country music singer-songwriter Jerry Reed in 1968.

Title: Rocket Man
Artist: Elton John
Writer(s): Elton John & Bernie Taupin
Entered chart 22 Apr 1972; Highest Position 2; Weeks on chart: 13.

Elton John was born on 25 Mar 1947 in Pinner, Middlesex (north-west London). He learned to play piano at an early age, and by 1962 had formed Bluesology, an R&B band with whom he played until 1967. He met his longtime musical partner Bernie Taupin in 1967, after they both answered an advert for songwriters. For two years, they wrote songs for artists including Lulu, and John worked as a session musician for artists including the Hollies and the Scaffold. Elton John was also one of several singers in the late 1960s and early 1970s who recorded covers of hit songs for sale as budget-priced albums in shops like Woolworths. In 1971, his first hit single, "Your Song", taken from his second album, "Elton John", reached the top ten in the UK and the USA. From that point he gradually became a star and by the end of the 20th century he had achieved over seventy hit singles in the UK charts and some 36 albums in the album chart. In the USA he has had more than 50 Top 40 hits and seven consecutive number-one albums. His tribute single "Candle in the Wind 1997", rewritten in dedication to Diana, Princess of Wales, sold over 33 million copies worldwide and is the best-selling single in the history of the UK and USA singles charts. He has also composed music for the musical film and stage presentation "The Lion King", as well as for several other musicals. Elton John owned Watford Football Club from 1976 to 1987 and from 1997 to 2002, and is an honorary Life President of the club. In 2019 a biographical film tilted "Rocket Man", about Elton John's life from childhood to the 1980s, was released.
# This was Elton's first hit since his chart debut in January 1971. His next release ("Honky Cat") (song 70), stalled at number 31, but the release after that ("Crocodile Rock") (song 86), took him up to number five in the UK and Number One in the USA.

Title: Oh Babe, What Would You Say
Artist: Hurricane Smith
Writer(s): Eileen Sylvia Smith
Entered chart 29 Apr 1972; Highest Position 4; Weeks on chart: 16.

Norman "Hurricane" Smith (22 Feb 1923 - 3 Mar 2008) was an English musician and record producer, born in North London. He served as an RAF glider pilot during World War II, and after an unsuccessful career as a jazz musician, Smith joined EMI as an apprentice sound engineer in 1959. Smith was the engineer on all of the EMI studio recordings by the Beatles until the autumn of 1965, when EMI promoted him from engineer to producer. The last Beatles album he recorded was "Rubber Soul". As a producer, he produced three albums by Pink Floyd. He wrote a few songs, and one of them was "Don't Let It Die" which Smith hoped would be recorded by John Lennon. In the end, Smith recorded it himself, and the single reached number two in the UK charts when Smith was 48 years old (see year 1972, song 43). In the following year he reached the Top 10 again with "Oh Babe, What Would You Say", written by his wife Eileen Sylvia Smith. He largely returned to production work after the hits dried up, but did some performing and recording from time to time. He died at his home in East Sussex at the age of 85.
# This was Hurricane's last major hit. A release in September this year peaked at number 23, and there were no more.

Title: Everything I Own
Artist: Bread
Writer(s): David Gates
Entered chart 29 Apr 1972; Highest Position 32; Weeks on chart: 6.

This was the band's follow-up to their January hit "Baby I'm A Want You" (song 8). This release did not do as well in the UK charts as its predecessor, but in America it reached number five. Their next release, "If" (song 44) failed to chart in the UK, but it climbed as high as number four in the USA charts. For more info see song 8 above.
# Despite Bread's own version of the song under-performing in the UK, two other renditions have been British Number Ones. First Jamaican Reggae performer Ken Boothe reached the top of the UK charts in 1974 with his recording of the song. Then in 1987 Boy George (formerly with Culture Club), also reached Number One with his Reggae-based version of the song.

Title: Come What May
Artist: Vicky Leandros
Writer(s): Leo Leandros, Yves Dessca, Klaus Munro with English lyrics by Norman Newell
Entered chart 29 Apr 1972; Highest Position 2; Weeks on chart: 16.

Vicky Leandros is a Greek singer born on 23 Aug 1949, on the island of Corfu, Greece. Her father was a musician, and when Vicky was a child they moved to Germany where she grew up. She began singing, and gained a recording contract in 1965. In 1967 she was asked to sing for Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest. The song was "Love Is Blue" (sung in French) which came fourth in the contest. In 1972 she was asked to sing for Luxembourg again in the Eurovision Song Contest. This time the song, "Après Toi", won the contest. The lyrics were translated by Norman Newell, and the song re-titled "Come What May". Just two minor hits followed in the UK. Since that time she has been recording and performing throughout Europe, singing in English, French, German and Greek. Her most recent album was issued in 2015 - in the German language.

Title: Vincent
Artist: Don McLean
Writer(s): Don McLean
Entered chart 13 May 1972; Highest Position 1; Weeks on chart: 15.

Don McLean was born on 2 Oct 1945 in New Rochelle, New York, USA. As a young teen he developed an interest in Folk music, and by 16 he had his first guitar. After he finished his high school education he began playing at Folk clubs across the USA. His first album was released in 1969, although it did not attract attention outside of the Folk music scene. However, his second album, in 1971, spawned two Number One hits - "American Pie", about the death of Buddy Holly and two other performers in a plane crash; and "Vincent" about the mental struggles of 19th century Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh. The former was Number One in the USA, and the latter was a chart-topper in the UK. In 1980 McLean was at Number One again the UK with a reworking of Roy Orbison's song "Crying". He has written several songs which have been major hits for other performers. He was still occasionally making personal appearances during the 2010s.
# Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) was a Dutch post-Impressionist painter whose work, notable for its rough beauty and bold colour, had a far-reaching influence on 20th-century art. Most of his productive years were spent in France. He suffered from bouts of depression and in 1888 he cut off part of his lower ear. He later documented the event in a painting titled "Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear". After years of painful anxiety and frequent bouts of mental illness, he died aged 37 from a gunshot wound, generally accepted to be self-inflicted. Today, Van Gogh is regarded as an artistic genius and his masterpieces sell for record-breaking prices. (Info from Wikipedia)

Title: California Man
Artist: The Move
Writer(s): Roy Wood
Entered chart 13 May 1972; Highest Position 7; Weeks on chart: 14.

The Move was a five-piece band formed in Birmingham, England in 1965, comprising the former members of other Midlands bands. The main members were Roy Wood (born 8 Nov 1947) and Carl Wayne (18 Aug 1943 - 31 Aug 2004). Wood wrote most of their hits and Wayne was the lead vocalist, although from 1968 Wood often performed the lead vocals instead. In 1966 they signed a contract with Decca's Deram label, and their first release, "Night Of Fear" climbed to number two in the UK charts early in 1967. Two further Top 10 hits graced the UK charts during 1967. In 1968 their original bassist departed, and the band continued as a quartet, and some other personnel changes took place. Wayne left in 1970, and Jeff Lynne joined the group that year. After their final hit in 1972, Wood and Lynne evolved the band into the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). However, Wood left after the release of ELO's first album, and he went on to form the band Wizzard, which is most famous for the 1973 Christmas hit "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday". That recording reappears every December on radio and in shopping centres. Jeff Lynne went on the have enormous success with ELO through the 1970s and 1980s.
# This was the Move's final chart entry. Between 1967 and 1972 they had ten hits in the UK charts, seven of which reached the Top 10. By July this year, Wood's and Lynn's new band, the ELO had their first UK hit single.

Title: Song Sung Blue
Artist: Neil Diamond
Writer(s): Neil Diamond
Entered chart 13 May 1972; Highest Position 14; Weeks on chart: 13.

