John Lennon was the first ex-Beatles to release a solo single but was the last to have a number one song, but he finally makes it with “Whatever Gets You Thru The Night”. He came close twice before with two songs that peaked at #3, “Instant Karma (We All Shine On)”, a song about fate and “Imagine”, a song about hope. This particular record was a raucous number with background vocals and piano and organ playing provided by Elton John. The singer was doubtful the song would be a hit but Elton John was sure it would hit number one. They made a bet. If the song reached the top of the chart in the United States, the elusive singer, who rarely did shows or made appearances, would appear with Elton John in concert at Madison Square Garden. It did and the singer made an unannounced showing. Two John’s at one concert! Brooklyn Disco group B.T. Express are aiming hard to take their first chart record to the top. They dance up five notches to number two this week. Bobby Vinton’s biggest hit in a decade is within striking range of hitting number one. Vinton, who was the biggest selling male singles artist of the 1960s and scored four chart toppers last reached the pinnacle of the Hot 100 with “Mr. Lonely”. Another charting newcomer Billy Swan takes his first listing into the Top Ten with the bouncy “I Can Help” jumping from #15 to #6. Neil Diamond now has his eighth Top Ten hit as “Longfellow Serenade” moves up nicely to #7. Carl Carlton’s rendition of “Everlasting Love” enters the Top Ten at #9, which is something the original version by Robert Knight could not do. He peaked at #13 with the song in 1967. And yet another song falls from number one completely out of the Top Ten. BTO does the trick this week. And just maybe it will happen again. Harry Chapin drove his cab in “Taxi” to #24 in 1972. He now has the highest charting song of his career as the universally-themed “Cat’s In The Cradle” moves up to #22. British pop group Fancy took their remake of “Wild Thing” to #14 earlier in 1974. Now they have their second Top 40 hit in a row as “Touch Me” leaps to #31. In twenty charting songs, Three Dog Night have only missed the Top 20 once and that was with their first listing, “Try A Little Tenderness”, a remake of the Otis Redding hit, which stalled at #29 in 1969. It looks like their streak is about to end as “Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues)” inches up to #33. They had a good, long, successful run. Barry White’s follow-up to his number one song “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe”, the faster-paced “You’re The First, The Last, My Everything” is now at #36. Gladys Knight & The Pips reach the Top 40 for the 22nd time with “I Feel A Song (In My Heart)” at #37. Neil Sedaka, who hasn’t had a chart hit in nine years and who hasn’t had a Top 40 hit in eleven years, finally returns to that section in the chart as “Laughter In The Rain” is now at #39. His last Top 40 record was “Bad Girl”, which made it to #33 in 1963. Rolling Stones move up well with their remake of “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” hitting #40 in only their second week on the Hot 100. It’s their 26th Top 40 hit in slightly more than ten years. It’s tough stalling at #41 especially when your previous hit when to number one. Such is the case with Paper Lace and “The Black-Eyed Boys”. At least they made it big with “The Night Chicago Died”. Stevie Wonder goes Jamaican on his latest release, “Boogie On Reggae Woman”. His follow-up to the number one “You Haven’t Done Nothin’” jerks on at #62. And yet another ex-Beatle, Ringo (no last name listed nor needed) makes a nice debut with his remake of “Only You” at #63. Quite a few artists have charted with that song but the biggest and best-known version was by The Platters. They went to #5 with the song in 1955. Ringo’s last five records all made the Top Ten. Record producer to Bette Midler and now singer Barry Manilow has a hit all his own as “Mandy” arrives at #65. The song, which was originally called “Brandy”, was a hit in England for Scott English, who also co-wrote the song. Manilow changed the name so it wouldn’t be confused with the same-titled recording by Looking Glass. Had enough of remakes…not yet…as Donny & Marie Osmond hit with “Morning Side Of The Mountain” at #74. The original by Tommy Edwards made it to #27 in 1959. Country singer Charley Pride has a nice debut with “Mississippi Cotton Pickin’ Delta Town” at #75. It’s his tenth Hot 100 charter, but only one has made the Top 40 on that chart, his signature song “Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’”, which reached #21 in 1972. Aretha Franklin hits the Hot 100 for the 49th time with “Without You” at #77. Jefferson Airplane updates their name to Jefferson Starship and return to the chart after a three year hiatus with “Ride The Tiger” at #91. Folk-Pop singer Gene Cotton has his first Hot 100 entry with “Sunshine Roses” at #92. Another singer absent from the chart for a while, over five years, Rhythm & Blues and Gospel vocalist Percy Sledge is back with “I’ll Be Your Everything”, coming on at #96. The number one album this week was “Walls And Bridges” by John Lennon. Next week…a Swan flies high. An ancient art having a resurgence chops up the chart. And yet another musician joins all his ex-band members on the Hot 100. Stay safe and warm!
Fun stuff for a Saturday! Thanks , Johnny!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Nice list of music Johnny! Have a great weekend!👍✌️
Thanks Sean, you too!
