January 31, 2021

 

 

With their first of seven hits on Columbia,

in 64, ‘Baby Let Me Take You Home’, rose to No.21.

And also in 64, reaching a US & UK No.1,

came ‘The House Of The Rising Sun’.

 

Ending 64, ‘I’m Crying’, climbed to No.8,

and in 65, ‘Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood’, was a Top 3.

And their next hit of 65, also a Top Ten, at No.7,

was ‘Bring It On Home To Me’.

 

In 65, ‘We Gotta Get Out Of This Place’, peaked at No.2.

And also, ‘It’s My Life’, gave them another Top 7 shout.

In 66, with their first hit on Decca, they rose to No.12,

with ‘Inside – Looking Out’.

 

Also in 66, still on Decca, ‘Don’t Bring Me Down’, a No.6.

And finally on Decca, ‘Help Me Girl’, at No.14, did arrive,

though now, renamed  Eric Burden and The Animals.

And in 67, on MGM, ‘When I Was Young’, peaked at No.45 

 

Still in 67, four more hits followed on MGM, including

‘Good Times’, at No.20 and ‘San Franciscan Nights at No.7.

In 68, ‘Sky Pilot’, made the Top 40 flight.

And in 69, ‘Ring Of Fire’, a No.35  delight.

 

In 72, ‘The House Of The Rising Sun’, on Rak, made No.25.

In 82, ‘The House Of The Rising Sun’, also on Rak, a No.11.

Bringing to an end, a glimpse of this remarkable group,

that to this day, fans think are pure heaven.

 

Thank You for the music

Chas Chandler     1938  –  1996

Hilton Valentine      1943  –  2021

 

Written by

Harriet Blackbury

 

January 3, 2021

 

 

From 63 – 65, Gerry & The Pacemakers,

had nine Top 30 hits on the Columbia label,

including their first three consecutive entries,

all of which reached No.1, in the UK chart table.

 

The first one being ‘How Do You Do It’,

followed by ‘I Like It’, and ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ –

which became the anthem of Liverpool FC,

and a song, which Gerry made his own.

 

In 64, ‘I’m the One’, climbed to No.2, and

‘Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying’, gained a No.6 view.

Also in 64, ‘It’s Gonna Be Alright’, made No.24,

and at No.8 ,’Ferry Across The Mersey’, their fans loved true.

 

In 65, ‘I’ll Be There’, reached No.15,

and ending 65, ‘Walk Hand In Hand’, peaked at No.29.

Thank you Gerry Marsden, your music will be sung,

forever and ever, line after line.

 

R.I.P   1942 – 2021

You’ll never walk alone.

 

written by

Harriet Blackbury

 

November 23, 2020

 

 

In 86, ‘Walk Like An Egyptian’,

came from The Bangles, on CBS.

And in 05, ‘You’re Beautiful’, on Atlantic,

gave James Blunt a U.S. No.1 success.

 

The Beatles with Billy Preston, on Apple,

had a hit with ‘Get Back’, in 69.

And in 90, George Michael, on Epic,

arrived with ‘Praying For Time’.

 

In 70, ‘Venus’, on Penny Farthing,

came from Shocking Blue.

And in 78, Yvonne Elliman, on RSO,

gave us ‘If I Can’t Have You’.

 

In 85, ‘Broken Wings’ by Mr Mister,

arrived on RCA.

And in 09, Jason De Rula, on Warner Brothers,

had a US No.1 with ‘Whatcha Say’.

 

In 80, Blondie on Chrysalis,

had a hit with ‘Call Me’.

And in 90, ‘Blaze Of Glory’, on Vertigo,

came from Jon Bon Jovi.

 

In 71, The Temptations on Tamla Motown gave us,

‘Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)’.

And Outkast, with ‘Hey Ya’ on Arista,

topped the US chart in 03.

 

In 78, Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams, on CBS,

with ‘Too Much  Too Little  Too Late’, made the No.1 line.

And The Doobie Brothers on Warner Brothers,

also a No.1, with ‘What A Fool Believes’, in 79.

 

In 75, ‘Angie Baby’, on Capitol,

gave Helen Reddy a No.1 sell.

