We know how to show you this old chart from 1978

[Chris Brown]

One of the last Top 50 charts before it stretched out to Top 75. I've
had this in the schedule for a while as a tribute to Neil Innes, who
died just after Christmas. I didn't know how many more I'd be paying
tribute to before I got here.
Anyway, at least one track now regarded as a classic is debuting here.
I can't take credit or blame for the quality of this chart as I was
still a baby and most of it must have been recorded before I was born,
but I do own several of these tracks now, including one in the original
7" form.

Playlists are here. I think I found nearly everything.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0HCtTjvE7abbqjy3ihqrVn?si=j0fmro1XR5WLQ4ZLLuYaaw
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdiUvgvgpgNrD_qcfycaNFP887yJ81ilP

29th April 1978

1. (2) The Bee Gees Night Fever
2. (1) Brian & Michael Matchstalk Men And Matchstalk Cats And Dogs
3. (3) Showaddywaddy I Wonder Why
4. (4) Suzi Quatro If You Can't Give Me Love
5. (7) Johnny Mathis and Deneice Williams Too Much, Too Little, Too Late
6. (6) Andrew Gold Never Let Her Slip Away
7. (9) Genesis Follow You Follow Me
8. (5) Wings With A Little Luck
9. (8) Gerry Rafferty Baker Street
10.(20) The Michael Zager Band Let's All Chant
11.(11) Sheila And B. Devotion Singing In The Rain
12.(18) Chic Everybody Dance
13.(27) Dee D Jackson Automatic Lover
14.(14) Dr Hook More Like The Movies
15.(19) The Boomtown Rats She's So Modern
16.(39) Co-Co Bad Old Days
17.(21) Richard Myhill It Takes Two To Tango
18.(13) Dan Hill Sometimes When We Touch
19.(12) The Manhattan Transfer Walk in Love
20.(10) Blondie Denis
21.(NE) Boney M Rivers Of Babylon/Brown Girl In The Ring
22.(28) Raydio Jack And Jill
23.(22) Squeeze Take Me I'm Yours
24.(23) Elvis Costello And The Attractions (I Don't Wanna Go To) Chelsea
25.(34) Raffaella Carra Do It Do It Again
26.(42) Richard Denton and Martin Cook Theme From "The Hong Kong Beat"
27.(NE) Patti Smith Group Because The Night
28.(15) Kate Bush Wuthering Heights
29.(40) Donna Summer Back In Love Again
30.(NE) Ruby Winters Come To Me!
31.(17) Eruption I Can't Stand The Rain
32.(29) The Real Thing Whenever You Want My Love
33.(45) Gene Farrow Move Your Body
34.(31) Tina Charles I'll Go Where Your Music Takes Me
35.(35) Elton John Ego
36.(25) Nick Lowe I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass
37.(16) Hot Chocolate Every 1's A Winner
38.(37) Maggie Bell Hazell
39.(41) The Rutles I Must Be In Love
40.(24) Samantha Sang Emotions
41.(46) Graham Parker And The Rumour Hey Lord Don't Ask Me Questions
42.(32) Gladys Knight And The Pips The One And Only
43.(NE) Child When You Walk In The Room
44.(48) Devo (I Can't Get Me No) Satisfaction
45.(NE) John Paul Young Love Is In The Air
46.(36) Television Foxhole
47.(NE) Alan Price Just For You
48.(NE) Ian Dury What A Waste
49.(NE) X-Ray Spex The Day The World Turned Day-Glo
50.(NE) Charo And The Salsoul Orchestra Dance A Little Bit Closer

Chris

[Mark Goodge]

