I give marks out of 10 to every song – based on whatever criteria you like, here’s your opportunity to say what you’d have given more than 6 to from 1976. Tick as many as you like.
Loading ...And use the comments to discuss the year as a whole, if you like.
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I think ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ is just about the only Sir Elton song I can bear to listen to.
Less than 50% voting for Chicago surprises me… I’d have had that down as a surefire Poptimist fave.
Not really “pop”, I don’t think.
Despite the generalised direness of the year I still found six entries worth 6 or more (“December ’63” is a borderline 5) which is two more than I found in 1971 so I’ve no idea what, if anything, that proves.
I only found five, but I’ve always had trouble with ‘Fernando’, not my kind of Abba song. And I had to vote for Chicago. I played an mp3 of this after the discussion below and it’s turned into a bit of an earworm. I half hated it at the time, having once been a big fan of the far more respectable ’25 or 6 to 4′, the meaning of whose title I only discovered in the comments box here…
I prefer “Wishing You Were Here,” which was not a hit in the UK, though I suspect this has a lot to do with the Beach Boys’ backing vocals.
Plus one of my favourite singles ever is “Hold Me Now” by DJ Kaos (1996) which takes “Hard To Say I’m Sorry” into a new dimension.
I found 8, which may show that I’m a comparatively easy man to entertain.
It most assuredly was NOT me who voted for Barrie or Mathis, though.
I polled 7 out of the 16, all of which turn out to be in the top 8. My only dissent from the consensus: Fernando.
I managed 4. None of the Abba songs made the cut.
I managed four. All of the ABBA made the cut, which may show that I wasn’t crazy about most of the recording artists of the 70s.
Also Elton & Kiki; but, no slight to Kiki, I will forever wish that it had been Elton & Dusty, as originally planned.
I wanted to mention some songs from this year that I don’t think have been mentioned yet…some of which are still radio regulars:
“More Than A Feeling” by Boston
“The Boys Are Back in Town” by Thin Lizzy
“More, More, More” by Andrea True Connection
“Tear The Roof Off the Sucker (Give Up The Funk)” by Parliament
“Play That Funky Music” by Wild Cherry
“The Rubberband Man” by The Spinners
“Lowdown” by Boz Scaggs
“Cherry Bomb” by The Runaways
“Dazz” by Brick
“The Things We Do For Love” by 10cc
At the time I am sure I heard at least half of these, The Runaways, Brick and Parliament being the only ones that were beyond ‘regular’ radio in Canada.
I’m not at all surprised that Dancing Queen is at number one, it was the anthem of all us ‘sweet young things’ in the seventies along with Elton & Kiki. Real Thing,Tina Charles and Pussycat all remind me of going to the Moonraker Nightclub in Preston in my hayday.I’m surprised they haven’t had more votes. As for Chicago, what a tear jerker! Some of these songs are still played quite often on radio here in Aus’.
Just to add to and reinforce the missus’ excellent list above, here’s the NME critics’ Top 20 singles of the year list:
1. The Boys Are Back In Town – Thin Lizzy
2. Live At The Marquee (E.P.) – Eddie & The Hot Rods
3. Anarchy In The U.K. – Sex Pistols
4. Don’t Fear The Reaper – Blue Oyster Cult
5. So It Goes – Nick Lowe
6. Police And Thieves – Junior Murvin
7. Young Hearts Run Free – Candi Staton
8. Love And Affection – Joan Armatrading
9. I’ll Be Good To You – Brothers Johnson
10. Couldn’t Get It Right – Climax Blues Band
11. War In A Babylon – Max Romeo
12. Take The Money And Run – Steve Miller Band
13. Hurricane – Bob Dylan
14. Lowdown – Boz Scaggs
15. Let’s Stick Together – Bryan Ferry
16. Little Johnny Jewel – Television
17. I Want More – Can
18. Shake Some Action – Flamin’ Groovies
19. Roast Fish And Cornbread – Lee Perry
20. Boogie On The Street – Lew Lewis
A lot of great singles in that poll.