Singer-songwriter Neil Diamond was born 24 Jan 1941 in New York City, USA. He received a guitar for his 16th birthday and began writing songs. Some of his songs were taken up by other acts, and his first big success came when the Monkees recorded two of his songs during 1967. "I'm A Believer" and "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" were huge hits for the Monkees in the USA, UK and elsewhere. Diamond also recorded some of his own songs which became American hits during the late 1960s. His first success in the UK was "Cracklin' Rosie" (year 1970, song 88) which reached number three in late 1970. He enjoyed many hit singles and albums through to the 1990s, and it is estimated that he has sold more than 100 million records worldwide. He has continued to record, and new albums were released in 2010 ("Dreams") and 2014 ("Melody Road"). However in January 2018, Diamond announced that he was retiring from touring as he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, but he would continue writing and recording.
# This recording reached Number One in the USA. It was Diamond's last UK singles hit until the summer of 1976, although six albums entered the UK album chart during the intervening period.

Title: Lady Eleanor
Artist: Lindisfarne
Writer(s): Alan Hull
Entered chart 13 May 1972; Highest Position 3; Weeks on chart: 11.

This was the band's follow-up to their hit of February, "Meet Me On The Corner" (song 18). This was written by band member Alan Hull. The recording was initially released in 1971 but it failed to reach the charts. However, following the success of "Meet Me On The Corner", "Lady Eleanor" was re-released, and it climbed to number three in the UK charts. Their release in autumn this year only reached number 34, and there were no more singles hits until the summer of 1978 when they regrouped after a break of two years. Nevertheless, their album "Dingly Dell" entered the charts in September 1972, peaking at number five in the album chart.

Title: If
Artist: Bread
Writer(s): David Gates
Entered chart 13 May 1972; Highest Position 4. (USA chart data - not a UK hit)

This was the follow-up to the group's hit "Everything I Own" (song 36). This failed to reach the UK charts, but a mostly-spoken version by actor Telly Savalas went to Number One in the UK charts during early 1975. The band's next hit came in September when they reached number 16 in the UK charts with "Guitar Man" (song 79).
# In addition to the Telly Savalas version of the song, it has been in the UK charts for other artists as follows: Yin & Yan (1975, number 25); John Alford (1996, number 24); Dolly Parton (2002, number 73).

Title: Rockin' Robin
Artist: Michael Jackson
Writer(s): Leon René
Entered chart 20 May 1972; Highest Position 3; Weeks on chart: 14.

This recording was Jackson's follow-up to his debut solo hit in February, "Got To Be There" (song 15), and taken from his debut solo album. His next hit came in August (song 65).
# The song was written in 1958, and recorded that year by American R&B singer Bobby Day, who reached number two with it in the USA charts. Bobby Day was also one half of the duo Bob & Earl (see year 1969, song 22).

Title: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Artist: Roberta Flack
Writer(s): Ewan MacColl (British singer-songwriter)
Entered chart 27 May 1972; Highest Position 14; Weeks on chart: 14.

Roberta Flack was born on 10 Feb 1937 in North Carolina, USA, but grew up in Arlington, Virginia, USA. She learned to play piano as a youngster and decided to study music. She graduated from Howard University at the age of 19, and went into teaching music. She began her professional singing career at a restaurant at Capitol Hill, Washington DC in 1968. Her reputation grew and she soon had a recording contract. Her recordings did not sell particularly well until she recorded Ewan MacColl's "The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face". Her version went to Number One on the USA charts, and she enjoyed two further chart-toppers in the USA. Her career flourished, and she recorded a number of duets, notably with Donny Hathaway and Peabo Bryson. She has continued to record and perform - her most recent album was released in 2018.
# She was next in the UK charts in August, in duet with Donny Hathaway (song 60).

Title: Take Me Bak 'Ome
Artist: Slade
Writer(s): Noddy Holder & Jim Lea
Entered chart 3 Jun 1972; Highest Position 1; Weeks on chart: 13.

Slade was a Glam Rock band formed in Wolverhampton, England during the late 1960s (under a different name) by Noddy Holder (born 15 Jun 1946), Jim Lea (born 14 Jun 1949), with lead guitarist Dave Hill and drummer Don Powell. As Slade they obtained a deal with Polydor records, and from 1971 to 1977 they had 19 hit singles, with twelve consecutive Top 10 hits which includes six Number Ones. They were the most successful group of the 1970s in terms of singles sales. Their most successful recording is "Merry Xmas Everybody" which reached Number One in 1973, but has become a seasonal perennial, being played on radio and in shopping centres every December since. They lost some momentum in the late 1970s, but bounced back in 1980, enjoying hits for most of that decade. However, with falling sales and general disillusionment in the band, it broke up in 1992. Noddy Holder then moved into acting and radio DJ work. Lee continued writing songs and making occasional recordings. Hill and Powell formed Slade II and began touring and recording into the 2010s.
# They had been in the UK charts in February this year with "Look Wot You Dun", which reached number four. This recording was the second of six chart-toppers that the band enjoyed in the UK. They were next in the charts in September with their third Number One (song 67).

Title: Little Willy
Artist: The Sweet
Writer(s): Nicky Chinn & Mike Chapman
Entered chart 10 Jun 1972; Highest Position 4; Weeks on chart: 14.

The Sweet was a British Glam Rock band that found fame in the early 1970s. The original lineup comprised lead vocalist Brian Connolly (5 Oct 1945 - 10 Feb 1997), bass player Steve Priest (23 Feb 1948 - 4 Jun 2020), guitarist Andy Scott (born 30 Jun 1949), and drummer Mick Tucker (17 Jul 1947 - 14 Feb 2002). The band was formed in London in 1968 and achieved their first hit, "Funny Funny", in early 1971 after teaming up with songwriters Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. They went on to have considerable chart success, achieving ten Top 10 hits by 1978, including a Number One and no less than five number twos in the UK charts. They also had success in other parts of Europe, and in the USA where they enjoyed four Top 10 hits. Sweet had their last international success in 1978 with "Love Is Like Oxygen". Connolly left the group in 1979 to start a solo career and the remaining members continued as a trio until disbanding in 1981. From the mid-1980s, Scott, Connolly and Priest each played with their own versions of Sweet at different times. Connolly died in 1997, Tucker in 2002 and Priest in 2020. Andy Scott, with a new line up, still tours the UK and the rest of Europe.
# This was the band's first Top 10 hit since June 1971 (see year 1971, song 44), although they reached number eleven in February this year. However, this was the first in a run of seven Top 10 hits until the summer of 1974. This recording went one better in the USA, reaching number three in the charts there.

Title: Puppy Love
Artist: Donny Osmond
Writer(s): Paul Anka
Entered chart 17 Jun 1972; Highest Position 1; Weeks on chart: 23.

Donny Osmond was born on 9 Dec 1957 in Utah, USA. He was a member of the Osmonds family group who had considerable success in the early 1970s. Donny was just 14 years old when this recording charted, and he had three solo Number Ones in the UK before his 16th birthday. He had six Top 10 hits until the end of 1973, and with his brothers (the Osmonds), he had five Top 10 hits by 1975. He also had hits in duet with his sister, Marie, in the 1970s, and the pair went on to have their own TV show in America from 1975 to 1979. Donny in particular was a teenage heart-throb, and concerts were all sell-outs to screaming girls. In more recent times he has performed on stage and made numerous TV appearances, both as a guest, and as a host of game shows in both the UK and USA.
# His next hit came in September this year (song 71).
# The song was written by Paul Anka who had a string of hits during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Anka's original version charted in spring 1960, reaching number two in the USA (see year 1960, song 30 in these lists).

Title: Ooh-Wakka-Doo-Wakka-Day
Artist: Gilbert O'Sullivan
Writer(s): Gilbert O'Sullivan
Entered chart 17 Jun 1972; Highest Position 8; Weeks on chart: 11.

This was O'Sullivan's follow-up to his hit of March this year (song 19). The recording reached Number One in his native Ireland. His next hit, "Clair", came in October, reaching Number One in the UK charts (song 84).
# In 2013, a re-worded version of the song, featuring 300 people singing the song whilst going about their daily lives, was used in a TV advert for the British National Lottery.