On Sun, 26 Apr 2020 16:05:02 +0100, Chris Brown <extrem...@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>One of the last Top 50 charts before it stretched out to Top 75. I've
>had this in the schedule for a while as a tribute to Neil Innes, who
>died just after Christmas. I didn't know how many more I'd be paying
>tribute to before I got here.
>Anyway, at least one track now regarded as a classic is debuting here.
>I can't take credit or blame for the quality of this chart as I was
>still a baby and most of it must have been recorded before I was born,
>but I do own several of these tracks now, including one in the original
>7" form.
>
>Playlists are here. I think I found nearly everything.
>https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0HCtTjvE7abbqjy3ihqrVn?si=j0fmro1XR5WLQ4ZLLuYaaw
>https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdiUvgvgpgNrD_qcfycaNFP887yJ81ilP
>
>29th April 1978

1978 was, in many ways, when the 80s really began. Although not in the
way generally accepted by people who make calendars, of course. But
there is a transition era feel to this chart, there are songs which
belong firmly in a 70s milieu alongside precursors of what would become
the dominant early 80s genres. Included among the latter are some early
songs by acts that would go on to be very big names indeed.

I remember all of this very well; I was in my mid teens and starting to
get into music in a big way. Some of the tracks in here are among my
early single purchases, but far more are among the ones recorded from
the radio (Luxembourg, mostly) and added to mix tapes.

I've seen one act in this chart play live. I'm a little surprised I
haven't seen more, to be honest. Although, then again, few of the acts
in here are likely contenders for festivals in the time span that I've
been going to them, and I've never been much of a standalone gig
attender due to living in the middle of nowhere far from any decent
venue.

It scares me a little how many artists in this chart are now dead.
Obviously, I was young then, and they weren't. But, still.

>1. (2) The Bee Gees Night Fever

Classic song. From their classic era. I wouldn't have called this one of
my favourite songs at the time, but I definitely liked it.

>2. (1) Brian & Michael Matchstalk Men And Matchstalk Cats And Dogs

From the era when a novelty record could hit number one. Although it's a
better song than the "novelty" tag might suggest.

>3. (3) Showaddywaddy I Wonder Why

This was a bit pants, though. To my credit, I did realise that at the
time. Although my dad liked it. I suppose they'd probably have been
happy with that.

>4. (4) Suzi Quatro If You Can't Give Me Love

Not hugely memorable.

>5. (7) Johnny Mathis and Deneice Williams Too Much, Too Little, Too Late

Nor is this.

>6. (6) Andrew Gold Never Let Her Slip Away

This, on the other hand, is very reminiscent of the era. Although I had
mixed feelings about it at the time, and still do. It's simultaneously
catchy and irritating, and even after all this time I still haven't
really worked out why.

>7. (9) Genesis Follow You Follow Me

The official anthem of Twitter. One of my favourites at the time. Like a
lot in this chart, it's a transition song, but in this case it's the
band's own transition from prog to pop.

There's also an interesting little snapshot of the way that music was
changing in this song. Genesis were an early user of analogue synths,
and in the video you can see Tony Banks playing one in classic analogue
fashion, with one hand on the keyboard and the other hand on the
controllers so that the timbre of the notes changes as he plays them.
That nuance was largely disregarded by early electronic bands such as
Ultravox and the Human League, who tended to set up the kit and then
play it as-is for the entire song, and then later became practically
impossible with the advent of digital synths where the sound quality has
to be programmed rather than played.

>8. (5) Wings With A Little Luck

Not one of their best songs. Not even, in my opinion, the best from the
album, although it was the most successful.

>9. (8) Gerry Rafferty Baker Street

All time classic. I thought at the time that it was one of the best
songs ever written. I'm glad that posterity agrees with me.

>10.(20) The Michael Zager Band Let's All Chant

Good song. Very much of its era, but a good example of it.

>11.(11) Sheila And B. Devotion Singing In The Rain

Some cover versions work. This is one of the others.

>12.(18) Chic Everybody Dance

Staple of the Friday night disco. Not one of their best, though.

>13.(27) Dee D Jackson Automatic Lover

Mildly bizarre. Hasn't aged well.

>14.(14) Dr Hook More Like The Movies

Very much of its era.

>15.(19) The Boomtown Rats She's So Modern

Fairly typical of this stage in their career.

