Blues & Soul Charts Project

[Funkin Dunc]

Hi folks, I'm new to the forum and I'm sorry that my first thread is all about requesting help!

I have long been frustrated that there has never been a UK version of Joel Whitburn's Billboard Top R&B Singles book, and it has reached the stage where - having just turned 50 - I might as well have a go at doing something about it.

To my mind Blues & Soul magazine has been the only (virtually) constant specialist title devoted to 'our' music and so I thought I'd try to start compiling all their different charts from all the different eras, including the year end poll results and the occasional 'all-time favourites' listings which appeared in commemorative issues.

Unfortunately, most of the copies I bought in my youth/early 20s were consigned to the bin (why did I do that???) decades ago although I am aware that the Collindale Library in London does keep back issues on file. I intend to visit there in due course.

My request is: if any of you have any back issues from any era and has the time, energy and the will to scan each chart from any particular issue and send them on to me I would be thrilled to bits. I will type them up and post them here and give credit to the sender - which would also happen if the project gets so far as to make it worthy of publication. Please note that the issue can be from any era - even the modern stuff!

 

Anyway,to set the ball rolling, here is the very first chart from Issue 1 (when it was called Home of the Blues) in May 1966:

US TOP 50 R&B DISCS - MAY 1966
1. THIS OLD HEART OF MINE - ISLEY BROTHERS
2. 634-5789 - WILSON PICKETT
3. LOVE MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND - DEON JACKSON
4. BABY SCRATCH MY BACK - SLIM HARPO
5. GET READY - TEMPTATIONS
6. MESSAGE TO MICHAEL - DIONNE WARWICK
7. SATISFACTION - OTIS REDDING
8. I'LL TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOU - GARNETT MIMMS
9. SEARCHING FOR MY LOVE - BOBBY MOORE & THE RHYTHM ACES
10. WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN - PERCY SLEDGE
11. ONE MORE HEARTACHE - MARVIN GAYE
12. SHAKE ME WAKE ME - FOUR TOPS
13. SHE BLEW A GOOD THING - POETS
14. DARLING BABY - ELGINS
15. THE LOVE YOU SAVE - JOE TEX
16. YOU GOT MY MIND DRESSED UP - JAMES CARR
17. REAL HUMDINGER - JJ BARNES
18. STOP HER ON SIGHT - EDWIN STARR
19. GOT MY MIND WORKING - JIMMY SMITH
20. NO MAN IS AN ISLAND - VAN DYKES
21. COOL JERK - CAPITOLS
22. MY BABY LOVES ME - MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS
23. AIN'T THAT A GROOVE - JAMES BROWN
24. I'LL LOVE YOU FOREVER - HOLIDAYS
25. TOO YOUNG - TOMMY VANN
26. I WANT SOMEONE - MAD LADS
27. WANG DANG DOODLE - KO KO TAYLOR
28. PHILLY DOG - MARKEYS
29. HELPLESS - KIM WESTON
30. GREETINGS - VALADIERS
31. TEACH ME - MANHATTANS
32. FOOL FOR YOU - GENE CHANDLER
33. TOGETHER AGAIN - RAY CHARLES
34. GOOD GOOD LOVIN' - BLOSSOMS
35. I CAN'T REST - FONTELLA BASS
36. PURPLE TEARDROPS - STEVIE WONDER
37. SHARING YOU - MITTY COLLIER
38. DEAR LOVER - MARY WELLS
39. FADING AWAY - TEMPTATIONS
40. BABY I NEED YOU - MANHATTANS
41. GET OUT OF MY LIFE WOMAN - LEE DORSEY
42. FOXY DEVIL - LUTHER INGRAM
43. ONLY TIME WILL TELL - ETTA JAMES
44. CANADIAN SUNSET - VIBRATIONS
45. I'M A PEACE LOVIN MAN - EMMANUEL LASKY
46. THINGS GET BETTER - EDDIE FLOYD
47. THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU SPEAK - AL KING
48. I SURRENDER - FONTELLA BASS
49. NOTHING IS TOO GOOD FOR MY BABY - STEVIE WONDER
50. DO YOU FEEL IT - LITTLE RICHARD

 

Many thanks, and any contribution - however small - will be truly appreciated.

[Roburt]

RE: 25. TOO YOUNG - TOMMY VANN

I was about on the UK scene back in 66 and didn't realise that Tommy Vann had registered over here that early.

He was just about the biggest white R&B-er on the Baltimore club scene back in the 60's (even more so than Bob Brady) and a main stay (house act) at Club Venus that booked all the top Motown acts in the late 60's / 1970.

....... more on Tommy ..............

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAg5w9YWncg

[Funkin Dunc]

Hi Roburt - Maybe Tommy Vann didn't register in the UK quite so soon. It's interesting that the very first B&S chart was described as the 'US Top 50 R&B Discs' and was probably very similar to the Billboard R&B Chart. Certainly these songs DID chart on Billboard around this time.

[Roburt]

Seems my memory of those days isn't totally shot then ..........

A piccy of Tommy Vann with his mid 60's group 'and the Echoes' (they recorded under that name after the split from Tommy) .....

Edited August 11, 2013 by Roburt

[Geoff]

I believe Tommy Vann recorded the original version of Pretty Flamingo, the hit here for Manfred Mann.

 

I too no longer have my old copies of Home Of The Blues and Blues And Soul, much to my regret. If Colindale library do  have copies I will make a trip there as it's not that far.

 

It would be nice to see those old charts, if you get them I hope you can make them available for our perusal.

[Funkin Dunc]

Hi Geoff, yes I'll certainly post charts as and when, I'm hoping to get my mitts on some late 60s/early 70s ones in the next week or so. What I do have already and will post soon is the 1969 Poll Winners.

[Dean]

Hi folks, I'm new to the forum and I'm sorry that my first thread is all about requesting help!

I have long been frustrated that there has never been a UK version of Joel Whitburn's Billboard Top R&B Singles book, and it has reached the stage where - having just turned 50 - I might as well have a go at doing something about it.

To my mind Blues & Soul magazine has been the only (virtually) constant specialist title devoted to 'our' music and so I thought I'd try to start compiling all their different charts from all the different eras, including the year end poll results and the occasional 'all-time favourites' listings which appeared in commemorative issues.