Title: Walkin' In The Rain With The One I Love
Artist: Love Unlimited
Writer(s): Barry White
Entered chart 17 Jun 1972; Highest Position 14; Weeks on chart: 10.

Love Unlimited was a female trio created by singer/producer Barry White, mainly to back him on recordings and live performances. The vocalists were Glodean James, her sister, Linda James, and their cousin Diane Taylor. Glodean became White's wife in 1974. The couple split up in 1988, though they never divorced. The song includes White's vocal appearance as a voice on the telephone. The record reached number 14 in both the UK and USA, and sold over a million copies. The orchestral backing was provided by Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra, which had a Top 10 hit in early 1974.
# This recording preceded White's first solo hit, which reached the charts in 1973.

Title: Betcha By Golly Wow
Artist: The Sylistics
Writer(s): Thom Bell & Linda Creed
Entered chart 24 Jun 1972; Highest Position 13; Weeks on chart: 12.

The Stylistics was a smooth Soul five-piece vocal group that was formed in Philadelphia, USA in 1970. The group was characterised by the falsetto voice of Russell Thompkins Jr (born on 21 Mar 1951 in Philadelphia, USA) and the smooth sound created by producer Thom Bell. This combination resulted in a series of six UK hits until the summer of 1974. Thom Bell stopped working with the group at that time, but production was taken over by record label owners Hugo & Luigi with arrangements by Van McCoy. This resulted in another run of ten hits in the UK, with seven of those reaching the Top 10. However, this second run of hits over the years 1974 to 1976, did not do well in the USA where the new Disco sound was becoming dominant. In addition to the singles success in the UK, the group's greatest hits album went to Number One on the British album chart, where it eventually stayed for 63 weeks. The group continued for the next two decades, but Thompkins left in 2000. He released a solo album in 2002, but in 2004 Thompkins formed a new group, Russell Thompkins Jr & The New Stylistics. They are still performing (as a trio) at the present time.
# The Stylistics were next in the UK charts in November with one of their most famous songs, "I'm Stone In Love With You" (song 85).
# This song was first recorded in 1970 by American actress and singer Connie Stevens (see year 1960, song 42), with the title "Keep Growing Strong", which is a line in the lyrics. It was not a hit. In 1996 a version of the song was released by USA singer Prince, which reached number eleven in the UK charts.
# Van McCoy went on to have a few Disco instrumental hits in the UK during 1975-1977.

Title: Take It Easy
Artist: The Eagles
Writer(s): Jackson Browne & Glenn Frey
Entered chart 24 Jun 1972; Highest Position 12 (USA chart data - not a UK hit).

The Eagles are an American Country Rock band formed in Los Angeles in September 1971. The founding members were Glenn Frey (6 Nov 1948 - 18 Jan 2016), Don Henley (born 22 Jul 1947), Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner. Frey and Henley first played together when they joined Linda Ronstadt's backing band for her tour in 1971. Leadon and Meisner were in the band as well, and the four decided to form their own band. They released their first album ("The Eagles") in 1972, and this track is taken from that album, as were the follow-up singles "Witchy Woman", and "Peaceful Easy Feeling". None of those American hits reached the UK charts. In fact, the band's first British hit did not come until 1975, after they had enjoyed eight hit singles in the USA. However, all of their American hits were included on the album "Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975" which reached number two on the UK album chart, where it remained for 77 weeks. Guitarist and vocalist Joe Walsh joined the band in 1975, replacing Leadon. The Eagles hit their commercial peak in late 1976 with the release of the album "Hotel California", which went on to sell more than 26 million copies in the USA alone and more than 42 million copies worldwide. The Eagles broke up in July 1980, but reunited in 1994 for the album "Hell Freezes Over", a mix of live and new studio tracks. They toured consistently and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2007, the Eagles released "Long Road Out of Eden", their first full studio album in 28 years and their sixth American Number One album. The next year they launched the Long Road Out of Eden Tour in support of the album. In 2013, they began the extended History of the Eagles Tour in conjunction with the band's documentary release, "History of the Eagles". Glenn Frey died in January 2016, but they reformed in 2017, with Deacon Frey (Glen Frey's son) and Country singer Vince Gill sharing lead vocals for Frey's songs.
# In 1999, in honour of the lyrics of this song that made it famous, the city of Winslow, Arizona erected a life-size bronze statue and mural at the Standin' on the Corner Park. The statue of a young man with a guitar is by a sign displaying the words "Standin' on the Corner". A mural on the wall behind the statue is that of a storefront, and includes what would appear to be the reflection of a red flatbed Ford pickup truck driven by a blonde-haired woman. The upper floor window shows an eagle perched on the sill. The lyrics that prompted this response are:
Well, I'm a-standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona
Such a fine sight to see
It's a girl, my Lord, in a flat-bed Ford
Slowin' down to take a look at me

Title: I Can See Clearly Now
Artist: Johnny Nash
Writer(s): Johnny Nash
Entered chart 24 Jun 1972; Highest Position 5; Weeks on chart: 15.

Johnny Nash ( 19 Aug 1940 - 6 Oct 2020) was born in Houston, Texas, USA. He started recording in the latter part of the 1950s, releasing his debut album in 1958. He issued numerous albums and singles over the next decade, with modest success in the USA. He travelled to Jamaica in early 1968, and was impressed by the local Reggae music (sometimes known as Rocksteady at that time). Nash actually recorded a couple of songs whilst there, and the trip inspired him to write his first UK hit "Hold Me Tight" (year 1968, song 67) which had a Rocksteady (Reggae) beat. This led to a series of UK hits through to the mid-1970s, including his Number One "Tears On My Pillow" in 1975. He was still recording in the early 2000s, but he died in October 2020 at the age of 80.
# Nash was next in the UK charts in October with "There Are More Questions Than Answers" (song 82).

Title: Run To Me
Artist: The Bee Gees
Writer(s): Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb
Entered chart 22 Jul 1972; Highest Position 9; Weeks on chart: 10.

The Bee Gees were brothers Barry Gibb (born 1 Sep 1946, Isle of Man), and twins Robin Gibb (22 Dec 1949 - 20 May 2012) and Maurice Gibb (22 Dec 1949 - 12 Jan 2003), also born on the Isle of Man. The three brothers grew up in Manchester, UK, but in the mid-1950s the family moved to Australia. They began performing at a young age, and by 1960 they were appearing on TV. After achieving their first chart success in Australia as the Bee Gees with "Spicks and Specks", they returned to the UK in January 1967, when producer Robert Stigwood began promoting them to a worldwide audience. In 1967 they had their first UK hit, the somewhat morbid song "New York Mining Disaster 1941", which reached number twelve. Hits continued through the remainder of the 1960s, when they enjoyed success in the USA as well. Things went quiet in the early 1970s, but in the mid-1970s they jumped on the Disco bandwagon and became superstars. They wrote several songs for the 1977 film "Saturday Night Fever" which starred John Travolta, and singles as well as the soundtrack album were worldwide hits. Their success continued through the following decades, and they also wrote and produced many hits for other artists. Their final new album came in 2001, but with the death of Maurice two years later, the other two embarked on solo projects apart from a couple of charity events where they performed together. Robin died in 2012, and Barry has since performed and recorded solo.
# This was the trio's first Top 10 hit since the summer of 1969. They did have three smaller hits during the intervening time, one of which reached the Top 20 earlier in 1972. However, they did not have another UK hit until June 1975 when they began their Disco period.

Title: Starman
Artist: David Bowie
Writer(s): David Bowie
Entered chart 22 Jul 1972; Highest Position 10; Weeks on chart: 11.