I’ve never heard ‘Boogie On The Streets’, though I’ve always thought that – for that title alone – it must be the definitive 1976 pub rock Stiff Records record.
ABBA 18%? 609 voters? I suspect that you may have been spammed!
The phantom NME Chart number ones of 1976; Glass Of Champagne, Silly Love Songs, Young Hearts Run Free. All of which are ace.
No, when we reset the FT back end the other week every individual vote somehow got counted as a separate voter. I will ask Alan if there’s anything that can be done about it.
no idea how this happened – something askew in the poll counting. there are really 139 voters (and ~650 ticks). will try to rectify that…
Luxembourg-only number ones: Glass Of Champagne, Rodrigo, Convoy, Love Really Hurts Without You, Love Me Like I Love You, Convoy GB, S-S-S-Single Bed, Silver Star, My Resistance Is Low, Silly Love Songs, Young Hearts Run Free, A Little Bit More, Jeans On, In Zaire, Let ‘Em In, Can’t Get By Without You, You Make Me Feel Like Dancing, Somebody To Love.
For a sense of context, let’s look at the same chart upside down – here’s a list of all the singles that peaked at number 40 in 1976;
13 Mar London Boys – T. Rex – 1 week
27 Mar You Belong To Me – Gary Glitter – 1
19 Jun Could It Be Magic? – Donna Summer – 1
9 Oct Under One Roof – The Rubettes – 1
27 Nov Say You Love Me – Fleetwood Mac – 1
NME Readers’ poll for 1976, ‘Best single’ category;
1. Thin Lizzy – The Boys Are Back In Town
2. Eddie & The Hot Rods – Live At The Marquee EP
3. The Rolling Stones – Fool To Cry
4. The Sex Pistols – Anarchy In The UK
5. Blue Oyster Cult – Don’t Fear The Reaper
6. Chicago – If You Leave Me Now
7. 10CC – I’m Mandy, Fly Me
8. Status Quo – Mystery Song
9. Steely Dan – Haitian Divorce
10. Queen – Somebody To Love
Incidentally, I think that it’s probably safe to re-open the Pussycat thread by now!
Those Irish no.1s in full:
Abba – Mamma Mia
Red Hurley – Broken Promises
Sailor – A Glass of Champagne
Marianne Faithfull – Dreaming My Dreams
Tina Charles – I Love To Love
Dusty Springfield – You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me
Brotherhood of Man – Save Your Kisses
Abba – Fernando
Sutherland Brothers & Quiver – Arms of Mary
Wings – Silly Love Songs
Thin Lizzy – The Boys Are Back In Town
Elton & Kiki – Don’t Go Breaking My Heart
Abba – Dancing Queen
Pussycat – Mississippi
Smokie – I’ll Meet You At Midnight
Nilsson – Without You
Chicago – If You Leave Me Now
Johnny Mathis – When a Child Is Born
Second time Harry Nilsson’s Without You had been no.1 in four years – two weeks each time in ’72 and ’76. Dusty had reached no.4 first time out.
This week’s rerun of TOTP was not quite as dire as last week, despite being presented by Noel Edmunds. There was a bizarre appearance by Eric Carmen who looked like he was there as some form of community service.
“Don’t stop it now” Hot Chocolate
The band seemed to be enjoying themselves but the song was not that memorable.
“Fernando” Abba
A tiny bit twee, but a great tune with effortless production – plus those women were good looking
“Reggae like it used to be” Paul Nicholas
Dreadful in so many ways – sadly not DREADful
“Paperback writer” The Beatles
It’s a sign of getting old that I was more interested in what books were on the shelves than the dancers
“I’m Mandy, Fly Me” 10cc
I enjoyed this, although it got a bit bogged down in the middle. The musical pastiche and wordplay put me in mind of Elvis Costello.