And in 87, Terence Trent D’arby, on CBS,

had a hit with ‘Wishing Well’.

 

In 82, Christopher Cross, on Warner Brothers,

blessed us with ‘Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)’.

And in 2010, ‘Fireflies’, on Island,

for Owl City, a US No.1, too.

 

In 86, Kim Wilde, on MCA,

gave us ‘You Keep Me Hangin on’.

And in 98, ‘I don’t want to miss a thing’,

on Columbia, for Aerosmith, a US No.1.

 

Wild Cherry on Epic, had a hit,

with ‘Play That Funky Music’, in 76.

And in 90, ‘It Must Have Been Love’, on EMI,

for Roxette, ends this US No.1 mix.

 

written by Harriet Blackbury.

 

November 5, 2020

 

 

With their first of fifteen hits on RCA,

in 71, The Sweet took ‘Funny Funny’ to No.13.

Also in 71, ‘Co – Co’, reached the Top 2,

and Alexander Graham Bell, made the No.33 scene.

 

In 72, ‘Poppa Joe’ climbed to No.11,

followed by ‘Little Willie’, with a No.4 won.

Also in 72, ‘Wig-Wam Bam’, made No.4,

and in 73, ‘Blockbuster’, enjoyed five weeks at No.1.

 

Still in 73, ‘Hell Raiser’, reached No.2,

and ‘The Ballroom Blitz’, also a Top 2.

In 74, ‘Teenage Rampage’, yet another Top 2,

with ‘The Six Teens’, at No.9, on view.

 

Ending 74, ‘Turn It Down’ peaked at No.41,

and in 75, ‘Fox On The Run’ made a No.2 cry.

Also in 75, ‘Action’ peaked at No.15,

and in 76, ‘Lies In Your Eyes’, a No.35 high.

 

In 78, ‘Love Is Like Oxygen’, at No.9,

was their first hit on Polydor.

And in 85, ‘It’s…It’s… The Sweet Mix’,

on Anagram, made a No.45 score.

 

R I P

Brian Connolly     1945 – 1997

Mick Tucker     1947 – 2002

Steve Priest     1948 – 2020

Thank You for the music

 

written by Harriet Blackbury

 

 

 

With all but one of their hits on Parlophone, in 94

‘Caught By The Fuzz’, at No.43, their first chart entry.

Followed in 95, by ‘Mansize Rooster’,

which climbed into the Top 20.

 

Also in 95, ‘Lose It’, on Sub Pop, made No.75,

and ‘Lenny’, back on Parlophone, had a Top 10 shout.

With ‘Alright’/’Time’, their last hit of 95 – a No.2,

and in 96, in the Top 5, was ‘Going Out’.

 

In 97, three more hits followed,

with ‘Richard 111’, claiming a Top 2 play.

Then ‘Sun Hits The Sky’, a Top 10,

and at No.18, came ‘Late In The Day’.

 

In 99, ‘Pumping On Your Stereo’, made No 11,

with ‘Moving’ at No.9, the next to arrive.

And ending 99, ‘Mary’ reached No.36,

and in 02,’Never Done Nothing Like That Before’, a No.75.

 

Also in 02, ‘Grace’ peaked at No.13,

and in 03, ‘Seen The Light’, rose to No.22.

In 04, ‘Kiss Of Life’ made No.23,

and in 05, ‘St Petersburg’, also a No.22.

 

Still in 05, reaching No.52, came ‘Low C’,

and in 08, ‘Bad Blood’ peaked at No.73.

Ending this run of chart hits,

for Supergrass, covering a fourteen year spree.

 

written by  Harriet Blackbury

 

 

October 21, 2020

 

 

With their first of nine hits on Fontana,

in 64, ‘I Can’t Stand It’ made a No.47 score.

Followed in 65, by ‘Every Little Hurts’, at No.41,

and ‘Strong Love’, reaching No.44.

 

Ending 65, ‘Keep On Running’

became their first UK No.1.

And in 66, ‘Somebody Help Me’, also a No.1,

before ‘When I Come Home’,  a No.12, won.