David Bowie (8 Jan 1947 - 10 Jan 2016) was born in south London, England. He developed an interest in music as a child, eventually studying art, music and design before embarking on a professional career as a musician in 1963. "Space Oddity" became his first entry on the UK charts after its release in July 1969. Following a period of experimentation, he re-emerged in 1972 during the Glam Rock era with his flamboyant alter ego Ziggy Stardust. The character was spearheaded by the success of his single "Starman" and the album "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars", which won him widespread popularity and recognition. After an uneven period in the late 1970s, Bowie had UK number ones with the 1980 single "Ashes to Ashes", its parent album "Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)", and "Under Pressure", a 1981 collaboration with Queen. He reached his commercial peak in 1983 with "Let's Dance", which topped both the UK and USA charts. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Bowie continued to experiment with musical styles. He also continued acting; his roles including Major Jack Celliers in "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" (1983), Jareth the Goblin King in "Labyrinth" (1986), Pontius Pilate in "The Last Temptation of Christ" (1988), and Nikola Tesla in "The Prestige" (2006). He stopped touring after 2004 and his last live performance was at a charity event in 2006. In 2013, Bowie returned from a decade-long recording hiatus with the album "The Next Day". He remained musically active until he died of liver cancer in New York City at age 69, two days after the release of his final album, "Blackstar" (2016).
# This was Bowie's first hit since 1969 when his "Space Oddity" was in the UK Top 10 (see year 1969, song 73). This recording was taken from his fifth studio album "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars", with which Bowie assumed the persona of Ziggy Stardust, appearing on TV and in concert as that character. Bowie's next Top 10 hit came in December (song 97).

Title: I Get The Sweetest Feeling
Artist: Jackie Wilson
Writer(s): Van McCoy & Alicia Evelyn
Entered chart 29 Jul 1972; Highest Position 9; Weeks on chart: 13.

Soul singer Jackie Wilson (9 Jun 1934 - 21 Jan 1984) was born in Detroit, USA. In his early teens Jackie joined a quartet, the Ever Ready Gospel Singers, which became a popular feature of churches in the area. Jackie was not particularly religious, but enjoyed singing, and this provided an opportunity. In his late teens he formed a group called the Falcons, which included his cousin Levi Stubbs, who later went on to lead the Motown group The Four Tops. He worked with other groups, but went solo in 1957. He became noted for his dynamic stage performances, and during one such a performance in 1975 at Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Wilson suffered a heart attack when only aged 41. Although he was rushed to hospital, he mostly remained in a coma for 9 years until his death in 1984.
# This was Wilson's first return to the UK charts since May 1969 when his recording of "Higher And Higher" peaked at number eleven (year 1969, song 42). This became his final hit with a new song in the UK, but in late 1986 his 1957/1958 song "Reet Petite" was reissued, reaching Number One in the UK. That was followed by the reissue of "I Get The Sweetest Feeling", which reached number three in the UK charts in March 1987.

Title: Where Is The Love
Artist: Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway
Writer(s): Ralph MacDonald & William Salter
Entered chart 29 Jul 1972; Highest Position 9; Weeks on chart: 13.

Roberta Flack had been in the UK charts in May with "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face". See song 46 for info about the singer and the song.
Donny Hathaway (1 Oct 1945 – 13 Jan 1979) was born in Chicago, USA, but was brought up by his grandmother in St Louis. That grandmother was a professional Gospel singer, so Donny was involved in music from an early age. He studied music in Washington DC, then went to Chicago to work as a songwriter and producer. He recorded a couple of albums, but it was his collaboration with Roberta Flack that brought him fame. He made many recordings during the 1970s, but he also suffered from depression, and he committed suicide in New York in July 1979. Hathaway had no solo hit recordings in the UK.

Title: All The Young Dudes
Artist: Mott The Hoople
Writer(s): David Bowie
Producer: David Bowie
Entered chart 12 Aug 1972; Highest Position 3; Weeks on chart: 11.

Mott The Hoople was a five-piece Glam Rock band with lead singer Ian Hunter (born 3 Jun 1939), formed in 1969. Their debut album, released in 1969 is described as a cult success, although it peaked at a meager number 66 for one week in the UK album chart. The next two albums did better, reaching the Top 50 of the album chart. With a lack of success, the band was about to break up in 1972, until David Bowie persuaded them to remain together, and record his composition "All The Young Dudes". The accompanying album, of the same title, reached number 21. The single was a great success, reaching number three in the UK (number 37 in the USA). Two more Top 10 hits followed in 1973, but there were several personnel changes during that year. They toured the USA in 1974, along with the band Queen who were having their first hits. However, Hunter and one other left in 1974, and the remaining members changed the band name to Mott. They soldiered on for a couple of years, but broke up in 1976. Hunter released a solo single and album in 1975, both of which charted. He had four further albums which reached modest positions in the charts until 1981. He has continued to record and perform until the present time.

Title: Layla
Artist: Derek & The Dominoes
Writer(s): Eric Clapton & Jim Gordon
Entered chart 12 Aug 1972; Highest Position 7; Weeks on chart: 11.

Derek and the Dominos was a Rock band formed in the spring of 1970 by English guitarist and singer Eric Clapton (born 30 Mar 1945), and Americans, keyboardist and singer Bobby Whitlock, bassist Carl Radle and drummer Jim Gordon. All four members had previously played together in Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, during and after Clapton's brief tenure with British Rock band Blind Faith. The band released only one studio album, "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs", which also featured extensive contributions on lead and slide guitar from Duane Allman of the American Allman Brothers band. The album was released in 1970, but this single from it charted two years latter, by which time the band had broken up. Clapton continued as a solo artist, and has issued singles and albums into the 21st century, his most recent album being released in 2018.
# In 1992 Clapton recorded an accoustic version of the song, which formed part of the MTV series "MTV Unplugged". The single reached only number 45 in the UK singles charts, but the album from which it came ("Unplugged") peaked at number two in the UK and Number One in the USA.

Title: You Wear It Well
Artist: Rod Stewart
Writer(s): Rod Stewart & Martin Quittenton
Entered chart 12 Aug 1972; Highest Position 1; Weeks on chart: 12.

Rod Stewart was born 10 Jan 1945 in north London, England. His father was Scottish, and Stewart has always celebrated his Scottish roots. He came to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s in the Jeff Beck Group, and then the Faces, but he recorded solo in addition to his group duties. Stewart's 1971 solo album "Every Picture Tells a Story" made him a household name, reaching Number One in the UK and USA. The album contained the Tim Harding song "Reason To Believe", which was issued as a single. The B-side of that record was "Maggie May" which soon became the dominant side, reaching Number One on both sides of the Atlantic (see song 72). His fame grew to worldwide proportions, and he has sold over 120 million records throughout the world. He has had nine Number One albums in the UK Album chart, and his tally of 62 UK hit singles includes 31 that reached the Top 10, six of which were chart toppers. Stewart has had 16 Top 10 singles in the USA. From 2002 to 2010 he issued five albums in his "Great American Songbook" series, which were all successful in the charts. He was knighted in the 2016 Birthday Honours for services to music and charity. His most recent original album, "Blood Red Roses", was issued in 2018.
# This was Stewart's second Number One hit. The recording was taken from his album "Never A Dull Moment" which went to Number One in the UK album chart. His next hit single came in November (song 90).

Title: Lean On Me
Artist: Bill Withers
Writer(s): Bill Withers
Entered chart 12 Aug 1972; Highest Position 18; Weeks on chart: 9.

Bill Withers (4 Jul 1938 - 30 Mar 2020) was born in West Virginia, USA. Withers enlisted with the United States Navy at the age of 18 and served for nine years, during which time he became interested in singing and writing songs. He left the Navy in 1965 and relocated to Los Angeles in 1967. He had a variety of manual jobs whilst he developed a career in music. In early 1970 he gained a recording contract at the age of 32 and recorded an album. A second album came in 1972 with the single "Lean On Me" which became a Number One hit in the USA and a Top 20 hit in Britain. He had problems with CBS records during the second half of the 1970s and early 1980s, and thus only recorded sporadically during that time. Disillusioned with the recording industry, he retired in 1985. However, his name was kept alive with remixes and compilation albums, as well as by songs he wrote for other performers. In the 21st century he was inducted into three different halls of fame in the USA.
# This was Wither's first hit in the UK, although his 1971 recording of "Ain't No Sunshine" (year 1971, song 73) was a Top 10 entry in the USA. He had no more hits in the UK until his recording of "Lovely Day" reached the Top 10 in early 1978.
# In 1976, the UK band Mud recorded the song, whose version reached the Top 10 of the UK charts that year. In 1987, the American group Club Nouveau recorded "Lean On Me", and their version reached number three in the UK charts.