Unfortunately, most of the copies I bought in my youth/early 20s were consigned to the bin (why did I do that???) decades ago although I am aware that the Collindale Library in London does keep back issues on file. I intend to visit there in due course.

My request is: if any of you have any back issues from any era and has the time, energy and the will to scan each chart from any particular issue and send them on to me I would be thrilled to bits. I will type them up and post them here and give credit to the sender - which would also happen if the project gets so far as to make it worthy of publication. Please note that the issue can be from any era - even the modern stuff!

 

Anyway,to set the ball rolling, here is the very first chart from Issue 1 (when it was called Home of the Blues) in May 1966:

US TOP 50 R&B DISCS - MAY 1966

1. THIS OLD HEART OF MINE - ISLEY BROTHERS

2. 634-5789 - WILSON PICKETT

3. LOVE MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND - DEON JACKSON

4. BABY SCRATCH MY BACK - SLIM HARPO

5. GET READY - TEMPTATIONS

6. MESSAGE TO MICHAEL - DIONNE WARWICK

7. SATISFACTION - OTIS REDDING

8. I'LL TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOU - GARNETT MIMMS

9. SEARCHING FOR MY LOVE - BOBBY MOORE & THE RHYTHM ACES

10. WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN - PERCY SLEDGE

11. ONE MORE HEARTACHE - MARVIN GAYE

12. SHAKE ME WAKE ME - FOUR TOPS

13. SHE BLEW A GOOD THING - POETS

14. DARLING BABY - ELGINS

15. THE LOVE YOU SAVE - JOE TEX

16. YOU GOT MY MIND DRESSED UP - JAMES CARR

17. REAL HUMDINGER - JJ BARNES

18. STOP HER ON SIGHT - EDWIN STARR

19. GOT MY MIND WORKING - JIMMY SMITH

20. NO MAN IS AN ISLAND - VAN DYKES

21. COOL JERK - CAPITOLS

22. MY BABY LOVES ME - MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS

23. AIN'T THAT A GROOVE - JAMES BROWN

24. I'LL LOVE YOU FOREVER - HOLIDAYS

25. TOO YOUNG - TOMMY VANN

26. I WANT SOMEONE - MAD LADS

27. WANG DANG DOODLE - KO KO TAYLOR

28. PHILLY DOG - MARKEYS

29. HELPLESS - KIM WESTON

30. GREETINGS - VALADIERS

31. TEACH ME - MANHATTANS

32. FOOL FOR YOU - GENE CHANDLER

33. TOGETHER AGAIN - RAY CHARLES

34. GOOD GOOD LOVIN' - BLOSSOMS

35. I CAN'T REST - FONTELLA BASS

36. PURPLE TEARDROPS - STEVIE WONDER

37. SHARING YOU - MITTY COLLIER

38. DEAR LOVER - MARY WELLS

39. FADING AWAY - TEMPTATIONS

40. BABY I NEED YOU - MANHATTANS

41. GET OUT OF MY LIFE WOMAN - LEE DORSEY

42. FOXY DEVIL - LUTHER INGRAM

43. ONLY TIME WILL TELL - ETTA JAMES

44. CANADIAN SUNSET - VIBRATIONS

45. I'M A PEACE LOVIN MAN - EMMANUEL LASKY

46. THINGS GET BETTER - EDDIE FLOYD

47. THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU SPEAK - AL KING

48. I SURRENDER - FONTELLA BASS

49. NOTHING IS TOO GOOD FOR MY BABY - STEVIE WONDER

50. DO YOU FEEL IT - LITTLE RICHARD

 

Many thanks, and any contribution - however small - will be truly appreciated.

got a boxful somewhere, I'll see if i can get time and get scanning, Dean

[Roburt]

B&S #82  -- April 14 -27th 1972

 

1  Ramsey Lewis -- Wade in the water

2  Chiffons  -- Sweet talkin guy

3  Drifters  -- At the club

4  Detroit Emeralds -- You want it you got it

5  Betty Wright -- Clean up woman

6  Fontella Bass -- Rescue me

7  Roscoe Robinson -- Thats enough

8  Supremes -- Floy joy

9  San Remo Strings -- Reach Out

10  Sly & F Stone -- Running away

11  Joe Tex -- I Gotcha

12  Velvelettes -- Needle in haystack

13  Chakachas  -- Jungle fever

14  Bobby Sheen  -- Dr Love

15  Ronnie Milsap -- Ain't no soul

16  Jimmy Conwell  -- Cigarette Ashes

17  Donnie Elbert  -Can't help myself

18  Lunar Funk -- Mr penguin

19  Johnny Nash  -- Stir it up

20  Betty LaVette  -- Let me down easy

21  Philip Mitchell  - Free for all

22  4 Tops -- Bernadette

23  Tempts  - Take a look around

24  Joe Simon  -- Drowing sea of love

25  Jerry Butler  -- Moody woman

26  Timmy Willis Mr. soul satisfaction

27  Honey cone  -- One monkey don't stop show

28  Jackson 5  -- Sugar daddy

29  Elephant Band  --  Stone penguin

30  Bobby Patterson  -- How do you spell love

31  Mike Jackason  -- Got to be there

32  Liitle Anthony & Im  -- Gonna fix you good

33  James Brown -- King heroin

34  Reffa  -- Day dreaming

35  Chuck Berry  -- R & R Music

36  O'Jays  -- Workin on your case

37  Eddie Holman  -- Hey there lonely girl 

38  Denise LaSalle  -- Now run & tell that

39  JB's -- Gimme some more

40  Bobby Womack  -- Thats way feel bout ya

41  Sapphires  -- Gotta have ya love

42  Staples  -- Respect yourself

43  San Remo Strings  -- Festival time

44 Mardi Gras  -- Too busty thinkin bout my baby

45 Delfonics  -- Tryin Make a fool of you

46 T McCall

47 Stylistics

48 Gladys Knight

49  Bobby Powell 

50 James Brown

 

As can be seen from the above, the NS 45 UK reissue sales surge was well underway at the time.

Edited August 12, 2013 by Roburt

[Soulfinger]

Earliest one I could find.

B&S 96 Nov 72.pdf

[Soulfinger]

And the next issue.

B&S 97 Nov 72.pdf

[Soulfinger]

One from 73

B&S 101 Jan 73.pdf

[Soulfinger]

And another (sorry about the wonky scan!)