 

Finally in 66, ‘Gimme Some Lovin’, rose to No.2,

and opening 67, ‘I’m A Man’, peaked at No.9.

Also in 67, (their last hit on Fontana) –

‘Time Seller’, reached the Top 30 line .

 

In 68, on United Artists,

‘Mr Second Class’, made No.35.

And in 08, ‘I’m A Man’, now on Island,

at No.54, their last chart entry to arrive.

 

R.I.P.   Spencer Davis  1939 – 2020

Thank you for the music

 

written by Harriet Blackbury

 

 

October 7, 2020

 

 

In 80, ‘Runnin With The Devil’ –

their first of twelve UK chart entries loved true.

(all coming on the Warner Brothers label),

and reaching No.52.

 

In 84, ‘Jump’, leapt to No.7,

and was a US. No.1 hit.

Also in 84, ‘Panama’, reached No.61.

And in 86, ‘Why Can’t This Be Love’, a No.8 fit.

 

Next in 86, came Dreams’,

peaking at No.62.

And in 88, ‘When it’s Love’,

claimed a No.28 view.

 

In 89, ‘Feels So Good’, reached No.63,

followed in 91, by ‘Poundcake’, at No.74.

Also in 91, ‘Top Of The World’,

another single, settling at the No.63 door.

 

In 93, ‘(Jump) Live’, rose to No.26.

And in 95, making No.27, was ‘Don’t Tell Me’.

Also in 95, ‘Can’t Stop Loving You’, appeared,

being their last chart entry, reaching No.33.

 

Thank You for the music.

R. I. P.   Eddie Van Halen  1955 – 2020

 

Written by Harriet Blackbury.

 

July 13, 2020

 

 

In 05, ‘Nine Million Bicycles’, was a Top 5,

for Katie Melua, on Dramatico.

And in 08, ‘Nine In The Afternoon’, on Decaydance/Fueled By Ramen,

made No.13, for Panic! At The Disco.

 

In 74, ‘977’, reached No.66,

for The Pretenders, on Wea.

And in 80, ‘9 To 5’, on EMI, for Sheena Easton,

a gold-selling US.No.1 & UK.Top 3.

 

In 88, Londonbeat, on AnXious,

made No.19, with ‘9 A.M. (The Comfort Zone)’.

And in 01, ’19-2000′, reached No.6,

for Gorillaz, on Parlophone.

 

In 97  ‘Nine Ways’, on ffrr,

took JDS to No.47.

And in 99, ‘1999’, on Positiva

saw Binary Finary peak at No.11.

 

In 60, ‘Nine Times Out Of Ten’, on Columbia,

took Cliff Richard & The Shadows to No.3.

And in 04, ’99 Problems’/’Dirt On Your Shoulder’,

on Roc-A-Fella, peaked at No.12, for Jay-Z.

 

In 84, ’99 Red Balloons’, a gold-seller, on Epic,

for Nena, arrived at the No.1 door.

And in 07, ‘1973’, on Atlantic,

gave James Blunt, a Top 4.

 

In 83, ‘1999’, on Warner Brothers,

made the Top 2 for Prince & The Revolution.

And in 85, ’19’, on Chrysalis,

gave Paul Hardcastle a gold-selling No.1.

 

In 67, Keith, on Mercury,

made No.24 with ‘98.6’.

And in 92, ‘99.9o F’, on A & M,

for Suzanne Vega, peaked at No.46.

 

In 85, ‘N-N-Nineteen Not Out’, on Oval,

took The Commentators to No.13.

And in 90, ’96 Tears’, on Epic,

for The Stranglers. made No.17.

 

In 95, ‘Nineteen 63’, on London,

saw New Order, at No.21.

And in 96, ‘1979’, on Virgin, rose to No.16,

for The Smashing Pumpkins, now this mix is done.

 

 

July 12, 2020

 

 

 

In 64,’Hold Me’, on Decca

gave P J Proby a Top 3.

And in 02, 3SL rose to No.16,

on Epic with ‘Touch Me, Tease me’.

