1) Billy Joel – My Life – 02-1979
2) Sad Café – Every Day Hurts – 10-1979
3) The Crusaders – Street Life – 09-1979
4) Dire Straits – Sultans Of Swing – 04-1979
5) Sister Sledge – We Are Family – 06-1979
6) Earth, Wind & Fire With The Emotions – Boogie Wonderland – 06-1979
7) The Boomtown Rats – I Don’t Like Mondays – 07-1979
8) Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive – 02-1979
9) Nick Lowe – Cruel To Be Kind – 10-1979
10) The Police – Roxanne – 05-1979
11) The Pretenders – Brass In Pocket – 12-1979
12) Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now – 03-1979
13) Supertramp – Breakfast In America – 07-1979
The Bee Gees – Tragedy – 02-1979 Earth, Wind & Fire – September – 01-1979 Dave Edmunds – Girls Talk – 07-1979 Michael Jackson – Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough – 10-1979 Gary Moore – Parisienne Walkways – 05-1979 Barry White – Just The Way You Are – 02-1979 Chaka Khan – I’m Every Woman – 01-1979 Rainbow – Since You’ve Been Gone – 10-1979 Squeeze – Up The Junction – 06-1979 Thin Lizzy – Waiting For An Alibi – 03-1979 Toto – Hold The Line – 02-1979
Holidays as a child in England invariably meant the seaside. Actually, it was more clearly defined than that – for those of us lucky enough to be living in the very centre of England (a couple of hours’ drive to the sea in any direction), a day-trip to the beach invariably meant either Skegness, or Western-Super-Mud – where no matter what time you got there, the sea was at its most distant, leaving a trek through filthy, muddy sand.
Week-long holidays meant you could go a wee bit further afield: north to Blackpool or the magnificent, moody Northumbrian coast (where me Da was born, so it was a favourite). East was Great Yarmouth, and we went as far as Dorset to the south, but for some reason never went west to my beloved Wet, Windy Wales (there’s a clue there somewhere!) Been making up for it in the last couple of decades as a static caravan in mid-Wales (ten minutes from the foot of my favourite mountain, Cadair Idris) has allowed us to explore our Celtic heritage.
Several changes occurred in the leisure industry during the early twentieth century, when holidays and travel were no longer an exclusive prerogative of the rich. Thanks to the likes of Harry Warner and funfair entrepreneur Billy Butlin, there were around 200 holiday camps at different seaside locations in the UK by the outbreak of war in 1939. Post-war and into the affluent 1950s and early 1960s the holiday camp industry thrived with knobbly knees contests, human pyramids, tombola and three-legged races at the top of the agenda – inexpensive, harmless fun for a more innocent age.
This was further helped by the introduction of two weeks paid holiday and a level of prosperity that gave the young, free and single spare cash for clothes, luxuries and holidays. Where trains made travel within land masses easy, the aeroplane put foreign holidays within the reach of the general public.
Thomas Cook promoted foreign holidays from the UK in the early 1950s with charter flights marking the first mass holiday packages to the likes of Corsica, Palma, Sardinia and of course the Costa Brava. Foreign travel for the masses was still rare in the mid-60s when Britannia Airways focussed on flying holiday-makers to destinations like Spain, the Canary Islands, Malta and North Africa, and Freddie Laker set up his cut-price tours business in 1966. Global travel took off in 1970 when the first Pan Am Boeing 747 jet landed at London’s Heathrow Airport – complete with a restaurant in the upstairs lounge for those who could afford first class. By then, holiday camps were deemed a relic of the past and were shunned in favour of the package holiday – new, exciting and above all, cheap, with the promise of strong lager, wine at nine pence a bottle and “meat-filled meals” tempting people to save up for their fortnight in the Mediterranean sun.
What started out as trips to idyllic fishing villages with half a dozen tiny hotels and a couple of bars turned into a full-blown industry in its own right. Whole new cities emerged across the Spanish mainland, complete with skyscrapers, swimming pools, tennis courts and endless bars and nightclubs. Not to mention the en-suite bathroom, shower and bidet.
