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This was the first chart topper of 1972. It began life as a TV commercial, shamelessly co-opting a multi-racial group of teenagers to sing the joys of a sugary fizzy drink… and ended up being stolen by Oasis. (more…)

The last big hit of 1971 was one of the most enduring. A stone-cold classic, the Theme From Shaft sounds as fresh today as it did in December 1971.

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David Bowie’s most personal song comes from his fourth album Hunky Dory, released in December 1971, and a flop until the release of Ziggy Stardust the following year. (more…)

Television funny man Benny Hill unforgiveably kept T. Rex off the top of the charts with his autobiographical novelty hit Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West). (more…)

The Persuaders was the first TV show I remember loving. And John Barry’s theme music – one of the first hits of 1972 – remains my favourite of that or any other era. (more…)

T. Rex brought the year to an end with Jeepster, their third big hit in just nine months – but were kept off top spot by a TV comedian. (more…)

Long before she was an iconic diva made almost entirely of plastic, Cher was a beautiful woman and one heck of a good singer. Never more so than on this story song. (more…)

Slade launched themselves on a squence of big hits that made them one of the kings of Glam when they topped the charts for the first time with Coz I Luv You at the end of 1971.
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This track is the “odd one out” from their album Led Zeppelin IV – a rare foray into bucolic folk, featuring fingerpicked acoustic guitar. Which is why I like it. (more…)