B&S 108 April 73.pdf

[Funkin Dunc]

got a boxful somewhere, I'll see if i can get time and get scanning, Dean

Thanks Dean.

[Funkin Dunc]

Blues & Soul Poll Winners 1969

Published March 1970

Favourite Vocalists: Male Section

1. Jerry Butler
2. Marvin Gaye
3. Otis Redding
4. James Brown
5. Wilson Pickett
6. Percy Sledge
7. Clarence Carter
8. Ben E. King
9. William Bell
10. Edwin Starr

Favourite Vocalists: Female Section

1. Aretha Franklin
2. Gladys Knight
3. Nina Simone
4. Betty Harris
5. Dionne Warwick
6. Lorraine Ellison
7. Erma Franklin
8. Diana Ross
9. Tina Turner
10. Dee Dee Warwick

Favourite Vocalists: Group Section

1. Temptations
2. Impressions
3. Dells
4. Gladys Knight & The Pips
5. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
6. Four Tops
7. Isley Brothers
8. Sam & Dave
9. Diana Ross & The Supremes
10. Drifters

Favourite Recordings (Singles)

1. Choice Of Colours — The Impressions
2. I Heard It Through The Grapevine — Marvin Gaye
3. Can I Change My Mind — Tyrone Davis
4. Only The Strong Survive — Jerry Butler
5. Cloud Nine — The Temptations
6. Love Is Blue/I Can Sing A Rainbow — The Dells
7. What Does It Take — Junior Walker
8. Moody Woman — Jerry Butler
9. Oh Happy Day — Edwin Hawkins Singers
10. It’s Your Thing — Isley Brothers

Favourite Instrumentalists

1. Booker T. & The MG’s
2. Junior Walker & The All Stars
3. Mar-Keys
4. Willie Mitchell
5. King Curtis & The Kingpins
6. Booker T. Jones
7. Bar-Kays
8. Steve Cropper
9. Albert King
10. Ramsey Lewis

Favourite Ska & Reggae Artists

1. Desmond Dekker
2. Upsetters
3. Jimmy Cliff
4. Harry J’s All Stars
5. Pioneers
6. Johnny Nash
7. Max Romeo
8. Donnie Elbert
9. Pat Kelley
10. Symarip

Favourite Ska & Reggae Recordings

1. Return Of Django — The Upsetters
2. Wonderful World, Beautiful People — Jimmy Cliff
3. The Liquidator — Harry J’s All Stars
4. The Israelites — Desmond Dekker
5. Long Shot (Kick De Bucket) — The Pioneers
6. Wet Dream — Max Romeo
7. How Long Will It Take — Pat Kelley
8. Without You — Donnie Elbert
9. Red, Red Wine — Tony Tribe
10. It Mek — Desmond Dekker

 

Interesting about the reggae material.

[Funkin Dunc]

Thanks everyone for everything so far.

[Funkin Dunc]

And another (sorry about the wonky scan!)

 

 

One from 73

 

 

And the next issue.

 

 

Earliest one I could find.

 

 

B&S #82  -- April 14 -27th 1972

 

1  Ramsey Lewis -- Wade in the water

2  Chiffons  -- Sweet talkin guy

3  Drifters  -- At the club

4  Detroit Emeralds -- You want it you got it

5  Betty Wright -- Clean up woman

6  Fontella Bass -- Rescue me

7  Roscoe Robinson -- Thats enough

8  Supremes -- Floy joy

9  San Remo Strings -- Reach Out

10  Sly & F Stone -- Running away

11  Joe Tex -- I Gotcha

12  Velvelettes -- Needle in haystack

13  Chakachas  -- Jungle fever

14  Bobby Sheen  -- Dr Love

15  Ronnie Milsap -- Ain't no soul

16  Jimmy Conwell  -- Cigarette Ashes

17  Donnie Elbert  -Can't help myself

18  Lunar Funk -- Mr penguin

19  Johnny Nash  -- Stir it up

20  Betty LaVette  -- Let me down easy

21  Philip Mitchell  - Free for all

22  4 Tops -- Bernadette

23  Tempts  - Take a look around

24  Joe Simon  -- Drowing sea of love

25  Jerry Butler  -- Moody woman

26  Timmy Willis Mr. soul satisfaction

27  Honey cone  -- One monkey don't stop show

28  Jackson 5  -- Sugar daddy

29  Elephant Band  --  Stone penguin

30  Bobby Patterson  -- How do you spell love

31  Mike Jackason  -- Got to be there

32  Liitle Anthony & Im  -- Gonna fix you good

33  James Brown -- King heroin

34  Reffa  -- Day dreaming

35  Chuck Berry  -- R & R Music

36  O'Jays  -- Workin on your case

37  Eddie Holman  -- Hey there lonely girl 

38  Denise LaSalle  -- Now run & tell that

39  JB's -- Gimme some more

40  Bobby Womack  -- Thats way feel bout ya

41  Sapphires  -- Gotta have ya love

42  Staples  -- Respect yourself

43  San Remo Strings  -- Festival time

44 Mardi Gras  -- Too busty thinkin bout my baby

45 Delfonics  -- Tryin Make a fool of you

46 T McCall

47 Stylistics

48 Gladys Knight

49  Bobby Powell 

50 James Brown

 

As can be seen from the above, the NS 45 UK reissue sales surge was well underway at the time.

 

Great stuff!

[Ric-tic]

would blues and soul allow you to use their charts for a book?im thinking they wouldn't at least without permission...

[Funkin Dunc]

would blues and soul allow you to use their charts for a book?im thinking they wouldn't at least without permission...

 

probably not. but if sufficient progress is made in collating chart info the next step for me would be to make contact. indeed, the title of the book would have to incorporate 'blues and soul' in the title eg. 'the b&s book of soul hits' which would give them publicity.

i must stress that i'm not doing this as some kind of money making exercise and would be more than happy for b&s to take a considerable share of any profits made, although obviously i wouldn't want to get my fingers burnt!

[Ric-tic]

that's probilbly the right way, I was just pointing that out before you did too much work, they can be funny sometimes I remember stories of rival publications advertising being turned down and I don't think they do 'give' anything away.... good luck!

[Funkin Dunc]

that's probilbly the right way, I was just pointing that out before you did too much work, they can be funny sometimes I remember stories of rival publications advertising being turned down and I don't think they do 'give' anything away.... good luck!