By 1972 Spain had established itself as the favourite destination of the British abroad, and the once beautiful Benidorm was named the “Manhattan of Spain,” with the highest number of skyscrapers per capita in the world. Over the next decade or so these package holidays began attracting more specific audiences – from honeymooners and families to the fun-loving Club 18-30 crowd. But the high demand inevitably led to band-wagon jumping and cut corners, with Clarkson’s package tours collapsing in 1974, leaving hundreds of British holidaymakers stranded. Skytrain undercut the big airlines from 1977 but collapsed in 1982.
Crete in the 1970s Photo: Pam Bailey
My first foreign summer holiday involved a ferry crossing to France and a week in Brittany – like Cornwall with even more sun. My family were completely enamoured with Crepe Suzettes – our standard order always began with deux bananes for my brother and I. We were genuinely shocked to meet a couple on the ferry back who hated them, calling them “creepies.” Nowt as queer as folk!
1) Kate Bush – Man With The Child In His Eyes – 07-1978
2) Billy Joel – Just The Way You Are – 03-1978
3) The Electric Light Orchestra – Mr. Blue Sky 02-1978
4) Earth, Wind & Fire – Fantasy – 03-1978
5) The Patti Smith Group – Because The Night – 05-1978
6) Manfred Mann’s Earth Band – Davy’s On The Road Again – 06-1978
7) Abba – Take A Chance On Me – 02-1978
8) The Bee Gees – Stayin’ Alive – 03-1978
9) Blue Oyster Cult – (Don’t Fear) The Reaper – 07-1978
10) City Boy – 5-7-0-5 – 08-1978
11) Andrew Gold – Never Let Her Slip Away – 04-1978
12) The Motors – Airport – 06-1978
13) Gerry Rafferty – Baker Street – 03-1978
And the nearly made its: Joe Walsh – Life’s Been Good – 08-1978 Julie Covington – Only Women Bleed – 01-1978 Dean Friedman – Lucky Stars – 10-1978 Elkie Brooks – Lilac Wine – 03-1978 The Commodores – Three Times A Lady – 08-1978 The Jacksons – Blame It On The Boogie – 10-1978 The Buzzcocks – Ever Fallen In Love – 10-1978 Raydio – Jack And Jill – 05-1978 John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John – You’re The One That I Want – 06-1978 Rose Royce – Love Don’t Live Here Anymore – 10-1978 Donna Summer – MacArthur Park – 10-1978 The Boomtown Rats – Rat Trap – 10-1978 Crystal Gayle – Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue – 01-1978 Chic – Le Freak – 12-1978 Clout – Substitute – 07-1978 Yvonne Elliman – If I can’t Have You -05-1978 Eruption – I Can’t Stand The Rain – 03-1978 Exile – Kiss You All Over – 09-1978 Genesis – Follow You Follow Me – 04-1978 Marshall Hain – Dancin’ In The City – 06-1978 Heatwave – Mind Blowing Decisions – 07-1978 Nick Lowe & His Cowboy Outfit – I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass – 03-1978 Odyssey – Native New Yorker – 01-1978 Frankie Valli – Grease – 09-1978 Bill Withers – Lovely Day – 01-1978 John Paul Young – Love Is In The Air – 05-1978
The Morecambe & Wise Show was a comedy sketch show starring English comedy double-act Morecambe and Wise. It began airing in 1968 on BBC2, specifically because it was then the only channel broadcasting in colour. The Two Ronnies was a British television comedy sketch show starring Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett bbroadcast on BBC1 from April 1971 to December 1987. The usual format included sketches, solo sections, serial stories and musical finales, many of which had our dynamic duo dressing as women. This willingness to dress up as women was rife in 70’s comedy, mady particularly famous by Les Dawson and Roy Barraclough’s incorrigible Cissy and Ada – a couple of northern ex-mill workers.