Title: Ain't No Sunshine
Artist: Michael Jackson
Writer(s): Bill Withers
Entered chart 19 Aug 1972; Highest Position 8; Weeks on chart: 11.

This was Jackson's third and final single taken from his debut album "Got To Be There". The writer of the song, Bill Withers, had been in the USA Top 10 with his original recording of the song in 1971 (see year 1971, song 73), but that version did not chart in the UK. So the British arm of Jackson's record label issued this version in the UK, although it was not released as a single in the USA. It did mean, of course, that Withers had two of his songs in the UK charts at the same time (see song 64, above). Jackson was next in the UK charts with his fourth solo hit of the year in November (song 92).

Title: Living In Harmony
Artist: Cliff Richard
Writer(s): Alan Tarney & Trevor Spencer
Entered chart 26 Aug 1972; Highest Position 12; Weeks on chart: 10.

Cliff Richard was born on 14 Oct 1940 in Lucknow, India, whilst his parents were working in that country. He returned to England with his family in 1948. He formed a band in 1957 and a year later he was chosen as a singer for the TV Rock 'n' Roll show "Oh Boy!". His first hit came in 1958, which started a career that continued into the 21st century, with more than 130 hit singles and over 50 original albums, spanning 50 years plus. In the early 1960s he also starred in several musical films, notably "The Young Ones" and "Summer Holiday". He also achieved a number one single in five different decades, and is the most successful British recording artist of all time. He continues in the 21st century and issued a new album in 2018 ("Rise Up"), which reached number four in the album chart.
# This was Cliff's only substantial hit of 1972. However, he was back in the Top 10 in 1973, when he represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest for the second time.
# Writer Alan Tarney went on to write several songs for Cliff Richard into the 1980s.

Title: Suzanne Beware Of The Devil
Artist: Dandy Livingstone
Writer(s): Dandy Livingstone
Entered chart 2 Sep 1972; Highest Position 14; Weeks on chart: 11.

Dandy Livingstone is a Reggae performer, born on 14 Dec 1943 in Jamaica. At just 15 years of age he moved to London, England, and began making music. He recorded his first album in 1967, and in the following year moved into production work. He continued recording as well, and enjoyed this hit in 1972. He had a Top 30 hit in January 1973, and then no more in the UK. However, he continued writing and producing for various Reggae and Ska performers for a number of years.
# In 1979, Livingstone's song "A Message To You Rudy" (written in 1967) was recorded by British band the Specials, and their version reached number 10 in the UK charts.

Title: Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress
Artist: The Hollies
Writer(s): Allan Clarke, Roger Cook & Roger Greenaway
Entered chart 2 Sep 1972; Highest Position 32; Weeks on chart: 8.

The Hollies was a beat group from Manchester, England. It was formed by Allan Clarke and Graham Nash in 1962, and by early summer 1963 they had their first hit. In the autumn of that year they made their debut in the Top 10 with a recording of a former American chart topper, "Stay". This started a run of fifteen Top 10 hits by the end of the 1960s, and they continued successfully into the 1970s as well. They finally broke into the USA charts in 1966, and enjoyed six Top 10 hits there. In 1968, founding member Graham Nash left the group, moving to California where he became part of the super group, Crosby, Stills & Nash. With some changes of personnel, the Hollies continued to perform through to the 1990s, mostly in the guise of a sixties revival group. Clarke finally retired in 2000, but the Hollies still perform on the nostalgia circuit.
# This recording is basically a solo vocal by Allan Clarke. The rhythm and production is very reminiscent of the so-called Swamp Rock sound made by the American band Creedence Clearwater Revival (see year 1969, song 46). Despite the lowly peak position in the UK charts, this recording reached number two in the USA. Although the Hollies are generally regarded as a 1960s group, they continued successfully as a live act through the 1970s. Their next major hit came in 1974 with "The Air That I Breathe" which reached number two in the UK charts (number six in the USA).

Title: Honky Cat
Artist: Elton John
Writer(s): Elton John & Bernie Taupin
Entered chart 9 Sep 1972; Highest Position 31; Weeks on chart: 6.

This was Elton John's follow-up single to his hit of April, "Rocket Man" (song 34), which had reached number two in the UK charts. Despite the poor showing in the British charts, this recording reached number eight in the USA. It is taken from John's fifth studio album "Honky Chateau", which reached number two in the UK album chart (Number One in the USA). He was next in the UK singles charts in November with "Crocodile Rock" (song 86), which reached number five.

Title: Too Young
Artist: Donny Osmond
Writer(s): Sidney Lippman & Sylvia Dee
Entered chart 16 Sep 1972; Highest Position 5; Weeks on chart: 15.

This was Donny Osmond's follow-up single to his debut hit of June, "Puppy Love" (song 50). He stuck with reviving oldies, recording this song from 1951. It was a great success for the teenage heart-throb, reaching number five in the UK and number 13 in the USA. Another revival provided his next hit in November (song 88).
# The song was written in 1951, and recorded that year by American crooner Nat King Cole. His version reached Number One in the USA, but it pre-dated the UK charts which did not start until November 1952. In the UK, British crooner Jimmy Young recorded a cover of that version, but again, it goes unlisted as a hit, as there were no British record sales charts at that time.

Title: Children Of The Revolution
Artist: T Rex
Writer(s): Marc Bolan
Entered chart 16 Sep 1972; Highest Position 2; Weeks on chart: 10.

This was the band's follow-up to their May hit, "Metal Guru" (song 39). They had enjoyed four chart-toppers over the previous two years, but from this point they were only able to achieve Top 10 hits. Their next chart entry came in December (song 95), which also reached number two. Meanwhile, the band toured the USA during the autumn 1972, with appearances in Japan at the end of the year.

Title: How Can I Be Sure
Artist: David Cassidy
Writer(s): Felix Cavaliere & Eddie Brigati
Entered chart 16 Sep 1972; Highest Position 1; Weeks on chart: 11.

This was Cassidy's follow up to his double A-side debut hit of April this year (songs 31/32). This song dates from 1967 when it was recorded by the American band the Young Rascals, having been written by two of the group's members. That version was not a hit in the UK, but a rendition by Dusty Springfield in 1970 (year 1970, song 79) was a Top 40 hit in the UK. Cassidy had another hit in November, and was in the UK Top 10 again in March 1973.

Title: You're A Lady
Artist: Peter Skellern
Writer(s): Peter Skellern
Entered chart 23 Sep 1972; Highest Position 3; Weeks on chart: 11.

Peter Skellern (14 Mar 1947 - 17 Feb 2017) was born in Bury, Lancashire, England. He was a classically trained pianist, but he joined a band in the late 1960s as a keyboardist. No hits came from that venture, and he signed as a solo performer with Decca in May 1972. His first release was this recording which reached number three in the UK and number 50 in the USA. However, further chart success was hard to come by. He had a couple of smaller hits in the mid to late 1970s, but he wrote music for several TV programmes and dramas, and appeared on TV as well. He continued with writing and performing into the 2010s, but he died from a brain tumor in 2017 at the age of 69.

Title: Back Stabbers
Artist: The O'Jays
Writer(s): Leon Huff, Gene McFadden & John Whitehead
Entered chart 23 Sep 1972; Highest Position 14; Weeks on chart: 9.