“Baby I’m yours” Linda Lewis
Pleasant – I was more interested in her vocal range, and surprised at how deep it went. I think of her as a high pitched triller
“Love Me Like I Love You” Bay City Rollers
Bizarre video – I couldn’t figure out what the song was called as it didn’t seem to have a hook.
“Silver Star” The Four Seasons
Pleasant but a little dull
“There’s a kind of hush” The Carpenters
Strange synthetic sound not helped by second helping of dancers
“Life is too short girl” Sheer Elegance
Hot Chocolate wannabes – with a marginally more memorable song, but weaker production
“Fallen Angel” Frankie Valli
I can’t remember this at all – just glad Frankie didn’t start shrieking
“Save all your kisses for me” Brotherhood of Man
A black hole of mediocrity
“You see the trouble with me” Barry White
Only a short burst of this over the end credits, but pretty good.
Oh I remember this one!
Those good old TOTP Rules! Frankie Valli avoided!
This one being, “nobody can appear twice on one show”, so I believe the camera pans around the bloke on the piano during the four seasons track during the middle bit. Is that Frankie Valli on the piano? We can never be sure, his face remains unseen. It’s clear enough during his solo hit later on…
(Haven’t seen this on the replay just yet)
When did that rule come in? Post Tony Burrows? Well, Frankie probably doesn’t even appear on Silver Star (lyrically an adult role-reversal of Under My Thumb, musically a post-Bo Rhap shapeshifter, love it passionately) so he was probably only on keyboards to give him something to do.
Eric Carmen shaking hands with Noel Edmonds was a peculiar and quite touching surprise.
I’m Mandy Fly Me shoulda been a number one! The middle section is what makes it for me, esp. as Eric Stewart’s long held note goes into “I…. saw her walking on the water”; it has an arrangement to rival Surfs Up. I’ve never understood whether the lyric is meant to be taken literally – am I missing something obvious?
“Silver Star” also helps invent Acid House with that piano and beat: “Ecstasy on their faces…”
#23, I think Tony Burrows was why, yes. I’m sure Frankie’s singing the middle section of “Silver Star” you know.
Also, IMFM was ‘supposed’ to be some sort of drugs reference by the ‘people’ who ‘know’, denied by the writers obviously…
The Tony Burrows Rule was famously broken in 1982 by Steve Archibald, appearing for both Spurs and Scotland on the same night (he couldn’t do that as a footballer but did as a singer!)
Here’s Kevin Godley denying that “Mandy” was about taking Mandrax: http://www.minestrone.org/rm760501.htm
Thanks Erithian! Yes, Mandrax. All makes sense.
Don’t think it’s Frankie on the mid section (prob Don Ciccone), and according to Wiki “Valli’s contribution was limited to harmony vocals at the end of the recording (he was gradually losing his hearing in the 1970s due to otosclerosis)”.
Of course I was forgetting… Frankie’s obviously harmonising all over the thing right at the very end.
Ah right, I see.
They do go out of their way to ‘not show’ the pianist’s face while showing the guy reasonably close up… (as I remember it)
Right, seen it now, so:
Yeah, you can see that it isn’t FValli on the piano, but I stand by that they would have said “no, FValli can’t appear with both acts”. Also, drummer looks a lot like Woody Harrelson.
Also, another one reminds me of that old MU rule that you ‘had’ to re-record your backing track to appear on the show. So, Paul Nicholas gets the BBC Orchestra with The Ladybirds treatment, and the four seasons get to buy the Musician’s Union bloke a drink while they switch the tapes.
This week’s TOTP was more dance oriented with a mixture of the good the bad and the ugly – the latter two qualities personified by DLT.
Fox – Single Bed
I warmed to this performance more than the one two weeks ago. The band seemed more relaxed. I suspect that Alison Goldfrapp was taking notes
Stylistics – Can’t help falling in love
Reminded me how alien these soul groups appeared to me – then and now, with their pastel tuxedoes with lace(?) detailed lapels, synchronised moves, and unearthly falsettos. I don’t think the song suited them as well as some of their other stuff. I was curious why one singer remained sat on a stool – he looked a lot shorter than the rest, was that why?.