Here are some of the popular British Sitcoms – I’ve bolded my abolute faves: Are You Being Served? (’73-’85), Bless This House (’71-’76), Butterflies (’78-’83), Citizen Smith (’77-’80), Dad’s Army (’68-’77), Doctor in the House (’69-’70), Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (’76-’79), Father Dear Father (‘68-’73), Fawlty Towers, George and Mildred (’76-’79), The Good Life (’75-’78), The Goodies (’72-’76), It Ain’t Half Hot Mum (’74-’81), Last of the Summer Wine (’73-’01), The Liver Birds (’74-’81), Love Thy Neighbour (’74-’81), Man About the House (’77-’80), On the Buses (’69 -’73), Please Sir! (’68-’72), Porridge (’74-’77), Rising Damp (’74-’78), Robin’s Nest (’77-’81), Steptoe and Son (’70-’74), Till Death Us Do Part(’65-’75), To the Manor Born (’79-’81), Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? (’73-’74), Up Pompeii (’75-’91)
And some of the UK Crime Series Hazell (’78-’79), The New Avengers (’76-’77), New Scotland Yard (’78-’79), The Persuaders! (’71-’79), The Professionals (’78-’79), The Protectors (’72-’74), Raffles (’78-’79), Return of the Saint (’78-’79), Shoestring (’79), The Sweeney (’78-’79), Target (’78-’79), Randall and Hopkirk (deceased ’69-’70) , Van der Valk (’78-’79), The XYY Man (’78-’79), Z Cars (’62-’78).
Popular US Crime Series Baretta (’75-’78), Cannon (’71-’76), Charlie’s Angels (’76-’81), Chips (’77-’83), Columbo (’71-’03), Hart to Hart (’79-’84), Hawaii Five-O (’68-’80), Ironside (’67-’75), Kojak (’73-’78), Longstreet (’71-’72), McCloud (’70-’77), Policewoman (’74-’78), Quincy(’76-’83), Rockford Files (’74-’80), Shaft (’73-’74), Streets of San Francisco (’72-’77), Starsky & Hutch (’75-’79)
In 2004, over a million people voted for Britain’s best sitcom, and half of these were broadcast in the 70s. Here’s the top 10:
1) The Eagles – Hotel California – 05-1977
2) The Emotions – Best Of My Love – 09-1977
3) The Rods – Do Anything You Wanna Do – 09-1977
4) The Bee Gees – How Deep Is Your Love – 11-1977
5) Heatwave – Boogie Nights – 02-1977
6) Andrew Gold – Lonely Boy – 05-1977
7) Carly Simon – Nobody Does It Better – 08-1977
8) Santana – She’s Not There – 11-1977
9) Queen – We Are The Champions – 11-1977
10) Abba – The Name Of The Game – 11-1977
11) Elkie Brooks – Pearl ‘s A Singer – 04-1977
12) Leo Sayer – When I Need You – 02-1977
13) Yes – Wonderous Stories – 09-1977
And bubbling under – so many good ones this year – even a couple of novelty ones!
Fleetwood Mac – Don’t Stop – 1977 Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Fanfare For The Common Man – 06-1977 The Commodores – Easy – 08-1977 (Motown) Elvis Costello – Watching The Detectives – 12-1977 (Stif) Carole Bayer Sager – You’re Moving Out Today – 06-1977 (Elektra) Stevie Wonder – Sir Duke – 04-1977 (Motown) Alessi – Oh Lori – 07-1977 (A&M) Deniece Williams – That’s What Friends Are For – 08-1977 (CBS) The Jacksons – Show You The Way To Go – 06-1977 (Epic) David Soul – Don’t Give Up On Us – 01-1977 (Private Stock) Meri Wilson – Telephone Man – 09-1977 (Pye International) Thin Lizzy – Dancin’ In The Moonlight – 09-1977 (Vertigo) The Stranglers – No More Heroes – 10-1977 (UA) Candi Staton – Nights On Broadway – 08-1977 (Warner) Status Quo – Rockin’ All Over The World – 10-1977 (Vertigo) Roxy Music – Virginia Plain – 11-1977 (Polydor) Billy Ocean – Red Light Spells Danger – 04-1977 (GTO) The Moments – Jack In The Box – 02-1977 (All Platinum) Mr. Big – Romeo – 02-1977 (EMI) Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes – Don’t Leave Me This Way – 02-1977 The Floaters – Float On – 08-1977 (ABC) Patsy Gallant – From New York To L.A. – 10-1977 (EMI)
The 70s saw a plethora of different styles for both women and men, the latter including such gems as Double Denim, leather Jackets, curly perms and the ubiquitous platform shoes. Status Quo were avid exponents of the double (and even triple) denim. The so-called “Peacock Revolution” which started in the 1950s had made it acceptable for men to wear brighter colours, bolder prints and wear their hair long. While the suit continued to be a staple for many men, new, inventive styles were popularized. It started with a hippie 60s hangover – baggie tie-dye shirts and psychedelic prints, then a host of “wash and wear” synthetic materials led to many casual leisure clothes like tracksuits being worn outside of sports.