 

Thanks for the tip, advice is always appreciated.

Duncan

[Funkin Dunc]

Some more Poll results here, these from 1970...

 

Poll 1970

Published May 1971

Favourite Vocalists: Male Section

1. Marvin Gaye
2. James Brown
3. Isaac Hayes
4. Otis Redding
5. Stevie Wonder
6. Wilson Pickett
7. Edwin Starr
8. Jerry Butler
9. Curtis Mayfield
10. Clarence Carter

Favourite Vocalists: Female Section

1. Aretha Franklin
2. Diana Ross
3. Freda Payne
4. Gladys Knight
5. Dionne Warwick
6. Candi Staton
7. Lorraine Ellison
8. Roberta Flack
9. Dee Dee Warwick
10. Cissy Houston

Favourite Vocalists: Group Section

1. Temptations
2. Impressions
3. Four Tops
4. Delfonics
5. Gladys Knight & The Pips
6. Supremes
7. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
8. Jackson 5
9. Chairmen Of The Board
10. Dells

Favourite Instrumentalists

1. Booker T. & The Mg’s
2. Junior Walker & The All Stars
3. Earl Van Dyke & The Soul Brothers
4. King Curtis & The Kingpins
5. Meters
6. Bar-Kays
7. Kool And The Gang
8. Willie Mitchell
9. Ramsey Lewis
10. Steve Cropper


Favourite Singles Of 1970

1. Band Of Gold — Freda Payne
2. Rainy Night In Georgia — Brook Benton
3. Give Me Just A Little More Time — Chairmen Of The Board
4. I Love You — Otis Leavill
5. Didn’t I Blow Your Mind This Time — The Delfonics
6. Turn Back The Hands Of Time — Tyrone Davis
7. Ball Of Confusion — The Temptations
8. War — Edwin Starr
9. It’s A Shame — Spinners
10. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough — Diana Ross


Favourite Albums Of 1970

1. The Isaac Hayes Movement — Isaac Hayes
2. Hot Buttered Soul — Isaac Hayes
3. Young Mod’s Forgotten Story - The Impressions
4. Still Waters Run Deep — Four Tops
5. Don’t Lay That Song — Aretha Franklin
6. I’m Just A Prisoner — Candi Staton
7. Psychedelic Shack — The Temptations
8. Stay With Me — Lorraine Ellison
9. Greatest Hits — Gladys Knight & The Pips
10. Motown Chartbusters Vol.4

Most Promising Act For 1971

1. Chairmen Of The Board
2. Freda Payne
3. Otis Leavill
4. Jackson 5
5. Roberta Flack
6. Honey Cone
7. Candi Staton
8. 100 Proof
9. Isaac Hayes
10. Flaming Ember
 

Edited August 13, 2013 by Funkin Dunc

[Guest MBarrett]

Blues & Soul Poll Winners 1969

Published March 1970

Favourite Recordings (Singles)

1. Choice Of Colours — The Impressions

 

I'm a bit surprised to see that.

 

I don't recall this being played on the radio (pirate stations included) or at any clubs that I frequented at the time.

 

Perhaps I was in all the wrong places or maybe my ears were just deaf to it.

 

How did the B&S poll work?

 

Was it like a preprinted list and people had to mark them 1-10? Or something like that.

 

MB

[Pete S]

You could always use the charts from "Black Music" magazine, it ran from the early 70's to the end of the decade and always included both USA and UK charts.  If you get stuck I mean.

[Roburt]

If my memory is holding up, I believe "Choice of Colours" was one of the most played tracks on soul radio that year (69).

But I was only listening to the main stns, not to pirates (no pirates on the Dony airwaves back then).

[Guest MBarrett]

If my memory is holding up, I believe "Choice of Colours" was one of the most played tracks on soul radio that year (69).

But I was only listening to the main stns, not to pirates (no pirates on the Dony airwaves back then).

 

Hi Roburt

 

When you say "soul radio" do you mean things like the Mike Raven show on Radio 1.

 

I wouldn't have been an avid listener to his show in 1969 so would explain why that record wasn't on my radar back then.

 

And I didn't get into Blues & Soul until 1971 when somebody gave me what seemed like a whole suitcase full of back copies. Sadly I was short of space and passed them on to somebody else. B****r!!

 

MB 

Edited August 14, 2013 by MBarrett

[Pete S]

Hi Roburt

 

When you say "soul radio" do you mean things like the Mike Raven show on Radio 1.

 

I wouldn't have been an avid listener to his show in 1969 so would explain why that record wasn't on my radar back then.

 

And I didn't get into Blues & Soul until 1971 when somebody gave me what seemed like a whole suitcase full of back copies. Sadly I was short of space and passed them on to somebody else. B****r!!

 

MB 

 

Sorry I know this is taking it off topic but I have the track listings to most Mike Raven shows from 1969 to 1971, this are not public domain either, they were recorded at the time on reel to reels and written down in a book.  Old friend of mine recorded them.  Still in my garage.

[Funkin Dunc]

You could always use the charts from "Black Music" magazine, it ran from the early 70's to the end of the decade and always included both USA and UK charts.  If you get stuck I mean.

 

Thanks for that, I'd not thought of it, I wonder how easy they are to get hold of?

[Funkin Dunc]

I'm a bit surprised to see that.

 

I don't recall this being played on the radio (pirate stations included) or at any clubs that I frequented at the time.

 

Perhaps I was in all the wrong places or maybe my ears were just deaf to it.

 

How did the B&S poll work?

 

Was it like a preprinted list and people had to mark them 1-10? Or something like that.

 

MB

 

I can only go on B&S issues I had back in the late 70s onwards but it always used to be where you could literally vote for anything you wanted but no multiple nominations; there were never any preprinted lists.

[Pete S]

Thanks for that, I'd not thought of it, I wonder how easy they are to get hold of?

 

I've got all the first three or four years with one issue missing, have a think and if theres anything you need you can borrow them or I'll copy them for you.

[Funkin Dunc]

I've got all the first three or four years with one issue missing, have a think and if theres anything you need you can borrow them or I'll copy them for you.

 

Thanks Pete, joining this forum has restored my faith in human nature! Can I come back to you?

[Pete S]

Thanks Pete, joining this forum has restored my faith in human nature! Can I come back to you?