The O'Jays were an R&B vocal group from the USA state of Ohio, formed as far back as 1958. They made an appearance in the USA charts in 1963, but found international fame in 1972 when they joined the Philadelphia International record company. They became part of the 'Philadelphia Sound' along with other bands and artists such as Barry White. They enjoyed considerable success during the 1970s, as the Disco sound became dominant, reaching Number One in the USA (number nine in the UK) with their next release "Love Train". They remained a popular live act into the 2000s, and even featured in a film in 2003.
# Co-writers McFadden and Whitehead had a Top 5 hit in the UK in 1979 with the Disco song "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now".

Title: I Won't Last A Day Without You
Artist: The Carpenters
Writer(s): Paul Williams & Roger Nichols
Entered chart 23 Sep 1972; Highest Position 9; Weeks on chart: 16.

The Carpenters were a brother and sister duo from Connecticut, USA. The act comprised Richard Carpenter (born 15 Oct 1946) and Karen Carpenter (2 Mar 1950 - 4 Feb 1983). Karen provided the vocals and sometimes drums, while Richard provided the arrangements, instrumentation (mostly piano), and sometimes backing vocals. During the 1970s they were an extremely popular easy-listening act with numerous hit singles and albums throughout the world. Their compilation album "The Singles 1969-1973" reached Number One in the UK and remained on the album chart for well over two years, with seven other albums reaching the Top 10. They toured the world extensively for a decade, but Karen began to suffer from the eating disorder anorexia nervosa, although she always denied the suggestion. However, in early February 1983 she collapsed and died from a heart attack brought on by anorexia nervosa. Richard Carpenter then began producing a new album of unreleased Carpenters recordings which was issued later in 1983. Since then he has produced several compilation albums, and in 2018 an album of the duo's hits with orchestration from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was issued, reaching number eight in the UK album chart.
# This recording was not issued in the USA until 1974. It was a double A-side release with song 77 below.

Title: Goodbye To Love
Artist: The Carpenters
Writer(s): Richard Carpenter & John Bettis
Entered chart 23 Sep 1972; Highest Position 9; Weeks on chart: 16.

This was a double A-side release with song 76 above. This recording is unusual for a Carpenters song, as it includes a fuzz-guitar solo midway and at the end. The fuzz guitar is played by Tony Peluso (28 Mar 1950 - 5 Jun 2010) who subsequently played regular guitar on several Carpenters recordings and performed with them on concert tours. He also took the role of the disc jockey on the Carpenters release "Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft" in 1977. Following Karen Carpenter's death in 1983, Peluso became a record producer.
# The Carpenters were next in the UK Top 10 in July 1973 with "Yesterday Once More".

Title: In A Broken Dream
Artist: Python Lee Jackson
Writer(s): David Keith Bentley (band member)
Entered chart 30 Sep 1972; Highest Position 3; Weeks on chart: 12.

Python Lee Jackson was an Australian band formed in Sydney in 1965. They had a continual turnover of personnel, but performed numerous times in Australia, and even had a couple of minor hits in that country. They broke up in January 1968, but key members moved to England, and reformed the band there in October 1968. They began performing at various clubs, and had the opportunity to make some recordings in 1969. When it came to record "In A Broken Dream" (and two other songs), they enlisted to vocal talents of Rod Steward, who was not well known at the time. The band ceased to operate after those recordings were made, but began again in 1972, when new recordings were made. Rod Stewart had become a star by that year, so the single "In A Broken Dream" was released, to cash in on his popularity, although he was not credited on the record label. The band broke up again shortly after.

Title: Guitar Man
Artist: Bread
Writer(s): David Gates
Entered chart 30 Sep 1972; Highest Position 16; Weeks on chart: 9.

This was one of four Top 20 hits that Bread enjoyed in the USA during 1972. In the UK, their single releases did not do as well, although 1972 saw them with two Top 10 albums in the UK album chart. The first was the album "Baby I'm A Want You", which reached number nine, followed by "The Best of Bread", which peaked at number seven and eventually spent 100 weeks on the British album chart. They did not have another hit single in the UK until 1976, with the accompanying album charting in early 1977. The situation was the same in the USA; the three-year gap being occasioned by the group's break up in mid-1973 and the reunion in 1976. See song 8 for more band details.

Title: Burning Love
Artist: Elvis Presley
Writer(s): Dennis Linde (American songwriter)
Entered chart 30 Sep 1972; Highest Position 7; Weeks on chart: 9.

This was Presley's third hit of the year, following "An American Trilogy" which reached number eight in the UK charts during the summer of 1972. The song "Burning Love" was more in the vein of the Rock 'n' Roll Elvis of old, rather than the folksy ballads that he had released in more recent times. However, he was back in the charts at the end of the year with another ballad (song 100).
# This was Presley's 40th and final Top 10 hit in the USA. In the UK he went on to have a further seven Top 10 hits up to his death in 1977.

Title: Here I Go Again
Artist: Archie Bell & The Drells
Writer(s): Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff
Entered chart 7 Oct 1972; Highest Position 11; Weeks on chart: 10.

This band was formed in Houston, Texas, USA. It was a quartet led by Archie Bell (born 1 Sep 1944). They first recorded in 1967, and had their debut American hit, "Tighten Up", in 1968. "Here I Go Again" was recorded in 1969 and was not a hit in the USA, but released in the UK during 1972, it only just missed out on a Top 10 placing. The group continued through the 1970s, moving into Disco music for their next biggest hit "Soul City Walk" in 1976 which reached number 13 in the UK charts. They continued recording and performing until 1981, but made occasional appearances until the turn of the century.
# This song is different to the Hollies hit of the same title, the Whitesnake hit also of the same title, and indeed is different to any other hit recording which has the same title.

Title: There Are More Questions Than Answers
Artist: Johnny Nash
Writer(s): Johnny Nash
Entered chart 7 Oct 1972; Highest Position 9; Weeks on chart: 9.

This was the follow-up to Nash's summer hit "I Can See Clearly Now" (song 55). Although this was his second Top 10 hit in a row, he did not have another hit in the UK until 1975. He did, however, have a few minor hits in the USA during 1973 and 1974. Ironically, his Number One British hit of 1975, "Tears On My Pillow", was not a hit in his native USA. See song 55 for more info about Nash.

Title: Hallelujah Freedom
Artist: Junior Campbell
Writer(s): Junior Campbell
Entered chart 14 Oct 1972; Highest Position 10; Weeks on chart: 9.

Junior Campbell was born on 31 May 1947 in Glasgow, Scotland. He was a founding member of the band Marmalade, and wrote some of their hits, the biggest being "Reflections Of My Life" which was a number three hit from December 1969 (see year 1969, song 99). Campbell left Marmalade in early 1971 to go solo. This was his first solo hit, which he wrote himself. A release in the summer of 1973 was a Top 20 hit, but there were no more. After that, Campbell continued to compose songs, and music for TV dramas and the animated series "Thomas the Tank Engine", up to 2003. He also worked as a record producer during the 1970s.

Title: Clair
Artist: Gilbert O'Sullivan
Writer(s): Gilbert O'Sullivan
Entered chart 21 Oct 1972; Highest Position 1; Weeks on chart: 14.

This followed O'Sullivan's hit from June, "Ooh-Wakka-Doo-Wakka-Day", which reached number eight (song 51). This was also his first Number One in the UK, and it completed a run of three Top 10 hits during 1972. He was back at Number One in March 1973 with his next release.
# The song Clair was about the three-year-old daughter of O'Sullivan's producer-manager, Gordon Mills. The little girl's giggling is heard at the end of the song.

Title: I'm Stone In Love With You
Artist: The Stylistics
Writer(s): Thom Bell, Linda Creed & Anthony Bell
Entered chart 4 Nov 1972; Highest Position 9; Weeks on chart: 10.

This was the group's follow-up to their hit in the summer, "Betcha By Golly Wow" (song 53). That recording had reached number 13, but "I'm Stone In Love With You" gave them their first UK Top 10 entry. They had a couple of Top 40 hits during 1973, and were back in the Top 10 in 1974.
# In 1975, American crooner Johnny Mathis recorded the song, which reached number ten in the UK charts, and was his first substantial hit since 1960.