70s mens fashions
Bell-bottom trousers, characterized by a high waist, a tight fit through the thighs, and a flare beginning at the knees and extending outward, were paired with suits and wide collar shirts in varying patterns from loud florals to polka dot to checks and everything in between.
In the early 1970s, men’s fashion tried to emphasize a tall, lean figure. Turtlenecks, slim-fitting shirts, and tight-fitting flared pants all worked to popularize the silhouette. The safari suit, popularized by Roger Moore as James Bond, was a popular option in the summer: the light-coloured suit was worn belted and had large patch-pockets and came many variations of long- or short-sleeves and trousers or shorts.
Chunky cable knit turtleneck sweaters (often with matching belts or hats) preceded three-piece disco suits circa 1977’s hit flick Saturday Night Fever. As the decade progressed, the dominant menswear silhouette widened as double-breasted suits with wider shoulders and narrower legs and lapels came into fashion.
Right at the end, punk styles, as popularised by the Sex Pistols, emerged. Clothes were slashed and ripped, embellished with safety pins, zips and studs and T-shirts were printed with aggressive anarchistic slogans.
Hmmm. At this point I can’t decide if the large bias toward the rockier tracks is is more to do with my present-day tastes than 17-year-old me. But my criteria when ordering the top 13 involves putting myself back in my sixth form shoes and visualising which records I actually bought (or taped from the top 20 run-down on Sunday – come on, we all did it!) and listened to while doing my homework. Or the ones I danced around the kitchen to while making the evening meal for the family. And of course the ones I danced to in discos.
1) Manfred Mann’s Earth Band – Blinded By The Light – 09-1976
2) John Miles – Music – 04-1976
3) Chicago – If You Leave Me Now – 10-1976
4) Abba – Dancing Queen – 09-1976
5) Thin Lizzy – The Boys Are Back In Town – 07-1976
6) Dolly Parton – Jolene – 06-1976
7) Fleetwood Mac – Rhiannon – 02-1976
8) The Four Seasons – December ’63 (Oh What A Night) – 02-1976
9) Elton John & Kiki Dee – Don’t Go Breaking My Heart – 07-1976
10) Gladys Knight & The Pips – Midnight Train To Georgia – 06-1976
11) Queen – Somebody To Love – 11-1976
12) The Bee Gees – You Should Be Dancing – 08-1976
13) 10cc – I’m Mandy Fly Me – 04-1976
And the ones I couldn’t bear to leave out: The Shangri-Las – Leader Of The Pack – 07-1976 Leo Sayer – You Make Me Feel Like Dancing – 11-1976 Steve Harley – Here Comes The Sun – 08-1976 The Isley Brothers – Harvest For The World – 08-1976 The Climax Blues Band – Couldn’t Get It Right – 11-1976 Bonnie Tyler – Lost In France – 11-1976 Neil Diamond – Beautiful Noise – 11-1976 Candi Staton – Young Hearts Run Free – 06-1976 Sailor – Glass Of Champagne – 01-1976 The Real Thing – You To Me Are Everything – 06-1976 Robin Sarstedt – My Resistance Is Low – 05-1976 Wild Cherry – Play That Funky Music – 11-1976 David Dundas – Jeans On – 08-1976 Tina Charles – I Love To Love (But My Baby Loves To Dance) – 02-1976 Andrea True Connection – More, More, More – 05-1976 Yvonne Fair – It Should Have Been Me – 02-1976 The Kursaal Flyers – Little Does She Know – 12-1976 Manuel & His Music Of The Mountains – Rodrigo’s Guitar Concerto De Aranjuez – 02-1976 Paul Nicholas – Dancing With The Captain – 11-1976 Sherbet – Howzat – 10-1976
Obviously, this can’t include every sporting event, so I’ve tried to give a flavour of the ones which seemed to dominate the media – at least in my house, especially on a Saturday!