>16.(39) Co-Co Bad Old Days

From the days when Eurovision was good. Although this wasn't.

>17.(21) Richard Myhill It Takes Two To Tango

Unmemorable.

>18.(13) Dan Hill Sometimes When We Touch

Very 70s.

>19.(12) The Manhattan Transfer Walk in Love

Rather bland, although that was possibly a reflection of the fact that
they were never really a chart band, and if you like this sort of thing
then this is probably fine.

>20.(10) Blondie Denis

Their first UK hit. I liked this enough to buy both the album this came
from and their previous album.

>21.(NE) Boney M Rivers Of Babylon/Brown Girl In The Ring

I liked these - both of them - at the time. Both are cover versions, the
first of a 1970 reggae hit and the second a reworking of a traditional
Caribbean children's song.

>22.(28) Raydio Jack And Jill

Bland.

>23.(22) Squeeze Take Me I'm Yours

Not one of their better known songs, now. But, still, a good song
anyway.

>24.(23) Elvis Costello And The Attractions (I Don't Wanna Go To) Chelsea

Another one that has been overshadowed by later hits.

>25.(34) Raffaella Carra Do It Do It Again

Very much of its era.

>26.(42) Richard Denton and Martin Cook Theme From "The Hong Kong Beat"

I suppose it made sense at the time.

>27.(NE) Patti Smith Group Because The Night

Classic song. Very evocative of the era.

>28.(15) Kate Bush Wuthering Heights

Also a classic track, although not so evocative of the era now because
it still gets a lot of gold format airplay. Still one of my all-time
favourite songs. My wife hates it.

>29.(40) Donna Summer Back In Love Again

Not one of her best.

>30.(NE) Ruby Winters Come To Me!

Unmemorable.

>31.(17) Eruption I Can't Stand The Rain

I liked this at the time.

>36.(25) Nick Lowe I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass

I liked this at the time, too.

>37.(16) Hot Chocolate Every 1's A Winner

Classic of the era.

>39.(41) The Rutles I Must Be In Love

More Beatlesque than The Beatles. Although, of course, that was the
point.

>43.(NE) Child When You Walk In The Room

I liked this at the time. I don't think I've heard it since the time.

>48.(NE) Ian Dury What A Waste

Another that was somewhat overshadowed by later releases.

>49.(NE) X-Ray Spex The Day The World Turned Day-Glo

They only had five hits. This isn't one they're remembered for.

Mark
--
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mayor-of-evesham

[Vidcapper]

On 26/04/2020 16:05, Chris Brown wrote:

>
> 29th April 1978
>
> 1. (2) The Bee Gees Night Fever
> 2. (1) Brian & Michael Matchstalk Men And Matchstalk Cats And Dogs
> 3. (3) Showaddywaddy I Wonder Why

> 7. (9) Genesis Follow You Follow Me

> 9. (8) Gerry Rafferty Baker Street

> 13.(27) Dee D Jackson Automatic Lover

> 20.(10) Blondie Denis
> 21.(NE) Boney M Rivers Of Babylon/Brown Girl In The Ring

> 27.(NE) Patti Smith Group Because The Night
> 28.(15) Kate Bush Wuthering Heights

> 37.(16) Hot Chocolate Every 1's A Winner

> 48.(NE) Ian Dury What A Waste

I knew less than I expected from a 1978 chart.


--

Paul Hyett, Cheltenham

[Robbie]

On 26/04/2020 16:05, Chris Brown wrote:

> One of the last Top 50 charts before it stretched out to Top 75. I've
> had this in the schedule for a while as a tribute to Neil Innes, who
> died just after Christmas. I didn't know how many more I'd be paying
> tribute to before I got here.
> Anyway, at least one track now regarded as a classic is debuting here.
> I can't take credit or blame for the quality of this chart as I was
> still a baby and most of it must have been recorded before I was born,
> but I do own several of these tracks now, including one in the original
> 7" form.