Diana Ross – Theme from Mahogany
Lovely tune, bland choreography, costumes by Bev from Abigail’s Party followed by DLT leering at Pans People in a toe curling way
Brass Construction – Movin’
Fantastic – this sounded fresh and compelling
Sailor – Girls,girls,girls
Still enjoyable – there was a mini revival of 30s(?) style stuff – with Bette Midler releasing ‘Songs for the New Depression’ this year for one
Isaac Hayes – Disco connection
Another toetapper, not quite as strong as Brass Connection– slightly diluted by PPs antics
Smokie – Wild, wild angels
I’d forgotten how ubiquitous this lot had been during the 70s – apparently singing variations on the one song
Eric Carmen – All by myself
borrowing from Rachmaninoff, so wiki tells me. Eric had a more brooding intensity about his performance which contrasted with the end of the pier stylings of many of the UK acts
Brotherhood of Man – Save all your kisses for me
Still sounding dire – TOTP seemed to think that a video of BoM ambling through a park might put an end
Rodger Collins -‘You Sexy Sugar Plum’
A very short burst of this over the end credits – but Youtube suggests we will get a fuller performance. I can’t remember hearing this at all at the time
My four-month-old daughter giggled with either delight or amusement throughout Pan’s People and Theme from Mahogany, and then kicked along to Brass Construction. She lost interest after that.
Last night’s was the best one so far…I’m not familiar with Dave Lee Travis but his bizarre innuendo-filled links were hilariously weird and had me cringing in a good way. The whole thing was just a surreal joy – The Stylistics must have covered that Elvis track as a joke, surely? The whole thing seemed like a parody of disco music, from the shiny suits to falsettos. Eric Carmen’s ‘All By Myself’ going on for bloody ages, as nice as the song is we didn’t need to hear the whole thing. And as for the Brotherhood of Man video…words fail me.
If I didn’t know better I’d think from these repeats that the 1970s was a hilariously naff decade for music. Unbelievable to think that the likes of glam, punk and early synthpop went on in the surrounding few years.
Russell Thompkins Jr. and Orville – no difference. Apart from their vocal range.
I don’t think I’d ever heard Movin’ before – anyone remember it getting Radio 1 airplay?
On the other hand it felt like the BBC LOVED All By Myself, even if it did only reach no.12. An “important” record. Like Eye Level. It might have done better if this performance wasn’t backed by the usual MU hired hands – where’s the guitar solo gone?
Disco Connection still sounds great played out, esp. if you pitch it down -3. Fastest disco record ever?
“The 1970s was a hilariously naff decade for music”, obv.
I first heard “Movin'” in 1988 when it made the charts again in a remixed/updated version. Wonder if anyone else with access to the relevant lists can check, but I seem to recall that it got on TotP (Must have been May or possibly June ’88) then. (Had the group reformed to promote a remixed greatest hits compilation? Can’t remember. I do recall that they followed up “Movin 1988” with another remake/remix of “Ha Cha Cha”, I think)
Strange how Brass Construction have maintained a conspiciously low profile all along, though.
Yes I heard Movin’ in 88 due to the remix and loved it. It was later sampled by The Bucketheads on ‘Got Myself Together’, their follow up to ‘The Bomb’.
re 30 The ’40s revival of 1975/76 was started at the Goldmine Club in Canvey Island where Chris Hill was resident, he started dropping a lot of big band swing stuff (Glenn Miller etc)amongst the funk, soul and ’70s jazz there and the clubbers started turning up in 40s clothes etc. And it eventually went overground and ended up with more of the music on the radio and re-released records etc.
Coincidentally the same club (or it could have been the Lacy Lady in North London which was his other residency around that time)was where I’ve read that he played ‘Movin’ about 10 times in one night when he first got hold of the import.
The nearly 9 minute version on the album is even better.