John Lennon was the first ex-Beatles to release a solo single but was the last to have a number one song, but he finally makes it with “Whatever Gets You Thru The Night”. He came close twice before with two songs that peaked at #3, “Instant Karma (We All Shine On)”, a song about fate and “Imagine”, a song about hope. This particular record was a raucous number with background vocals and piano and organ playing provided by Elton John. The singer was doubtful the song would be a hit but Elton John was sure it would hit number one. They made a bet. If the song reached the top of the chart in the United States, the elusive singer, who rarely did shows or made appearances, would appear with Elton John in concert at Madison Square Garden. It did and the singer made an unannounced showing. Two John’s at one concert! Brooklyn Disco group B.T. Express are aiming hard to take their first chart record to the top. They dance up five notches to number two this week. Bobby Vinton’s biggest hit in a decade is within striking range of hitting number one. Vinton, who was the biggest selling male singles artist of the 1960s and scored four chart toppers last reached the pinnacle of the Hot 100 with “Mr. Lonely”. Another charting newcomer Billy Swan takes his first listing into the Top Ten with the bouncy “I Can Help” jumping from #15 to #6. Neil Diamond now has his eighth Top Ten hit as “Longfellow Serenade” moves up nicely to #7. Carl Carlton’s rendition of “Everlasting Love” enters the Top Ten at #9, which is something the original version by Robert Knight could not do. He peaked at #13 with the song in 1967. And yet another song falls from number one completely out of the Top Ten. BTO does the trick this week. And just maybe it will happen again. Harry Chapin drove his cab in “Taxi” to #24 in 1972. He now has the highest charting song of his career as the universally-themed “Cat’s In The Cradle” moves up to #22. British pop group Fancy took their remake of “Wild Thing” to #14 earlier in 1974. Now they have their second Top 40 hit in a row as “Touch Me” leaps to #31. In twenty charting songs, Three Dog Night have only missed the Top 20 once and that was with their first listing, “Try A Little Tenderness”, a remake of the Otis Redding hit, which stalled at #29 in 1969. It looks like their streak is about to end as “Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues)” inches up to #33. They had a good, long, successful run. Barry White’s follow-up to his number one song “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe”, the faster-paced “You’re The First, The Last, My Everything” is now at #36. Gladys Knight & The Pips reach the Top 40 for the 22nd time with “I Feel A Song (In My Heart)” at #37. Neil Sedaka, who hasn’t had a chart hit in nine years and who hasn’t had a Top 40 hit in eleven years, finally returns to that section in the chart as “Laughter In The Rain” is now at #39. His last Top 40 record was “Bad Girl”, which made it to #33 in 1963. Rolling Stones move up well with their remake of “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” hitting #40 in only their second week on the Hot 100. It’s their 26th Top 40 hit in slightly more than ten years. It’s tough stalling at #41 especially when your previous hit when to number one. Such is the case with Paper Lace and “The Black-Eyed Boys”. At least they made it big with “The Night Chicago Died”. Stevie Wonder goes Jamaican on his latest release, “Boogie On Reggae Woman”. His follow-up to the number one “You Haven’t Done Nothin’” jerks on at #62. And yet another ex-Beatle, Ringo (no last name listed nor needed) makes a nice debut with his remake of “Only You” at #63. Quite a few artists have charted with that song but the biggest and best-known version was by The Platters. They went to #5 with the song in 1955. Ringo’s last five records all made the Top Ten. Record producer to Bette Midler and now singer Barry Manilow has a hit all his own as “Mandy” arrives at #65. The song, which was originally called “Brandy”, was a hit in England for Scott English, who also co-wrote the song. Manilow changed the name so it wouldn’t be confused with the same-titled recording by Looking Glass. Had enough of remakes…not yet…as Donny & Marie Osmond hit with “Morning Side Of The Mountain” at #74. The original by Tommy Edwards made it to #27 in 1959. Country singer Charley Pride has a nice debut with “Mississippi Cotton Pickin’ Delta Town” at #75. It’s his tenth Hot 100 charter, but only one has made the Top 40 on that chart, his signature song “Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’”, which reached #21 in 1972. Aretha Franklin hits the Hot 100 for the 49th time with “Without You” at #77. Jefferson Airplane updates their name to Jefferson Starship and return to the chart after a three year hiatus with “Ride The Tiger” at #91. Folk-Pop singer Gene Cotton has his first Hot 100 entry with “Sunshine Roses” at #92. Another singer absent from the chart for a while, over five years, Rhythm & Blues and Gospel vocalist Percy Sledge is back with “I’ll Be Your Everything”, coming on at #96. The number one album this week was “Walls And Bridges” by John Lennon. Next week…a Swan flies high. An ancient art having a resurgence chops up the chart. And yet another musician joins all his ex-band members on the Hot 100. Stay safe and warm!
Thanks!