1978 was the year I really got into buying singles but this was just a
little too early for me to be buying singles, largely because I didn't
really get pocket money until later in the year.

>
> Playlists are here. I think I found nearly everything.
> https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0HCtTjvE7abbqjy3ihqrVn?si=j0fmro1XR5WLQ4ZLLuYaaw
>
> https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdiUvgvgpgNrD_qcfycaNFP887yJ81ilP
>
> 29th April 1978
>
> 1.  (2) The Bee Gees    Night Fever

But we start with a single I did buy. Given that this record seems to
have been around forever it's hard to imagine that at one time it was a
new single.

> 2.  (1) Brian & Michael    Matchstalk Men And Matchstalk Cats And Dogs

This was was kept at number 1 by the Woolies effect. In most charts it
didn't reach the top . On the BMRB / BBC chart it managed three weeks at
the top largely from weekend sales.

> 3.  (3) Showaddywaddy    I Wonder Why

The allure of Showaddywaddy completely eluded me. They most have lots of
fans though as they had the best selling cassette album (another
Greatest Hits) in 2013.

> 4.  (4) Suzi Quatro    If You Can't Give Me Love

Suzi getting another chance at a music career after seemingly falling
out of favour.

> 5.  (7) Johnny Mathis and Deneice Williams    Too Much, Too Little, Too
> Late

One of those sonsg it was impossible to escape from at the time, it
seemed to be played everywhere.

> 6.  (6) Andrew Gold    Never Let Her Slip Away

As was this one. I found this single a bit annoying.

> 7.  (9) Genesis    Follow You Follow Me

Their first top 10 hit (of 7 in total). This bridged the gap between the
odl Genesis sound and the more commercial sound.

> 8.  (5) Wings    With A Little Luck

A US number 1 if I recall which was probably a relief for Macca as
'Girls School / Mull Of Kintyre' had been a relative flop. Again I found
it a dull song that goes nowhere. In fact it siunds like no real effort
was put into this single.

> 9.  (8) Gerry Rafferty    Baker Street

Still sounds a good song. Gerry pparently hated the song becoming so
successful, he didn't like the idea of making videos and promoting records.

> 10.(20) The Michael Zager Band    Let's All Chant

A great disco song with a very intricate middle section which features
everything including the kitchen sink! Or at least it includes a lot of
musical instruments.

> 11.(11) Sheila And B. Devotion    Singing In The Rain

Awful Euro disco song.

> 12.(18) Chic    Everybody Dance

Great bass line drives the song.

> 13.(27) Dee D Jackson    Automatic Lover

Although she's more closely associated with Italy where she had much
success with her brand of Euro disco she was actually born in Oxford,
the land of Radiohead. It's a cheesy record but I quite like it.

> 14.(14) Dr Hook    More Like The Movies

Another big radio hit. Maudlin middle of the road records really were
popular on radio in early to mid 1978.

> 15.(19) The Boomtown Rats    She's So Modern

"She's so 1970s" does make her sound modern at all... possibly their
worst single up to 'I Don't Like Mondays' (which I don't like at all. I
still bought it though.

> 16.(39) Co-Co Bad Old Days

A pre-Bucks Fizz Cheryl Baker with our awful Eurovision song.

> 17.(21) Richard Myhill    It Takes Two To Tango

Released on a square single, at least in a limited edition. This was an
awful song.

> 18.(13) Dan Hill    Sometimes When We Touch

More sentimental mush that was popular at radio.

> 19.(12) The Manhattan Transfer    Walk in Love

And yet more... although I do remember finding Laurel Masse quite
attractive. It was the way she danced to this song!

> 20.(10) Blondie    Denis

Controversy time... I never found Debbie Harry attractive. Decent
looking yes, but I never was attracted to her. This was a good song though.

> 21.(NE) Boney M    Rivers Of Babylon/Brown Girl In The Ring

It might be 42 years ago but I can remember listening to the new chart
unveil on the Tuesday when this entered the charts at number 21.
Obviously at the time it was just 'Rivers Of Babylon'.I remember turing
to one of my school friends and saying "what a load of rubbish". I still
stand by that!.