Brass Construction stayed massive on that London/Home Counties underground club scene and were still having big floorfillers up until the mid-80s – stuff like ‘Walkin The Line’/’Partyline’/’International’.
‘Movin” and ‘Changin” (also off the first album) were always the absolute monsters though.
Not sure last night’s repeat was quite so good, really. Although David Hamilton much less annoying (and looking less relaxed) than DLT, as you might reasonably expect.
Jimmy James & The Vagabonds – I’ll Go Where the Music Takes Me
Seeming something of a rather second-rate relative of 70s disco. Some backing vocals a bit grating. A bit “by numbers”.
John Miles – Music
As discussed elsewhere round here lately. (Was it the “No Charge” thread). Certainly worth the time of day
Harpo – Movie star (Studio)
Completely unknown to me; a Swedish guy with a bicycle bell. A bit self-consciously wacky; kind of like the uncle of Per from Roxette was preparing the way for him. A bit twee, but not dislikeable. At least, until the gratuitous key change
Abba – Fernando (vid)
Well, everybody knows this…
Sheer Elegance – Life Is Too Short Girl
More identical pastel-coloured clothing (yellow suits with orange-dominated tartan waistcoats) and co-ordinated dance moves. Some nice humming bits. Never heard this before but I strongly suspect it would improve on further listening.
Rubettes – You’re The Reason Why
Bus-conductor outfit with cap-wearing guy (another mid-70s thing). Bloke in dungarees over a red shirt with a big hankie tied round his neck. Evidently not a hit, and really a bit dull, if inoffensive.
Hank Mizel – Jungle Rock (with Pan’s People)
Dancers in chimpanzee and dinosaur suits & those of the many animals mentioned in the song while PP go all colonial and khaki. Very 50’s revivalish rockabilly, I think. Rather odd. (Edit: I see – it was from 1958)
Gilbert O’Sullivan – Doing what I know
Piano-based midtempo number that gets duller the longer it last. A bit like Beautiful South on a fairly off-par day, mostly supremely banal. Another one that failed to even graze the charts. (And “And it’s amazing when you think of it how many people smoke, despite all the risks that are invoked”…OMG. Actually with “smoke” changed to “drink” I could readily imagine Paul Heaton singing that). Far too long, far too little substance.
Brotherhood Of Man – Save your kisses for me
No comment required. It’s all been said here already. Although one positive consequence of this group was that the thought of that style of moustache, combined with mutton-chop sideburns has been so repulsive that there is no danger of that look returning. Also probably a better song than the Gilbert O’Sullivan one beforehand.
Andrea True Connection – More more more (over credits)
Can’t go wrong with that one, really. Pity it cut off so soon..
I was struck by how many of the performers were wearing cravats on last night’s show.
Jimmy James at least gave an animated performance that lifted an otherwise lightweight tune.
I learned from Wiki that Harpo was subsequently kicked in the face by a horse – losing the sight in one eye and his sense of smell.
Hank Mizell still sounded great.
The Rubettes were one pot ugly bunch
I enjoyed the Gilbert O’Sullivan performance – Punctum’s response to Back to Front over at Then Play Long had made me more curious about his music.
I too would have enjoyed more Andrea True Connection.
I don’t hardly remember the GO’S (relevent acronym: When will I be not famous?) song, I’m assuming it missed. I’ve never heard a song as blatantly “here’s another one just like the usual rubbish I always do because you’d hate it if I did anything different or better” song ever.
Anyway, a large no of repeats this time (Miles, Abba, Sheereleg, Pan’s Jungle)
The rubes would have had a longer career with the new-wave sounds around the corner, if the singer (not the usual one) looked less like an untrendy Buggle.
I see they finally found a pic of Hank for the rundown.
Harpo: Yep.
Oh, and if I recall correctly, the forthcoming ‘performance’ looked like an excerpt from a ‘non-porn’ musical section of a porn movie (which it might well have been)
I missed the week before’s episode, is someone collecting these I wonder?