 

Sure, just PM me if you need anything.

[Funkin Dunc]

Here is the earliest chart I have at present other than Issue One: Issue 80 dated Mar 17-30 1972

 

Click on the pic to enlarge

Edited August 14, 2013 by Funkin Dunc

[Funkin Dunc]

I recently 'won' a few 1971 issues on ebay, I'll post the charts on here when I receive them.

[Funkin Dunc]

Managed to get some issues from 1971 as mentioned previously, here is the earliest chart I have to hand - issue 58 (Apr30-May13)

[Citizen P]

I'm a bit surprised to see that.

 

I don't recall this being played on the radio (pirate stations included) or at any clubs that I frequented at the time.

 

Perhaps I was in all the wrong places or maybe my ears were just deaf to it.

 

How did the B&S poll work?

 

Was it like a preprinted list and people had to mark them 1-10? Or something like that.

 

MB

 

 

By memory they were completely free nominations in the boxes provided for each category. Depending on how many actually voted, must have been quite a task to compile.

[Roburt]

Not chart related but in B&S mag back in the day ..........

... the Contempo Soul Source Section, where you could purchase the records on offer each edition.

In B&S #82 (April 72) they put on offer a self selection soul pack  -- 10 US 45's for £1 (what a rip off even though P&P was included !!).

The selection on offer at that time included :-

Markeys "Knock On Wood"; Staple Singers "The Ghetto"; Judy Clay "It Ain't Long Enough"; Margie Joseph "One More Chance"; Darrell Banks "I'm The One Who Loves You"; Jimmy Hughes "Chains Of Love"; Johnny Taylor & Carla Thjomas "Just Keep On Lovin Me"; Billy Harner "She's Almost You"; Dells "Always Together"; Blinky "I Wouldn't Change The Man He Is" PLUS other 45's from Chuck Jackson, Shorty Long, Inez Foxx, Howard Tate, 4 Tops, Impressions, David Ruffin, Ramsey Lewis and more.

 

You'd have been hard pushed to have picked a good quid's worth out of those ?!?!?! 

Still, if you couldn't find 10 you wanted, you could order them individually at 20p each.

[Reforee]

Hi folks, I'm new to the forum and I'm sorry that my first thread is all about requesting help!

I have long been frustrated that there has never been a UK version of Joel Whitburn's Billboard Top R&B Singles book, and it has reached the stage where - having just turned 50 - I might as well have a go at doing something about it.

To my mind Blues & Soul magazine has been the only (virtually) constant specialist title devoted to 'our' music and so I thought I'd try to start compiling all their different charts from all the different eras, including the year end poll results and the occasional 'all-time favourites' listings which appeared in commemorative issues.

Unfortunately, most of the copies I bought in my youth/early 20s were consigned to the bin (why did I do that???) decades ago although I am aware that the Collindale Library in London does keep back issues on file. I intend to visit there in due course.

My request is: if any of you have any back issues from any era and has the time, energy and the will to scan each chart from any particular issue and send them on to me I would be thrilled to bits. I will type them up and post them here and give credit to the sender - which would also happen if the project gets so far as to make it worthy of publication. Please note that the issue can be from any era - even the modern stuff!

 

Anyway,to set the ball rolling, here is the very first chart from Issue 1 (when it was called Home of the Blues) in May 1966:

US TOP 50 R&B DISCS - MAY 1966

1. THIS OLD HEART OF MINE - ISLEY BROTHERS

2. 634-5789 - WILSON PICKETT

3. LOVE MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND - DEON JACKSON

4. BABY SCRATCH MY BACK - SLIM HARPO

5. GET READY - TEMPTATIONS

6. MESSAGE TO MICHAEL - DIONNE WARWICK

7. SATISFACTION - OTIS REDDING

8. I'LL TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOU - GARNETT MIMMS

9. SEARCHING FOR MY LOVE - BOBBY MOORE & THE RHYTHM ACES

10. WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN - PERCY SLEDGE

11. ONE MORE HEARTACHE - MARVIN GAYE

12. SHAKE ME WAKE ME - FOUR TOPS

13. SHE BLEW A GOOD THING - POETS

14. DARLING BABY - ELGINS

15. THE LOVE YOU SAVE - JOE TEX

16. YOU GOT MY MIND DRESSED UP - JAMES CARR

17. REAL HUMDINGER - JJ BARNES

18. STOP HER ON SIGHT - EDWIN STARR

19. GOT MY MIND WORKING - JIMMY SMITH

20. NO MAN IS AN ISLAND - VAN DYKES

21. COOL JERK - CAPITOLS

22. MY BABY LOVES ME - MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS

23. AIN'T THAT A GROOVE - JAMES BROWN

24. I'LL LOVE YOU FOREVER - HOLIDAYS

25. TOO YOUNG - TOMMY VANN

26. I WANT SOMEONE - MAD LADS

27. WANG DANG DOODLE - KO KO TAYLOR

28. PHILLY DOG - MARKEYS

29. HELPLESS - KIM WESTON

30. GREETINGS - VALADIERS

31. TEACH ME - MANHATTANS

32. FOOL FOR YOU - GENE CHANDLER

33. TOGETHER AGAIN - RAY CHARLES

34. GOOD GOOD LOVIN' - BLOSSOMS

35. I CAN'T REST - FONTELLA BASS

36. PURPLE TEARDROPS - STEVIE WONDER

37. SHARING YOU - MITTY COLLIER

38. DEAR LOVER - MARY WELLS

39. FADING AWAY - TEMPTATIONS

40. BABY I NEED YOU - MANHATTANS

41. GET OUT OF MY LIFE WOMAN - LEE DORSEY

42. FOXY DEVIL - LUTHER INGRAM

43. ONLY TIME WILL TELL - ETTA JAMES

44. CANADIAN SUNSET - VIBRATIONS

45. I'M A PEACE LOVIN MAN - EMMANUEL LASKY

46. THINGS GET BETTER - EDDIE FLOYD

47. THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU SPEAK - AL KING

48. I SURRENDER - FONTELLA BASS

49. NOTHING IS TOO GOOD FOR MY BABY - STEVIE WONDER

50. DO YOU FEEL IT - LITTLE RICHARD

 

Many thanks, and any contribution - however small - will be truly appreciated.