 

In 77, ‘Too Hot To Handle’/’Slip Your Disc To This.’

gave Heatwave, a No.15 on GTO.

And in 97, Grace, peaked at No.38

with ‘Hand In Hand’, on Perfecto.

 

In 84, ‘Touch By Touch’, on Capitol,

for Diana Ross climbed to No.47.

And in 94, ‘Hold Me  Thrill Me  Kiss me’,

on Epic, gave Gloria Estefan a No.11.

 

In 89, ‘Hand On Your Heart’, on PWL,

gave Kylie Minogue, a gold-selling No.1 entry.

And in 95, ‘Holding On To You’, on Columbia,

for Terence Trent D’arby, made the Top 20.

 

In 73, ‘Feel The Need In Me’, on Janus,

gave The Detroit Emeralds a No.4.

And in 91, ‘Touch Me (All Night Long)’,

for Cathy Dennis, a Top 5, on Polydor.

 

In 96, ‘Take Me To Heaven’, on Systematic,

reached No.15, for Baby D.

And in 07, Robyn peaked at No.17,

on Konichiwa, with ‘Handle Me’.

 

In 94, ‘Feel What You Want’, on Champion,

gave  Kristine W, a No.33.

And in 01, ‘Feel So Good’, on Virgin,

made the Top 5, for Melanie B.

 

In 78, ‘A Touch Of Velvet A Sting Of Brass’, on Casino Classics,

made the Top 60, for The Ron Grainer Orchestra.

And in 99, ‘A Touch Of Love’, on Wea,

reached No.24, for Cleopatra.

 

In 89, Rick Astley, made the Top 10,

with ‘Hold Me In Your Arms’, on RCA.

And in 08, ‘Touch My Body’, on Def Jam,

gave Mariah Carey, a US.No1 & UK.Top 5 play.

 

In 69, Tom Jones, made No.9,

on Decca, with ‘Love Me Tonight’.

And in 95, East 17, peaked at No.12,

on London, with ‘Hold My Body Tight’.

 

In 73, ‘Touch Me In The Morning’, on Tamla Motown,

gave Diana Ross, a US.No1 & UK.No.9 score.

And in 83, ‘Hold Me Now’, on Arista,

gave The Thompson Twins, a gold-selling Top 4.

 

In 05, ‘Hold You Down’, on Epic,

for Jennifer Lopez featuring Fat Joe, made No.6.

And also in 05, ‘Feel The Vibe (Til The Morning Comes)’,

at No.16, on Data, for Axwell, ends this list.

 

 

April 28, 2020

 

 

‘Times They Are A-Changin’ &’ Subterranean Homesick

Blues’ – (the first two of sixteen UK chart hits, on CBS),

 for Robert Zimmerman, known as Bob Dylan,

in 65, both at No.9, hot off the press.

 

Still in 65, ‘Maggie’s Farm’ followed, peaking at No.22,

with ‘Like A Rollong Stone’ & ‘Positively Fourth Street’ –

reaching No.4 & No.8 consecutively, ending 65,

as 66, turned up the heat.

 

‘Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window’, made No.17,

and ‘One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later)’, at No.33.

Next came ‘Rainy Day Women Nos.12 & 35’,rising to No.7,

and closing 66, ‘I Want You’, a No.16 hit, was to be.

 

In 69, ‘I Threw It All Away’, a Top 30,

and ‘Lay Lady Lay’ – a Top 5.

In 71,’Watching The River Flow’, peaked at No.24,

and in 73,’Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door’ at No.14, did arrive.

 

In 76, ‘Hurricane’, reached No.43,

and in 78, ‘Baby Stop Crying’, peaked at No.13.

Also in 78, ‘Is Your Love In Vain’, made No.56 –

being his last hit on CBS seen.

 

In 95, now on Columbia,

‘Dignity’, claimed a No.33 slot.

And in 98, ‘Love Sick’, peaked at No.64,

and in 2000,’Things Have To Change’ made a No.58 spot.

 

In 07, ‘Most Likely You Go Your Way’,

reached No.51, for this beloved man.

And in 2010, ‘Must Be Santa’,

rose to No.41, as another decade began.

 

 

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