October 20, 2018

 

 

Graham Fellows – better known as Jilted John,

had a Top 4 with ‘Jilted John’ in 78 on EMI,

and in 07, Canadian, Feist, on Polydor,

saw ‘1234’ rise to a UK No. 8 high.

 

In 73, US male group Bloodstone,

had a Top 40 on Decca with ‘Natural High’,

and in 88, US Walter Beasley, on Urban,

saw ‘I’m So Happy’,  up to No.70,  fly.

 

In 03, UK/German group ‘State One, on Incentive,

made No.62 with ‘Forever And A Day’,

In 2010, Adam Young, known as Owl City, on Island,

took Fireflies’ to No.1, both in the US and in the UK.

 

In 82, UK group Kokomo, on CBS,

reached No.45 with ‘A Little Bit Further Away’,

and US singer Big Dee Irwin in 63, reached No.7,

with ‘Swinging On A Star’ – remembered to this day.

 

(RIP    Difosco Erwin –  d. 1995  aged 56.) 

 

 

 

October 1, 2018

 

French male singer/actor – Shanaur Aznavourian

or Charles Aznavour, as we knew him to be,

peaked in the UK chart at No.38, on the Barclay label,

with ‘The Old Fashioned Way’, in 73.

 

In 74, still on the Barclay label,

arrived ‘She’, spending four weeks at No.1,

and becoming a worldwide hit,

ensuring his legacy lives on.

 

Thank you for the music

Rest In Peace

1924 – 2018

 

September 30, 2018

 

 

In 78, on EMI with Rockney

came ‘Strummin’ – their first UK chart entry,

and in 79 on EMI,  followed ‘Gertcha’,

which peaked at No.20.

 

‘The Sideboard Song (Got My Beer In The Sideboard here)’-

their last offering of 79 on EMI,

and in 80 on the Rockney label,

along came ‘Rabbit’, reaching a Top Ten high.

 

In 81, ‘Stars Over 45’ climbed to No.21,

and in 82, ‘Ain’t No Pleasing You’ made No.2 –

(and like ‘Rabbit’, had an 11 week chart run,

with ‘Margate’ next at No.46 – their last hit of 82.

 

‘London Girls’ and ‘My Melancholy Baby’ –

their hits of 83 – still on the Rockney label.

‘Snooker Loopy’ with  Pot 147 Matchroom Mob –

a No.6 of 86, they brought to the table.

 

Thank You for the Music and Fun.

RIP   Chas Hodges  1943 – 2018

 

September 29, 2018

 

 

‘I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)’,

in 74, on Charisma, peaked at No.21.

And in 77  ‘Your Own Special Way’,

at No.43 – the next hit to follow on.

 

Also in 77, ‘Spot The Pigeon’,

making a mark at No.14.

And in 78  ‘Follow You Follow Me’,

at no.7 – setting the scene.

 

Still in 78 came ‘Many Too Many’ –

their second single to peak at No.43.

And in 80 was ‘Turn It On Again’,

at No.8,  filling fans with glee.

 

Also in 80 arrived ‘Duchess’ – making No.46,

and ‘Misunderstanding’ reached No.42,

and then in 81′ Abacab’ – a Top Ten at No.9,

and ‘Keep It Dark’ at No.33, saw the year through.

 

In 82, ‘Man On The Corner’ reached No.41,

and also, ‘3 x 3 EP’ – a Top Ten.

In 83, ‘Mama’ – now on Virgin/Charisma – a Top 4,

and ‘That’s All’ on Charisma/Virgin, a No.16 for these men.

 

In 84, still on Charisma/Virgin came ‘Illegal Alien’ 

reaching No.46 in the chart – their hit of this year.

In 86 -now on Virgin  – came ‘Invisible Touch’, at No.5, 

‘In Too Deep’ & ‘Land Of Confusion’ – more Top 20s to cheer.

 

In 87, ‘Tonight Tonight Tonight’ made No.18,

and ‘Throwing It All Away’ -in this year, reached No.22.