[Reforee]

Hi

Had the same thoughts but never got the time.

got a full set of Home of The Blues and all B&S issues up to around 700 all bound in my record room. Which over the years I have used as reference. Your welcome to have access or I can photocopy up charts from issues and send on to you if you want. Just pm me.

Have loads of duplicate B&S and have moved a few on, i think 1 to 100 Dave Greet had a few years back and a spare set of H of the B

Went too Japan via a dealer for 1k so they are pretty in demand.

Got loads of soul fanzines as well which I must shift sometime .........it's just finding the time.

The offers there if you want to take it up, or if you live local possibly pop round as this kind of book would be a project worth doing, subject to permissions etc.

Dave Halsall

[Funkin Dunc]

Just experimenting... I have produced a spreadsheet of Blues & Soul UK hits from 1971... I haven't got every chart yet and it's still work in progress... hopefully I can post it here for you to see

 

Blast!! Can't seem to attach the file! Anyone any ideas?

Edited October 1, 2013 by Funkin Dunc

[Mike]

may be the format

try zipping it up ?

[Funkin Dunc]

may be the format

try zipping it up ?

I'll give it a go, Mike, thanks.

[Funkin Dunc]

Hi, trying again with this, don't know how easy it will be to read but here goes...

b&s1971.pdf

[Funkin Dunc]

Impossible in its current format, sadly, although anyone wanting to look could try printing it to get the gist. Thwarted again!

[Funkin Dunc]

Here is something I posted on another forum - discomusic.com - following research on Blues & Soul magazine charts from 1975. This is the only year to date for which I have a complete set, and given the nature of 'Soul' then - I use inverted commas because many of the singles had little or no soul content - it made sense to visit that forum first. Nevertheless, there are plenty of items of interest.

 

1975 BLUES & SOUL UK SOUL CHARTS FACT FILE
Blues & Soul was published fortnightly throughout the year, as it has done for most of its existence.

A total of 645 singles made the chart throughout 1975, including 2 different releases of The Joneses 'Sugar Pie Guy'.

The chart was listed as a Top 100 throughout the year with the exception of one issue (153 4th Feb - 17th Feb) when it was reduced to a Top 90.

Gladys Knight & The Pips had the most hits: 7

Van McCoy's 'The Hustle' and Esther Phillips' 'What A Difference A Day Makes' were the longest running #1s and were at the top for 6 weeks - but were not the year's biggest singles.

Most weeks on the chart: Ben E. King 'Supernatural Thing' (30), Crystal Grass 'Crystal World' (28), Isley Brothers 'Fight The Power' (24) - interestingly, none of these titles entered the UK singles chart.

The UK Blues & Soul #1s chronologically were:
BT Express 'Do It 'Til You're Satisfied' 2wks
Gloria Gaynor 'Never Can Say Goodbye' 4wks
Betty Wright 'Shoorah Shoorah' 2wks
Shirley & Company 'Shame Shame Shame' 2wks
Average White Band 'Pick Up The Pieces' 2wks
Moments & Whatnauts 'Girls' 2wks
Jim Gilstrap 'Swing Your Daddy' 2wks
Van McCoy 'The Hustle' 6wks
Minnie Riperton 'Lovin' You' 4wks
Stylistics 'Sing Baby Sing' 2wks
Hamilton Bohannon 'Foot Stompin' Music' 2wks
Linda Carr & The Love Squad 'High Wire' 2wks
Stylistics 'Can't Give You Anything' 4wks
KC & The Sunshine Band 'That's The Way I Like It' 2wks
Fatback Band 'Yum Yum' 2wks
Esther Phillips 'What A Difference A Day Makes' 6wks
Trammps 'Hold Back The Night' 2wks
Impressions 'First Impressions' 2wks
Fatback Band 'Do The Bus Stop' 2wks

The Nearly Men/Women (songs that stalled at #2)
Blackbyrds 'Do It Fluid'
Blackbyrds 'Walking In Rhythm'
Hamilton Bohannon 'Disco Stomp'
Shirley Brown 'Woman To Woman'
Natalie Cole 'This Will Be'
Al Green 'L-O-V-E Love'
Al Matthews 'Fool'
Moments 'Dolly My Love'
Silver Convention 'Fly Robin Fly'
Three Degrees 'Take Good Care Of Yourself'
Tymes 'Ms Grace'
Barry White 'What Am I Gonna Do With You'
 

1.CRYSTAL GRASS CRYSTAL WORLD

2.MCCOY, Van and The SOUL CITY SYMPHONY THE HUSTLE

3.KING, Ben E. SUPERNATURAL THING

4.PEOPLE'S CHOICE DO IT ANYWAY YOU WANNA

5.BOHANNON, Hamilton DISCO STOMP

6.AVERAGE WHITE BAND PICK UP THE PIECES

7.LABELLE LADY MARMALADE

8.KNIGHT, Gladys and The PIPS BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME

9.BANZAI CHINESE KUNG FU

10.HARRIS, Major LOVE WON'T LET ME WAIT

11.ISLEY BROTHERS, The FIGHT THE POWER

12.KOOL and The GANG SPIRIT OF THE BOOGIE

13.KNIGHT, Gladys and The PIPS THE WAY WE WERE

14.FATBACK BAND YUM YUM

15.BLACKBYRDS, The WALKING IN RHYTHM

16.K.C. and The SUNSHINE BAND THAT'S THE WAY I LIKE IT

17.SAIN, Oliver BUS STOP

18.COLE, Natalie THIS WILL BE

19.CARR, Linda and The LOVE SQUAD HIGHWIRE

20.TRAMMPS, The HOLD BACK THE NIGHT

21.HORNE, Jimmy Bo GIMME SOME

22.BUSH, Ernie BREAKAWAY

23.MCCRAE, George IT'S BEEN SO LONG

24.MCCRAE, Gwen ROCKIN' CHAIR

25.STYLISTICS, The I CAN'T GIVE YOU ANYTHING

26.DRIFTERS, The THERE GOES MY FIRST LOVE

27.TAVARES IT ONLY TAKES A MINUTE

28.BLACK BLOOD A.I.E. (A MWANA)