Title: Crocodile Rock
Artist: Elton John
Writer(s): Elton John & Bernie Taupin
Entered chart 4 Nov 1972; Highest Position 5; Weeks on chart: 14.

This was Elton John's follow-up to "Honky Cat" which had been a Top 40 hit in September (song 70). This time he hit the Top 5 in the UK and it gave him his first Number One in the USA. His next hit, another Top 5, came in January 1973.
# The falsetto refrain 'la la la' in the song is very similar to the opening lines of the song "Speedy Gonzales". As a result, the copywriter owners of "Speedy Gonzales" sued John for copyright infringement. A settlement was reached out of court.

Title: Stay With Me
Artist: Blue Mink
Writer(s): Herbie Flowers, Roger Cook & Roger Greenaway
Entered chart 11 Nov 1972; Highest Position 11; Weeks on chart: 15.

Blue Mink was a British six-piece group formed in autumn 1969. The band comprised vocalist and songwriter Roger Cook, American-born Madeline Bell (vocalist), Alan Parker (guitarist), Herbie Flowers (bassist), Barry Morgan (drummer) and Roger Coulam (keyboards). Most of the songs were written by Cook and Roger Greenaway. The members were session musicians or songwriters, and they continued in that role despite the success of the band. They first hit the charts in November 1969 with "Melting Pot" (year 1969, song 88). They went on to have a total of seven hits by 1973, four of which reached the Top 10. Singles and an album failed during 1974, and the band broke up in autumn that year, all members returning to their 'day jobs'.
# There have been no less than nine completely different songs with the title "Stay With Me" in the UK charts. Apart from this Blue Mink song, the other notable recordings of songs called "Stay With Me" have been by the Faces (see year 1971, song 99), and Erasure in 1995, whose recording reached number 15.

Title: Why
Artist: Donny Osmond
Writer(s): Peter De Angelis & Bob Marcucci
Entered chart 11 Nov 1972; Highest Position 3; Weeks on chart: 20.

This was his follow-up single to his hit of September "Too Young" (song 71). Again he went with an old song (in fact all his Top 10 hits were revivals), this one dating from 1959. His next UK hit came in March 1973, when he reached Number One for the second time. Meanwhile, his family group, the Osmonds, (of which Donny was a part) reached number two in the UK during November/December 1972 with "Crazy Horses".
# This song was first recorded by Frankie Avalon in 1959, whose version reached Number One in the USA. In the UK it peaked at number 20, as it was covered by British singer Anthony Newley, who took his version to Number One in the UK charts in January 1960 (see year 1960, song 3).

Title: I Don't Believe In Miracles
Artist: Colin Blunstone
Writer(s): Russ Ballard
Entered chart 11 Nov 1972; Highest Position 31; Weeks on chart: 6.

This was Blunstone's follow-up to his hit of February 1972 (song 16). Blunstone never reached the British Top 10 as a solo artist, but as mentioned previously, he has continued to record and perform until the present time. See song 15 for more info.
# The song was written by Russ Ballard who was a member of Adam Faith's backing band, the Roulettes. After that he joined Unit 4 + 2 who had the Number One hit "Concrete And Clay" in 1965 (see year 1965, song 21). When that band broke up he joined Argent as lead singer, and they had a major hit 1972 with "Hold Your Head Up" (song 21 above). Ballad wrote the Argent hit "God Gave Rock And Roll To You" in 1973. That song was recorded by American Rock band Kiss in 1992, whose version was a Top 5 hit in the UK. Ballard went on to write numerous songs, including Hot Chocolate's Number One "So You Win Again" in 1977, and Rainbow's Top 10 hit "Since You've Been Gone" in 1979.

Title: Angel
Artist: Rod Stewart
Writer(s): Jimi Hendrix
Entered chart 18 Nov 1972; Highest Position 4; Weeks on chart: 11.

This was the follow-up to Stewarts chart-topping hit in August, "You Wear It Well" (song 63). This track, also taken from the same album, was written by the legendary performer Jimi Hendrix back in 1968, and his recording of the song was released on his posthumous album "The Cry Of Love" in 1971. Rod Stewart adapted the song for his Number One album "Never A Dull Moment". The recording was issued as a single with the double A-side track "What Made Milwaukee Famous".
# Stewart's next hit came in September 1973, although he had a number two hit with the Faces in February 1973.

Title: Help Me Make It Through The Night
Artist: Gladys Knight & The Pips
Writer(s): Kris Kristofferson (Country music singer-songwriter)
Entered chart 25 Nov 1972; Highest Position 11; Weeks on chart: 17.

Gladys Knight & The Pips was a Tamla Motown group initially, but their greatest success came with a move to Buddah records in 1973. The group started as family group, the Pips, in 1952, when Gladys was just seven! They changed the group name in 1961 to showcase their lead singer, Gladys Knight (born 28 May 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA). They had a few local hits in Georgia, but it was in 1966 when they signed with Motown that they began USA-wide and international success. They did not reach the level of popularity as other Motown acts such as the Supremes and Four Tops, however. Following contractual disagreements, the group left Motown for Buddah in 1973, and they enjoyed several hits including "Midnight Train To Georgia" which was an American Number One (number 10 in the UK). The group disbanded in 1989 when Gladys went solo. In 1989 she recorded "License to Kill" for the James Bond movie of the same title, which was a Top 10 hit in the UK and Germany. In the 2010s she is still making occasional concert appearances, and she performed at an outdoor festival in London during 2018.
# This was the group's first UK Top 20 hit since 1967 (see year 1967, song 45). Their next substantial hits in the UK began in 1975, after their move to Buddah records.
# The song was written and recorded by Kris Kristofferson in 1970. It was a hit in the USA for Country music performer Sammi Smith, reaching Number One on the Country chart and number eight on the pop chart. In 1974 Jamaican singer John Holt recorded a Reggae version of the song which reached number six in the UK.

Title: Ben
Artist: Michael Jackson
Writer(s): Don Black & Walter Scharf
Entered chart 25 Nov 1972; Highest Position 7; Weeks on chart: 14.

This was Jackson's follow-up to his hit in August, "Ain't No Sunshine" (song 65). This completed a run of four Top 10 hits in the UK charts during 1972. He did not have another solo hit until 1979 when he had four singles taken from his album "Off The Wall", which kick-started his massive solo career throughout the 1980s and 1990s. During the mid-1970s period, Michael was recording and performing with his brothers as the Jackson Five initially, and as the Jacksons from 1977. Several hits were achieved in the UK charts during that time.
# The song was written for the 1972 film "Ben", staring Lee Montgomery. The song is performed by Montgomery during the film, and by Jackson during the final scene and over the end credits.
# Don Black has written the lyrics for several film themes, notably some of the James Bond film themes, with music composed by John Barry.

Title: Ventura Highway
Artist: America
Writer(s): Dewey Bunnell (band member and lead singer)
Entered chart 25 Nov 1972; Highest Position 43; Weeks on chart: 4.

America was a Rock trio who were the sons of American air force personnel stationed at RAF South Ruislip in west London, England. The trio began gigging at various London venues in 1969 and were spotted by songwriter-producer Ian Samwell. He arranged a recording deal, and an album was recorded in London. That album did not include this hit song, but it was recorded a little later with some other songs. The recording of "A Horse With No Name" became a major hit, reaching Number One in the USA. This prompted the band to move to Los Angeles where further recordings were made. This hit was the only major one they had in the UK, but in the USA they had six Top 10 hits by the mid-1970s. However, by 1975 their popularity was waning in the USA, so the band returned to London and enlisted the producing assistance of George Martin (of Beatles fame). A new album was recorded which resulted in several more Top 20 hits in the USA. Martin went to California to produce their following album. Although hits eventually tailed off, the band has continued performing and making occasional recordings until the present.
# Although this recording performed badly in the UK, it reached the Top 10 in the USA and Canada. They continued to enjoy hits in the USA and Canada into the mid-1970s.
# Ventura is a city in southern California, USA. There is no Venture Highway, but there is a Ventura Freeway, running from the Santa Barbara/Ventura county line to Pasadena in Los Angeles County.
# The song's opening guitar riff and musical hook is sampled throughout Janet Jackson's 2001 song "Someone to Call My Lover", which reached number eleven in the UK charts that year.