Then in 91, ‘No Son Of Mine’ flew to No.6,

and at No.7 -‘I Can’t Dance’ – the first hit of 92.

 

Three more Top 20s followed in this year –

at No.16  ‘Hold On My Heart’ – the next to arrive,

and then at No.20 ‘Jesus He Knows Me’,

and finally, at No.7 came ‘Invisible Touch’ (Live).

 

Still on the Virgin label – ‘Tell Me Why’,

in 93, claimed a Top 40 fix.

And in 97 came ‘Congo’ and ‘Shipwrecked’,

before, in 98, ‘Not About Us’ reached No.66.

 

Whichever Band member our favourite –

be it Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins or Tony Banks,

or Steve Hackett or Mike Rutherford –

to each one of you we give our huge Thanks.

 

 

 

September 20, 2018

 

In 84, on the Forbidden Fruit label,

‘Smalltown Boy’, a Top 3 for Bronski Beat.

‘Why’ came next making No.6, and

‘It Ain’t Necessarily So’ – fans approval did meet.

 

In 85, ‘I Feel Love (Medley)’

became their second No.3,

and ‘Hit That Perfect Note’,

ending this year, also a No.3, was to be.

 

Then in 86, ‘Come On, Come On’ – a Top 20,

and in 89, reaching No.32 came ‘Cha Cha Heels’

on Arista, from Eartha Kitt & Bronski Beat –

What a match!  with this lady who always appeals.

 

‘Smalltown Boy (Remix) on the London label,

in 91, also making No.32,

for Jimmy Somerville With Bronski Beat –

the last track in this ‘hit list’ queue.

 

 

September 14, 2018

 

‘The Drowners’/’To The Birds’, on the Nude label,

in 92, entered the Top 50 in the UK.

Also in this year  ‘Metal Mickey’ climbed to No.17,

before ‘Animal Nitrate’ in 93, at No.7, paved the way.

 

Again in 93, ‘So Young’,  rose to No.22,

and in 94 came ‘Stay Together’ – a Top 3, winning hearts.

‘We Are The Pigs’ and ‘The Wild Ones’ followed –

both reaching No.18 in the charts.

 

‘New Generation’ made No.21 in 95,

and in 96, ‘Trash’ gave Suede their second Top 3.

Also in this year ‘Beautiful Ones’ rose to No.8,

and ‘Saturday Night’, in 97, a No.6, was to be.

 

‘Lazy’ and ‘Filmstar’ – still on the Nude label,

in 97, both at No.9 did arrive.

Then ‘Electricity’ came next in 99,

with this current hit reaching No.5.

 

‘She’s In Fashion’  -the next single, making No.13, and

‘Everything Will Flow’, & ‘Can’t Get Enough’ – Top 30 hits on view.

In 02, (now on Epic) ‘Positivity’ rose to No.16,

with ‘Obsessions’ also on Epic, a Top 30 of 02.

 

In 03, now on Sony Music, reaching No.14 –

‘Attitude’/’Golden Gun’ – had our minds blown.

These guys with such a loyal following,

always in a class of their own.

 

‘It Starts And Ends With You’ on Warner Brothers,

came ten years later in 2013.

Taken from their 6th Album – ‘Blood Sports’,

sending fans ecstatic, as if the lost decade, hadn’t been!.

 

‘No Tomorrow’ -the single from ‘Night Thoughts’- 

(their 7th Album), coming in 2016,

again on the Warner Brothers label –

fans once more repaid for loyalty seen.

 

‘Life Is Golden’ -a brilliant single,

from ‘Blue Hour’, (their 8th Album) due September 2018,

also on the Warner Brothers label,

from one of the best British bands ever seen.

 

Written by

Harriet Blackbury

 

 

September 11, 2018

 

 

‘Love Story’, on the Island label –

the first hit for Jethro Tull – arrived in 69.

‘Living In The Past’ then followed,

reaching the Top 3 line.