29.BROTHER TO BROTHER IN THE BOTTLE

30.JONESES, The SUGAR PIE GUY

31.PHILLIPS, Esther WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES

32.MOMENTS, The DOLLY MY LOVE

33.EXCITERS, The REACHIN' FOR THE BEST

34.MANN, Herbie HIJACK

35.CROWN HEIGHTS AFFAIR DREAMING A DREAM

36.CHI-LITES, The IT'S TIME FOR LOVE

37.B.T. EXPRESS DO IT 'TIL YOU'RE SATISFIED

38.K.C. and The SUNSHINE BAND GET DOWN TONIGHT

39.MFSB SEXY

40.OHIO PLAYERS FIRE

41.MATTHEWS, Al FOOL

42.BOHANNON, Hamilton FOOT STOMPIN' MUSIC

43.JONES, Tamiko TOUCH ME BABY

44.CALENDAR HYPERTENSION

45.CHI-LITES, The HAVE YOU SEEN HER/OH GIRL

46.SAIN, Oliver THE DOUBLE BUMP (BOOTY BUMPIN')

47.EARTH, WIND AND FIRE SHINING STAR

48.SILVER BIRD CONVENTION SAVE ME

49.BENSON, George SUPERSHIP

50.SILVER CONVENTION FLY ROBIN FLY

51.BROWN, Shirley WOMAN TO WOMAN

52.RIPERTON, Minnie LOVIN' YOU

53.MOMENTS and WHATNAUTS, The GIRLS

54.YOUNG, Retta S.O.S.

55.FAITH, HOPE AND CHARITY TO EACH HIS OWN

56.AVERAGE WHITE BAND CUT THE CAKE

57.WAR WHY CAN'T WE BE FRIENDS

58.CLARK, Dee RIDE A WILD HORSE

59.COMMODORES, The SLIPPERY WHEN WET

60.FATBACK BAND WICKI WACKI

61.BLACKBYRDS, The DO IT FLUID

62.GREEN, Al L-O-V-E, LOVE

63.SAIN, Oliver LONDON EXPRESS

64.RIMSHOTS, The 7654321 BLOW YOUR WHISTLE

65.BAZUKA DYNOMITE

66.GAYNOR, Gloria NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE

67.GILSTRAP, Jim SWING YOUR DADDY

68.SISTER SLEDGE MAMA NEVER TOLD ME

69.SIMON, Joe GET DOWN GET DOWN

70.ULTRAFUNK STING YOUR JAWS

71.MCCRAE, George SING A HAPPY SONG

72.TEMPREES, The AT LAST

73.THREE DEGREES, The TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF

74.CHARLES, Tina YOU SET MY SOUL ON FIRE

75.SILVERSPOON, Dooley AS LONG AS YOU KNOW

76.SILVERSPOON, Dooley BUMP ME BABY

77.ARMADA ORCHESTRA COCHISE

78.MAGIC DISCO MACHINE CONTROL TOWER

79.B.T. EXPRESS GIVE IT WHAT YOU GOT

80.LYNN, Tami I'M GONNA RUN AWAY FROM YOU

81.AD LIBS, The BOY FROM NEW YORK CITY

82.BIDDU ORCHESTRA SUMMER OF '42

83.TYMES, The MS. GRACE/THE CRUTCH

84.NASH, Johnny TEARS ON MY PILLOW

85.HENDERSON, Willie DANCE MASTER

86.MCCOY, Van CHANGE WITH THE TIMES

87.REFLECTIONS, The THREE STEPS FROM TRUE LOVE

88.STYLISTICS, The SING BABY SING

89.KENDRICKS, Eddie SHOESHINE BOY

90.BROWN, James FUNKY PRESIDENT

91.STYLISTICS, The STAR ON A TV SHOW/HEY GIRL COME AND GET IT

92.GREEN, Al OH ME OH MY

93.CARTER, Ralph WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG AND IN LOVE

94.BARNES, J.J. SWEET SHERRY

95.THOMAS, Timmy YOU'RE THE SONG I ALWAYS WANTED TO SING

96.WILSON, Al THE SNAKE

97.WRIGHT, Earl THUMB A RIDE

98.BOHANNON, Hamilton SOUTH AFRICAN MAN

99.FATBACK BAND KEEP ON STEPPIN'

100.TOMS, Gary EMPIRE 7654321 BLOW YOUR WHISTLE

 

Edited October 11, 2013 by Funkin Dunc

[Funkin Dunc]

Hi again guys. One of the frequent visitors to the forum - Reforee - kindly sent me the B&S charts from the first year of publication: 1966.

B&S was launched as Home Of The Blues in May 1966 but it wasn't until August (Issue 4) that a UK singles chart appeared. It was listed as the UK Top 10 R&B singles and remained solely as a top 10 for the rest of the year.

So, in case you've never seen it before, here is the very first Blues & Soul UK Top 10:

 

1. BAREFOOTIN' - ROBERT PARKER

2. MY LOVER'S PRAYER - OTIS REDDING

3. BILLY'S BAG - BILLY PRESTON

4. NINETY NINE AND A HALF - WILSON PICKETT

5. LOVING YOU IS SWEETER THAN EVER - FOUR TOPS

6. ROAD RUNNER - JUNIOR WALKER

7. S.Y.S.L.J.F.M. - JOE TEX

8. YOU DON'T KNOW LIKE I KNOW - SAM & DAVE

9. HOLD ON I'M COMIN' - SAM & DAVE

10. NEIGHBOUR NEIGHBOUR - JIMMY HUGHES

[Funkin Dunc]

BLUES & SOUL TOP 20 SOUL HITS OF 1966

Compiled from the UK Soul Charts of the year... please bear in mind that the charts did not start until August.