You couldn’t get away from the all-day, incessant round-up of wrestling and the pools results in “World of Sport” and “Grandstand.”
1970
Wimbledon singles winners were John Newcombe (AUS) and Margaret Court (AUS).
Nijinsky II won the Triple Crown of British Thoroughbred Racing.
14 June, FIFA World cup: After defeat in 1966 championship, West Germany take revenge on England, putting them out in quarter finals. Brazil beat Italy 4-1 in Final.
Henry Cooper (Boxer) won his second BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, beating Tony Jacklin (Golfer).
Commonwealth games – won by Australia with 36 gold, 82 overall. GB 2nd with 27 gold, 84 overall.
World Snooker champion was Ray Reardon (WAL)
1971
Wimbledon singles winners were John Newcombe (AUS) and Evonne Goolagong (AUS).
Princess Anne (Eventing) was voted Sports Personality of the Year, beating George Best (Footballer).
British and Irish Lions defeat All Blacks for the first time in a series.
World Snooker champion was John Spencer (ENG).
1972
Wimbledon singles winners were Stan Smith (USA) and Billie Jean King (USA).
The Great Britain rugby league team won the World Cup, led by the late Clive Sullivan the first black player to captain a British team at any sport.
Olympic games – Munich: Soviet Union top in medals table with 49 Gold, 125 overall
GB 12th in medals table with 4 Gold, 18 overall
Among the 1972 Summer Olympic highlights was the performance of swimmer Mark Spitz, who set 7 World Records to win a record 7 gold medals in one Olympics, bringing his total to nine. Other notable athletes at the 1972 games were 16-year-old Olga Korbut, whose success in women’s gymnastics earned 3 gold medals for the Soviet Union, and British athlete Mary Peters, who took home the gold in the women’s pentathlon, going on to be the Sports Personality of the Year beating Gordon Banks (Footballer). During the games, Palestinian terrorists killed two Israeli athletes and took nine hostages. After a failed rescue attempt, all hostages and all but three of terrorists were killed.
Winter Olympic games Sapporo, Japan – Soviet Union top medals table with 8 gold, 16 overall.
World Snooker champion was Alex Higgins (NIR).
1973
Wimbledon singles winners were Jan Kodes (CZE) and Billie Jean King (USA).
“Battle of the Sexes” tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs.
Jackie Stewart (F1 driver) was voted Sports Personality of the Year, beating Roger Taylor (Tennis).
World Snooker champion was Ray Reardon (WAL).
Ajax (NL) win third consecutive European Cup.
1974 Wimbledon singles winners were Jimmy Connors (USA) and Chris Evert (USA). Gerd “der Bomber” Müller scored his 14th World Cup goal, a then record, as West Germany won the FIFA World Cup, beating Netherlands 2-1. Commonwealth games – GB were 2nd in medals table with 28 gold, 80 overall, just 2 behind winners Australia. The Rumble in the Jungle boxing match; Hank Aaron breaks Babe Ruth’s career home run record. Brendan Foster (Athletics) was voted Sports Personality of the Year, beating John Conteh (Boxer). World Snooker champion was Ray Reardon (WAL).