 

‘Sweet Dream’ –  the last hit of 69,

made No.7 on the Chrysalis label,

and in 70, ‘The Witch’s Promise’/’Teacher’ –

a No.4, they brought to the table.

 

‘Life Is A Long Song’/’Up The Pool’,

still on Chrysalis, made No.11 in 71,

and in 76 ‘Ring Out Solstice Bells (EP)’ –

a Top 30, in December, shone.

 

‘Lap Of Luxury’ – the hit of 84, then in 88 –

‘Said She Was A Dancer’ – a Top 60, loved too.

In 92 at No.47 was ‘Rocks On The Road’, and in 93 came

‘Living In The (Slightly More Recent) Past’, at No.32.

 

This Band with ever changing members,

has a loyal, world-wide, fan base to treasure,

Jethro Tull, Thank You for 50 years of music,

and for giving so many, so much pleasure.

 

Play on .

 

Written by

Harriet Blackbury

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 4, 2018

 

 

‘5-4-3-2-1’  on the HMV label

made No.5 for Manfred Mann in 64,

and ’50 Ways To Leave Your Lover’,

in 76 , gave Paul Simon a No.23 chart score.

 

In 2000, ‘7 Days’ on the Wildstar label

gave Craig David his second UK No.1,

and in 92, on Columbia, making No.32,  came

Bruce Springsteen with ’57 Channels (and nothing on)’.

 

In 72, ‘10538 Overture’ by Electric Light Orchestra

on the Harvest label made No.9,

and in 78,  ‘5-7-05’  on the Vertigo label,

at No.8 for City Boy, came into line.

 

In 01, ’21 Seconds’ on the Relentless label –

the first chart entry and No.1 for So Solid Crew,

and in 09, ‘3 Words’ on the Fascination label,

by Cheryl Cole featuring Will-i-am, took a No.4 pew.

 

’29 Palms’ by Robert Plant on Fontana,

reached No.21 in 93 – so divine!

and in 97, ’18 Til I Die’ – a No.22 for Bryan Adams

on A & M, two years before ‘Cloud Number 9’.

 

August 22, 2018

 

 

In 84, on the Sire label, arrived ‘Holiday’ –

a UK gold seller, giving Madonna a No.6 slot.

‘Lucky Star’ and ‘Borderline’ followed,

then ‘Like A Virgin’, a US No.1,  also gained a UK Top 3 spot.

 

In 85 came seven consecutive Top Tens –

the first two being ‘Material Girl’ and ‘Crazy For You’,

then ‘Into The Groove’ for four weeks at No.1,

with ‘Holiday’ and ‘Angel’ next in the queue.

 

‘Gambler’ came next on the Geffen label

(as was ‘Crazy For You’)

Then gold-seller – ‘Dress You Up’ -(back on Sire),

and in 86, ‘Borderline’ returning at No.2.

 

Next, at No.2, came ‘Live To Tell’, (also a US No.1),

and ‘Papa Don’t Preach’ – for 3 weeks – a UK No.1

followed by ‘True Blue’ and ‘Open Your Heart’,

and in 87, ‘La Isla Bonita’, for 2 weeks – a UK No.1.

 

‘Who’s That Girl’ – the next US & UK No.1,

followed by ‘Causing A Commotion’ at No.4,

and ‘The Look Of Love’ closing this year,

but 89 had 4 UK Top Tens in store.

 

At No.1 for 3 weeks was ‘Like A Prayer’,

then ‘Express Yourself’ at No.5 and ‘Cherish’ at No.3,

before ‘Dear Jessie’ closed the decade, and in 90 –

US No.1 -‘Vogue’ – for 4 weeks a UK No.1, was to be.

 

‘Hanky Panky’ and ‘Justify My Love’,

in 90, both made the UK No.2,

and in 91, now on the Sire label,

also making No.2 was ‘Crazy For You’.

 

‘Rescue Me’ and ‘Holiday’ – the last Top Tens of 91,

and in 92, ‘This Used To Be My Playground’ –

a US No.1, reached the UK Top 3,

and on Maverick, came ‘Erotica’ –  also a Top 3 sound.