Title: Nights In White Satin
Artist: Moody Blues
Writer(s): Justin Hayward
Entered chart 2 Dec 1972; Highest Position 9; Weeks on chart: 35*.

The Moody Blues were an English rock band formed in Birmingham, England in 1964. The five piece comprised Mike Pinder, Ray Thomas, Denny Laine, Graham Edge and Clint Warwick. Laine and Warwick left in 1966 and were replaced by John Lodge and Justin Hayward. They secured a contract with Decca Records in early 1964, and their second release, "Go Now" rose to Number One, and set them on the road to stardom. They became primarily an album band, although they did have a Top 10 hit in each of the years 1967 and 1970. On the album chart, however, they enjoyed eight Top 10 albums, three of which reached Number One, from 1968 to 1981. They continued to record and make concert tours in both the UK and USA, the most recent in 2015 with Edge, Lodge and Hayward still in the band. However, Graham Edge retired in 2018 and the band ceased. Edge died from cancer in November 2021 at the age of 80.
# *The 35 weeks in the UK charts are the total of several appearances in the listings. The recording first charted in December 1967 when it peaked at number 19. Reissued in 1972, it reached number nine in the UK (number two in the USA). It charted again in 1979, climbing to number 14, and entered the charts yet again in 2010, that time peaking at number 51.
# This was the band's first appearance in the UK Top 10 since 1970 when their recording of "Question" reached number two. It also marked their final entry in the Top 10, although four smaller hits charted until 1988. However, albums in 1978 and 1981 reached the Top 10 of the British album chart.

Title: Solid Gold Easy Action
Artist: T Rex
Writer(s): Marc Bolan
Entered chart 9 Dec 1972; Highest Position 2; Weeks on chart: 11.

This was the band's follow-up to their September hit "Children of the Revolution" (song 72). This also peaked at number two, and it completed a run of four new Top 5 hits, and with a double A-side re-release of two hits from the 1960s, he had five entries in the UK Top 10 during 1972. Another couple of Top 5 hits came along during the first half of 1973, although things began to tail off after that.

Title: C Moon
Artist: Wings (Paul McCartney)
Writer(s): Paul McCartney
Entered chart 9 Dec 1972; Highest Position 5; Weeks on chart: 13.

Paul McCartney was born on 18 Jun 1942 in Liverpool, England, and found fame as a member of the Beatles group. After the breakup of the band, McCartney and the others pursued a solo career. His first solo hit was "Another Day" in 1971, which just missed reaching the top spot of the charts. Despite this success, in 1972 he formed the band Wings, with his wife Linda on keyboards and former member of the Moody Blues, Denny Laine, on guitar. This group enjoyed considerable success (sometimes billed as Paul McCartney & Wings) until the end of the 1970s. In 1981 Denny Laine left the group, which McCartney then decided to dissolve, and all following hits and albums were credited to McCartney as a solo artist. He also had much success on the album chart, with his most successful being "Band On The Run" which peaked at Number One, and remained on the UK album chart for 124 weeks. He has been very successful too on the USA charts where he has scored seven Number One albums. He has continued concert performances throughout the 21st century, and performed at the opening ceremony of the London Olympic Games in 2012. His most recent album was released in 2018.
# The band had been in the UK Top 10 in May 1972 with "Mary Had A Little Lamb". "C Moon" was a double A-side with the song "Hi, Hi, Hi". Wings/Paul McCartney had two Top 10 hits in 1973, one of which was the James Bond film theme "Live And Let Die".

Title: Jean Genie
Artist: David Bowie
Writer(s): David Bowie
Entered chart 9 Dec 1972; Highest Position 2; Weeks on chart: 13.

Bowie had been in the Top 10 with "Starman" which reached number ten in the UK during the summer of this year (song 58 above). This was Bowie's biggest single to date. The track was taken from his album "Aladdin Sane" which charted in May 1973, entering at Number One in the UK album chart. 1973 saw him with three new Top 10 hits, plus a re-release from the 1960s which also reached the Top 10. Bowie had been on a concert tour of the USA for the whole of October and November, promoting his albums.

Title: It Never Rains In Southern California
Artist: Albert Hammond
Writer(s): Albert Hammond & Mike Hazlewood
Entered chart 16 Dec 1972; Highest Position 5 (USA chart info - not a UK hit).

Albert Hammond was born on 18 May 1944 in London, England, which is where his family had been evacuated to from Gibraltar during World War II. Shortly after the war, they returned to Gibraltar, where he grew up. In 1960, he started in music with Gibraltarian band The Diamond Boys, which had no real commercial success, but performed at the first nightclubs in Madrid to stage modern bands. In 1966, Hammond co-founded the British vocal group the Family Dogg, reaching number 6 on the UK Singles Chart with "A Way of Life" in 1969 (see year 1969, song 45). He wrote or co-wrote numerous songs, many of which became hits for other acts. He relocated to the USA in the early 1970s, and began recording as well as continuing to write. He had more songwriting success through the 1980s ("One Moment In Time" - Whitney Houston), through the 1990s (hits for Diana Ross and Tina Turner), and continues writing in the 21st century.
# This song was not a hit in the UK, but continues to be heard on radio. His only UK hit was "Free Electric Band" in 1973.

Title: You're So Vain
Artist: Carly Simon
Writer(s): Carly Simon
Entered chart 16 Dec 1972; Highest Position 3; Weeks on chart: 15.

Carly Simon was born on 25 Jun 1945 in New York City. She began singing with her sister in the mid-1960s, as the Simon Sisters, and they even had a minor hit record. However, Carly went solo and signed a recording contract in 1970. She had an American Top 10 hit in 1971, but it was the song "You're So Vain", taken from her third album, that propelled her to international fame. The recording reached Number One in the USA. She had another couple of small hits in the UK until 1977 when she was in the Top 10 with the James Bond film theme "Nobody Does It Better". She has won several awards for her music, including an Oscar and two Grammy Awards. She has had a few health problems in recent years, but has recorded and performed several times in the 2010s.
# Carly Simon married singer-songwriter James Taylor in 1972, but they divorced in 1983.

100

Title: Always On My Mind
Artist: Elvis Presley
Writer(s): Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher & Mark James
Entered chart 16 Dec 1972; Highest Position 9; Weeks on chart: 13.

This was Presley's fourth recording to enter the UK Top 10 in 1972. It followed his hit of late September, "Burning Love" (song 80). 1973 was less successful, with three Top 40 hits, the highest reaching number 15. However, he was in the UK Top 10 again in late 1974.
# This song was written in 1970 and recorded by B J Thomas. In 1972 it was recorded by Brenda Lee as well as Elvis Presley. In 1982 it was recorded by American Country singer Willie Nelson whose version reached Number One on the American Country charts and number five on the pop charts. The Nelson version resulted in Grammy awards for the songwriters and Nelson. That version was a minor hit in the UK peaking at number 49.
# In 1987 the song was recorded by British duo the Pet Shop Boys. That version went to Number One in the UK over the Christmas period. It reached number four in the USA.

Acts with most appearances in this list:

Bread: 4
Michael Jackson: 4
T Rex: 4
David Cassidy: 3
Elton John: 3
Elvis Presley: 3
Donny Osmond: 3
Gilbert O'Sullivan: 3

Composers with most appearances in this list:

Marc Bolan: 4 (all for T Rex)
David Gates: 4 (all for Bread)
Elton John & Bernie Taupin: 3 (all for Elton John)
Gilbert O'Sullivan: 3 (all for himself)

New Names in 1972
To qualify, new acts must have gone on to have at least three entries in these lists. One-hit Wonders do not qualify.

David Cassidy
The Eagles
Donny Osmond
The Stylistics