1975 Wimbledon singles winners were Arthur Ashe (USA) and Billie Jean King (USA). First Cricket World Cup organised in England – West Indies beat Australia by 17 runs. Muhammad Ali beat Joe Frazier in the Thrilla In Manila. Pele came out of retirement to play for the New York Cosmos and brought U.S. Soccer into American mainstream. David Steele (Cricketer) was voted Sports Personality of the Year, beating Alan Pascoe (Athletics). World Snooker champion was Ray Reardon (WAL).
1976 Wimbledon singles winners were Bjorn Borg (SWE) and Chris Evert (USA). Olympic games – Montreal Soviet Union top in medals table with 50 Gold, 99 overall. GB 13th in medals table with 3 gold, 12 overall. Highlights included the legendary performance of 14-year-old Romanian female gymnast Nadia Comăneci, who scored 7 perfect 10s and won 3 gold medals, including the prestigious All Around in women’s gymnastics. Also featured the strong U.S. boxing team, which consisted of Sugar Ray Leonard, Leon Spinks, Michael Spinks, Leo Randolph and Howard Davis Jr. The team won five gold medals and was arguably the greatest Olympic boxing team ever. Lorna Johnstone became the oldest British athlete to ever compete in the Games when she made the equestrian team, aged 69, and HRH The Princess Royal became the first member of the Royal Family to compete at an Olympics when she rode the Queen’s horse, Goodwill, in the three-day event. Winter Olympic games – Innsbruck, Austria. Soviet Union top in medals table with 13 Gold, 27 overall. GB 12th with 1 gold, 1 overall. John Curry wins Gold in figure skating to become European, Olympic and World champion and Sports Personality of the Year, beating James Hunt (F1 driver). World Snooker champion was Ray Reardon (WAL). Bayern Munich (GER) win third consecutive European Cup.
1977 Wimbledon singles winners were Bjorn Borg (SWE) and Virginia Wade (GBR).
After a long wait for an English Wimbledon champion, this was most fitting in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee year, and Virginia Wade was voted Sports Personality of the Year, beating Geoffrey Boycott (Cricketer).
Pelé plays the last game of his professional career in a friendly between the New York Cosmos and Santos FC.
Red Rum wins third Grand National.
World Snooker champion was John Spencer (ENG)
1978
Wimbledon singles winners were Bjorn Borg (SWE) and Martina Navratilova (USA).
Many controversies surround “The Dirtiest World Cup of All Time” in Argentina, Johan Cruyff pulled out for personal reasons. In the final, Argentina beat Netherlands 3 – 1 after extra time.
First Ironman Triathlon. Affirmed becomes the 11th thoroughbred to win the U.S. Triple Crown.
Commonwealth games – won by Canada with 45 gold, 109 overall. GB 2nd with 27 gold, 87 overall
Steve Ovett, unbeaten over 1500m since 1977, was the Sports Personality of the Year, beating Daley Thompson (Athletics).
World Snooker champion was Ray Reardon (WAL) and World Darts Champion was Leighton Rees (WAL).
Liverpool (GBR) win second consecutive European Cup.
1979
Wimbledon singles winners were Bjorn Borg (SWE) and Martina Navratilova (USA).
Second Cricket World Cup – West Indies beat England by 92 runs.
Sugar Ray Leonard wins his first world boxing title.
Sebastian Coe, an 800m specialist, broke three world records in 1979 and was voted Sports Personality of the Year, beating Ian Botham (Cricketer).
World Snooker champion was Terry Griffiths (WAL) and World Darts Champion was John Lowe (GBR).
Nottingham Forrest (GBR) win European Cup.
Leisure
So what, you may ask, did the women do while their menfolk were down the city every Saturday, or glued to the TV for hours (days) on end? There didn’t seem to be much concept of the “girls night out” back then, so some bright spark invented party selling. A simple concept, it saw groups of (female) family members, friends and neighbours gathering in someone’s home, often with teas and coffees or alcohol on hand, to enjoy a drink, a bite to eat and a few hours of conversation. More than buying and selling the kitchen containers, it was a chance for women to get together with friends and neighbours to catch up on family life, and enjoy some time away from the daily grind. I believe Tupperware parties were the first – held in 1949 by a single mom in Detroit. They’d certainly hit UK by the mid 70s, and it went on to spawn other sales: pottery, makeup and eventually in the early 80s Ann Summers products.