 

‘Deeper and Deeper’ ended this year,

with ‘Bad Girl’, the first Top Ten of 93,

then ‘Fever’ and ‘Rain’, and in 94 – ‘I’ll Remember’,

before ‘Secret’, and then US No.1 – ‘Take A Bow’, we see.

 

‘Bedtime Story’ and ‘Human Nature’,

two more Top Tens to arrive,

and ‘You’ll See’  also included,

in Madonnas’ UK hits of 95.

 

Opening 96 came ‘Oh Father’,  followed by

‘One More Chance’ and ‘You Must Love Me’,

and closing this year ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’,

on Warner Brothers, reached No.3.

 

Also on Warner Brothers (as was ‘You Must Love Me’),

next came ‘Another Suitcase In Another Hall’,

and in 98 at No.1 on Maverick was ‘Frozen’,

and ‘Ray Of Light’ had a UK No.2 call.

 

Then came ‘Drowned World’ (Substitute For Love),

and ‘The Power Of Goodbye’/’Little Star’, also a Top 10.

and ‘Nothing Really Matters’ and ‘Beautiful Stranger’ –

two Top Tens of 99,  to follow on then.

 

‘American Pie’ and ‘Music’ – two Millennium number ones,

and included in this year -‘Don’t Tell Me’ – at No.4 in the UK,

and at No.7 in 01 – ‘What It Feels Like For A Girl’,

and in 02, on Warner Brothers came ‘Die Another Day’.

 

In 03, ‘American Life (Import) at No.57,

followed by ‘American Life’ at No.2.

and also at No.2 came ‘Hollywood’,

from this Goddess of Invention, so true.

 

Also in 03, ‘Me Against The Music’  on Jive,

by Britney Spears featuring Madonna – a UK No.2

then came ‘Nothing Falls’/’Love Profusion’,

making No.11, as 03 was through.

 

In 05, ‘Hung Up’ and in o6 ‘Sorry’

both UK number ones,  with Madonna at her best.

‘Get Together’ and ‘Jump’ ending the year,

both UK Top Tens to add to the rest.

 

In 08,  ‘4 Minutes’  featuring Justin Timberlake –

a UK No.1 for 4 weeks in the charts.

Also in this year ‘Give It 2 Me’ and ‘Miles Away’,

and in 09 ‘Celebration’ – a No.3 for this Queen of Hearts.

 

written by

Harriet Blackbury

June 27, 2018

 

 

As one of The Crickets, Buddy Holly,  

in 57, had a No.1 in the US and in the UK

on the Vogue Coral label

with ‘That’ll Be The Day’.

 

Also in 57 on Coral

reaching No.3 was ‘Oh Boy’,

and ‘Maybe Baby’ and ‘Think It Over’,

in 58, brought fans more Top 20 joy.

 

Reaching No.6 in 57 on Coral, Buddy Holly’s

first solo hit – ‘Peggy Sue’ came along,

and in 58, three more Top Twenty hits followed,

proving he could do no wrong.

 

‘Listen To Me’ and ‘Rave On’

being the next two singles in the UK charts,

and with ‘Early In The Morning’  at No.17

Buddy Holly was sure winning hearts.

 

Following his tragic death in 59,

‘It Doesn’t Matter Anymore’ made No.1.

Also in 59, ‘Peggy Sue Got Married’ – a hit,

as fans’ heartache lingered on. 

 

‘Baby I Don’t Care’ / Valley Of Tears’ –

in 61, up to No.12  ran.

In at No.17 in 62 came ‘Reminiscing,

followed in 63 by Brown-Eyed Handsome Man.

 

The second Top Ten hit of 63,

still on Coral, was ‘Bo Diddley’ making No.4.

and at No.10 in 63 came ‘Wishing’ –

What a legacy to leave, for sure.

 

Thank You For The Music.

RIP Buddy Holly  – died 3-2-59

 

written by

Harriet Blackbury

 

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