 

1.PARKER, Robert BAREFOOTIN' 2.FOUR TOPS, The LOVING YOU IS SWEETER THAN EVER 3.FOUR TOPS, The REACH OUT, I'LL BE THERE 4.RUFFIN, Jimmy WHAT BECOMES OF THE BROKENHEARTED 5.TEMPTATIONS, The AIN'T TOO PROUD TO BEG 6.REDDING, Otis I CAN'T TURN YOU LOOSE 7.THOMAS, Rufus WILLY NILLY 8.FLOYD, Eddie KNOCK ON WOOD 9.DORSEY, Lee HOLY COW 10.MOORE, Bobby and The RHYTHM ACES SEARCHING FOR MY LOVE 11.BIRDLEGS and PAULINE SPRING 12.REDDING, Otis MY LOVER'S PRAYER 13.TEMPTATIONS, The BEAUTY IS ONLY SKIN DEEP 14.SUPREMES, The YOU KEEP ME HANGIN' ON 15.PRESTON, Billy BILLY'S BAG 16.TURNER, Ike and Tina A LOVE LIKE YOURS 17.PICKETT, Wilson NINETY NINE AND A HALF (WON'T DO) 18.REDDING, Otis FA FA FA FA FA (SAD SONG) 19.THOMAS, Carla B-A-B-Y 20.MARTIN, Rodge WHEN SHE TOUCHES ME

 

It is hard to imagine that the following songs, which were all UK pop hits earlier in the year, would not have made the list:

JAMES BROWN: I GOT YOU (I FEEL GOOD)

JAMES BROWN: IT'S A MANS, MANS, MANS WORLD

PERCY SLEDGE: WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN

EDWIN STARR: STOP HER ON SIGHT (SOS)

IKE & TINA TURNER: RIVER DEEP MOUNTAIN HIGH

JUNIOR WALKER & THE ALL STARS: HOW SWEET IT IS

STEVIE WONDER: UPTIGHT

Edited October 24, 2013 by Funkin Dunc

[Funkin Dunc]

REVIEW OF 1967

The Home of the Blues continued intermittently up until issue 11 (July 1967). The first Blues & Soul was launched in October 1967 (labelled as issue 1, not 12) and ran monthly. Both magazine's UK charts in 1967 were listed as the Top 20 UK R&B singles. A total of 129 singles charted.

The B&S #1s in chronological order were:
JIMMY RUFFIN - WHAT BECOMES OF THE BROKENHEARTED
EDDIE FLOYD - KNOCK ON WOOD
EDDIE FLOYD - RAISE YOUR HAND
ARETHA FRANKLIN - I NEVER LOVED A MAN (THE WAY I LOVED YOU)
WILLIE TEE - WALKING UP A ONE WAY STREET
ARETHA FRANKLIN - BABY I LOVE YOU
SAM & DAVE - SOUL MAN
MOSES & JOSHUA DILLARD - MY ELUSIVE DREAMS

Otis Redding had the most hits (6) including the duet with Carla Thomas 'Tramp'
Eddie Floyd's 'Knock On Wood' spent the most weeks on the chart (21).

TOP 50 B&S SOUL RECORDS OF 1967
 

1.FLOYD, Eddie

KNOCK ON WOOD

2.TEE, Willie

WALKING UP A ONE WAY STREET

3.FRANKLIN, Aretha

RESPECT

4.WRIGHT, O.V.

EIGHT MEN, FOUR WOMEN

5.CONLEY, Arthur

SWEET SOUL MUSIC

6.SOUL RUNNERS

GRITS 'N' CORNBREAD

7.SLEDGE, Percy

BABY, HELP ME

8.WIGGINS, Spencer

UP TIGHT GOOD WOMAN

9.RICHARDS, Lisa

TAKE A CHANCE

10.SCOTT, Freddie

AM I GROOVING YOU

11.FLOYD, Eddie

RAISE YOUR HAND

12.SAM and DAVE

SOUL MAN

13.SUPREMES, The

YOU KEEP ME HANGIN' ON

14.THOMAS, Carla

SOMETHING GOOD (IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU)

15.McCALL, Toussaint

NOTHING TAKES THE PLACE OF YOU

16.WILSON, Jackie

HIGHER AND HIGHER

17.RUFFIN, Jimmy

WHAT BECOMES OF THE BROKENHEARTED

18.JOHN, Mable

SAME TIME, SAME PLACE

19.FRANKLIN, Aretha

(YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE A) B78NATURAL WOMAN

20.SUPREMES, The

LOVE IS HERE AND NOW YOU'RE GONE

21.DORSEY, Lee

HOLY COW

22.FOUR TOPS, The

REACH OUT, I'LL BE THERE

23.HEIGHT, Donald

TALK OF THE GRAPEVINE

24.NEVILLE, Aaron

TELL IT LIKE IT IS

25.KING CURTIS

MEMPHIS SOUL STEW

26.SHAW, Marlena

MERCY MERCY MERCY

27.TURNER, Ike and Tina

A LOVE LIKE YOURS

28.COVAY, Don and The GOODTIMERS

40 DAYS - 40 NIGHTS

29.MARTHA and The VANDELLAS

LOVE BUG, LEAVE MY HEART ALONE

30.PICKETT, Wilson

EVERYBODY NEEDS SOMEBODY TO LOVE

31.REDDING, Otis

FA FA FA FA FA (SAD SONG)

32.SAM and DAVE

SOOTHE ME

33.GARVIN, Rex

SOCK IT TO 'EM, J.B.

34.ROSS, Diana and The SUPREMES

REFLECTIONS

35.HEBB, Bobby

A SATISFIED MIND

36.PICKETT, Wilson

FUNKY BROADWAY

37.DILLARD, Moses and JOSHUA

MY ELUSIVE DREAMS

38.KING, B.B.

NIGHT LIFE

39.TEMPTATIONS, The

ALL I NEED

40.CASH, Alvin and The REGISTERS

THE PHILLY FREEZE

41.WILLIAMS, Loretta

I'M MISSING YOU

42.KING, Albert

CROSSCUT SAW

43.MITCHELL, Willie

MERCY

44.BOOKER T. and The M.G.'s

GROOVIN'/SLIM JENKINS' PLACE

45.MARVELETTES, The

WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG AND IN LOVE

46.GAYE, Marvin

ORIGINALS FROM MARVIN GAYE (EP)*

47.FRANKLIN, Aretha

I NEVER LOVED A MAN (THE WAY I LOVED YOU)

48.FRANKLIN, Aretha

BABY I LOVE YOU

49.SPINNERS, The

I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU

50.HARRIS, Betty

NEARER TO YOU

[Pete S]

Great stuff Dunc. That 1975 chart really takes me back to a happy time.  

[Autumnstoned]

Surprised David Ruffin - Walk Away From Love isn't in that 1975 chart.

[Funkin Dunc]

Surprised David Ruffin - Walk Away From Love isn't in that 1975 chart.

What a fantastic record! It didn't enter the B&S chart until 23rd December which probably explains a lot. It will certainly deserve an entry in 76, so here's hoping. Sadly, I am missing a lot of 76 Blues & Soul mags at present so it may be a while before we find out.