Some real big hitters this year, with Queen and 10CC, but the Glam Rockers are defo giving way and the epic Jive Talkin’ foreshadows the Bee Gees chart takeover a couple of years down the line.
1) Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody – 11-1975 2) Helen Reddy – Angie Baby – 02-1975 3) 10CC – I’m Not In Love – 06-1975 4) Minnie Riperton – Loving You – 04-1975 5) Slade – How Does it Feel – 02-1975 6) Billy Swan – I Can Help – 01-1975 7) The Average White Band – Pick Up The Pieces – 03-1975 8) The Bee Gees – Jive Talkin’ – 06-1975 9) Gloria Gaynor – Never Can Say Goodbye – 01-1975 10) Supertramp – Dreamer – 03-1975 11) Leo Sayer – Moonlighting – 09-1975 12) The Chi-Lites – Have You Seen Her/Oh Girl – 07-1975 13) Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel – Make Me Smile (Come Up & See Me) – 02-1975
And, as ever, the ones bubbling under – still the odd novelty song creeping up on my blind side.
David Bowie – Space Oddity – 10-1975 The Eagles –Lyin’ Eyes – 06-1975 Pilot – January – 02-1975 Greg Lake – I Believe In Father Christmas – 12-1975 Slade – In For A Penny – 12 -1975 The Four Seasons – Who Loves You? – 10-1975 Hot Chocolate – You Sexy Thing – 11-1975 Andy Fairweather-Low – Wide Eyed And Legless – 12-1975 Roxy Music – Love Is The Drug – 11-1975 David Essex – Hold Me Close – 09-1975 Stevie Wonder – Boogie On Reggae Woman – 02-1975 John Lennon – Imagine – 11-1975 Linda Lewis – It’s In His Kiss – 08-1975 The Stylistics – Can’t Give You Anything (But My Love) – 08-1975 Shirley & Company – Shame, Shame, Shame – 02-1975 Peter Wingfield – Eighteen With A Bullet – 07-1975 Moments & Whatnauts – Girls – 03-1975 The Bay City Rollers – Bye Bye Baby – 03-1975 Peter Shelley – Love Me Love My Dog – 04-1975 Typically Tropical – Barbados – 07-1975
You have 11 days left to pick up the third Calamity Chicks book – Linda’s Lament at the pre-order price of £2.22/$2.99.
Here’s the skinny:
Almost Famous meets10 Things I Hate About You with elements of Queen’s Gambit. How many twelve-year-old girls have toured the UK and Europe with a rock band? Lin thinks she’s pretty unique, but it comes at a cost. Firstly, as accidental witness to the antics of groupies, and secondly when she draws the attention of the band’s creepy manager. She’s pretty sure his daughter never gave those kind of squeezy hugs when she was alive, but if Lin tells anyone, her dad could lose his job.
Her mother’s outrage at an innocent childhood crush results in her incarceration in a super-strict convent school whose first priority is not teaching maths or English, but discipline. When she finally gets to the grammar school, she’s missed her chance with the only person who’s never made her feel fat, ugly or a nuisance, because he now has a lovely girlfriend.
At sixteen, after gruelling exams, the family holidays in Spain, where she meets a local lad with amore on his mind. Carlos is everything she isn’t – slim, beautiful and completely comfortable in his skin – and for some inexplicable reason, he seems to like her. She’s already missed out on one romance because of her unworthiness – should she go against her instincts and succumb to his expert seduction?
This cheeky piece of British nostalgia features plucky girls escaping from hairy situations, several handsome hunks, a whole lot of rock bands, and a couple of nasty villains. Feel free to boo and hiss.
JRo Author 