February 24, 1973 - Record Mirror

Top Fifty Singles No1 Blockbuster by Sweet & Albums No1 Dont Shoot Me Im Only The Piano Player by Elton John

chart chatter

SWEET is still at number one, and entering the Top Ten are the Faces with "Cindy Incidentally." The Strawbs have not taken the number one spot.

The big 50 climber is American Roberta Flack. She is now right at the top of their 100 and here moves up 24 places. It should silence those who said she did well with The First Time Ever but as for another hit, they had very serious doubts. It must be time the said lady recorded a new album.

The New Seekers must be causing some chatter with their high entry via the Tommy songs Pinball Wizard/See Me Feel Me. The London stage production caused comparison with the original version from originators The Who. When The New Seekers suddenly announced their intention to record the main numbers, there were plenty of surprised people. The group are first in at 27.

The Detroit Emeralds are deservedly moving up the charts and are just outside the 20 with Feel The Need In Me. This past weekend I ran their 3 record every half dozen discs at a disco in St. Ives. Kathryn Menear was one of the RM readers and a fan of the Detroit Emeralds. Really good feel, this disc.

Neil Sedaka, a chart parade tip some weeks back, is in at 37 with a lively Why Can't We Live Together. The Spurs are moving up the record table or 3 at least Nice One Cyril is in at 43. No surprise to see Jimmy Helms entering at 48. His record seems to be constantly on the airwaves and Peter Jones had no doubt about the hit potential in last week's single review page.

And Timmy Thomas? In at 37. His Why Can't We Live Together made number one in America. He was born in 1944 in Evansville, Indiana. Jimmy went to Lane College, Jackson, Tennessee, and whilst there made his first disc. Tim not only sings on his record but plays organ. Doubtless the record will climb higher next week. There is obviously a large market for disco-influenced material in the national Top 50.

Outside of the new entries and thinking of the next week, the current breakers are the O'Jays and Love Train, Kenny with Heart of Stone (pretty haunting that one), Beach Boys and California Saga, from Shirley Bassey, Never, Never, Never, Blue Mink with By The Devil, the Shepherd's Bush Comets still trying via Amazing Grace and the spine-chilling El Doomo from Ellis. As to the people still

remaining in this week's Top 50 from the last one, it's more or less a week of little change. The Jackson Five are still moving up but not as fast as might be expected. Olivia, after remaining static for some weeks, is now 15 from 18. Dandy Livingstone, after being a fastest dropper, is now going the other way, from 39 up to 35. Dave Edmunds has made the ten and Miki Anthony, after some indecision, is now going up with a nine-position move from 38 to 29.

It seems much easier to write about the discs moving downward and there are quite a number. Elton and Daniel seem to have had its day and a very successful one too. He goes from four to seven and even ELO have a debit side.