> 27.(NE) Patti Smith Group    Because The Night

A great record but if I recall she wasn't very complimentary about Bruce
Springsteen around this time.

> 29.(40) Donna Summer    Back In Love Again

One of the first 12" singles I bought. A great Supremems / Motown pastiche.

> 35.(35) Elton John    Ego

This one caused some raised eyebrows when it failed to make the then all
important top 30 (which is all Radio 1 counted down until the following
month).

> 38.(37) Maggie Bell    Hazell

The TV programme from which this theme tune is taken was on TV a few
weeks ago. I forget if it was Talking Pictures or Forces TV but it may
be the first time I ever saw the programme. The best thing about it was
the theme tune.

> 49.(NE) X-Ray Spex    The Day The World Turned Day-Glo

I bought this single. Great song if very much of its time.

STAR BREAKERS

b01 (b03) JOCKO HOMO - Devo
b02 (b07) BEAT GOES ON & ON - Ripple
b03 (b09) CLOSER I GET TO YOU, THE - Roberta Flack/Donny Hathaway (Chart
Entry 6-May-1978 at No. 42)
b04 (NEW) BOOGIE SHOES - KC & The Sunshine Band (Chart Entry 6-May-1978
at No. 36)
b05 (NEW) IT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE DANCING - Rose Royce (Chart Entry
6-May-1978 at No. 31)
b06 (NEW) I DON'T MIND - Buzzcocks
b07 (b04) SHADOW DANCING - Andy Gibb
b08 (NEW) CAN'T SMILE WITHOUT YOU - Barry Manilow (Chart Entry
6-May-1978 at No. 50)
b09 (b06) LOVE IS SO EASY - Stargard
b10 (NEW) NICE 'N' SLEAZY - Stranglers (Chart Entry 6-May-1978 at No. 27)

Three decent records - Buzzcocks, Andy Gibb and Stranglers.

And as we are so close to the last Star Breakers chart prior to the
extension of the chart to a top 75 here is that last chart from 06/05/78:

STAR BREAKERS
b01 (b07) SHADOW DANCING - Andy Gibb (Chart Entry 13-May-1978 at No. 49)
b02 (NEW) ONLY LOVING DOES IT - Guys & Dolls (Chart Entry 13-May-1978 at
No. 60)
b03 (NEW) WHAT GOES ON - Bryan Ferry (Chart Entry 13-May-1978 at No. 71)
b04 (NEW) ROSALIE - Thin Lizzy (Chart Entry 13-May-1978 at No. 45)
b05 (b06) I DON'T MIND - Buzzcocks (Chart Entry 13-May-1978 at No. 55)
b06 (NEW) LOVING YOU HAS MADE ME BANANAS - Guy Marks (Chart Entry
13-May-1978 at No. 59)
b07 (NEW) JUPITER - Earth Wind & Fire (Chart Entry 13-May-1978 at No. 54)
b08 (NEW) A BA NI BI - Izhar Cohen & Alphabeta (Chart Entry 13-May-1978
at No. 27)
b09 (b01) JOCKO HOMO - Devo (Chart Entry 13-May-1978 at No. 65)
b10 (NEW) UP AGAINST THE WALL - Tom Robinson Band (Chart Entry
13-May-1978 at No. 36)

In reality the extension of the chart to a top 75 didn't really involve
many more records. Records below number 40 with two weeks worth of
falling sales were already excluded from the top 50 and Breakers Chart
and had been since 12/07/75. When the chart extended to a top 75 they
were allowed back in if they had sold enough. Add in the 10 Star
Breakers and I reckon there were almost 75 records anyway. The industry
chart, which was kept under wraps then, extended from a top 100 to a top
200 so quite why the published (and public) part of the chart didn't
extended to a top 100 is surprising. I've always found a top 75 to be an
very awkward and weird size.

>     Chris