Actually, check his final sequence of singles for MAM, who he later sued:
“You never listen to reason”
“I’ll believe it when I see it”
“Doing what I know” / “I of course replied”
“You got me going” / “As long as I can”
“He” (i.e. MAM) released a “Greatest Hits” late in 1976, none of these were on it.
Latest news: The BBC are definitely doing this TOTP run for a year.
Surely ‘public demand’/ratings will keep it going for longer?
You’re The Reason Why is an excellent update of the Beatles’ ’65 country-pop sound but didn’t even make the Top 20 – baffled me then, baffles me now, esp. when there were so many Beatles singles in the chart. Doesn’t anyone else like it? Really?? Oh…
And Gilbert O with a proto Balearic thing I have no recollection of… Good spot, Mark! Consequently, out of MAM’s grip in ’77, he recorded The Best Fun I Ever Had . Which I’m very fond of.
A rather less dancy edition this week. Although I am informed that Gladys Knight and the Pips were among artists cut from the re-run so it would fit in the 30 mins slot…
Slik – Requiem
Never heard this before. Starts off very promisingly, atmospherically, sinks a bit. But, superior pop music that rises above the pub-rock feel that also slips into a couple of place, I think so. (Prefer it to their big hit)
Paul Nicholas – Reggae Like It Used To Be
Curious, not unpleasant, lively and singalong and danceable, but a Judge Dread appearance on TOTP (or even, just once, on the BBC airwaves) might well have been preferable…
Andrea True Connection – More More More
with Pans People in grass skirts. Fab song anyway,
Electric Light Orchestra – Nightrider
(non-chart single). Not their best. Really. Obligatory good harmonies & instrumentation in evidence though.
Diana Ross – Love Hangover
Just a classic, no?
Laurie Lingo & The Dipsticks – Convoy GB
Hmmm. Not a classic, I think it’s fair to say, even if Spaghetti Junction were on the M1. Not the worst “comedy” record ever made by Radio 1 DJs though. (I think several of Steve Wright’s are worse, for starters…)
Eric Carmen – All By Myself
Pretty much a classic too.
Bellamy Brothers – Let Your Love Flow
Unpretentious, at least. surely only a matter a time before Britney Spears nicks the lyrics from the chorus of this and puts them over a beat just to show how we have come full circle and back to the 70s.
Brotherhood Of Man – Save Your Kisses For Me
see above
Stylistics – I Can’t Help Falling In Love (over end credits)
as previously discussed
Slik were refreshing because they looked young and so didn’t radiate that quality of eagerness to please born of a lifetime on a circuit of club nights and ends of piers that I pick up from acts like Brotherhood Of Man and Smokie. Very few of the British pop acts over the last few weeks (apart from the Rollers) have appeared that youthful – maybe another reason why PUNK HAD TO HAPPEN, etc.
For a tenth of a second, it sounded like “we will fall”, but no. Also, LLingo looked a lot like Badly Drawn Boy in a mask…
“Reggae Like it used to be” 2 questions:
1) Who was Stevie and Paul?
2) What kind of reggae is he on about that he dislikes in favour of how it ‘used to be’? He mentions “Reggae Beethoven” which wasn’t exactly a huge strand of reggae, and goes no further than “Reggae everything you see” which seems a bit general.
re 46
1) I assume Stevie Wonder – possibly for ‘Boogie on Reggae Woman’ and Paul could be Paul Simon for ‘Mother and Child reunion’ – although it could be McCartney
2) judging by his performance he misses a particular flaccid version of reggae which bears little or no relation to the real thing
Ah, I suppose M&CReunion is the closest to “RHIUTB” (at least, in the backing track on the record) than anything on Treasure Island or Melodisc, ta.
#43 Aha! I knew they were cutting stuff!
So, is that “Andrea True” appearance coming up, or has that gone the way?
they are going to start showing the full unedited programmes from 12 May apparently – in the late at night repeat slot