(1974 Albums) Mott the Hoople – The Hoople

1974 was quite the year for Mott the Hoople.
Flush from the band’s single success in 1972 with the Bowie-penned “All the Young Dudes“, Mott had already enjoyed follow-up hits with songs like “Honaloochie Boogie” and “All the Way from Memphis“.
(Not before Mott had turned down another offered song from Bowie though… a certain little ditty entitled “Drive-In Saturday“)
Late [...]

January 7th 1974

“Berfday. Got lamp, pygamas, £2 from Mormor – bought Stranded – Roxy – Smart!”
So the wild and crazy out-of-control teenager turns 16 and celebrates with … erm… some pyjamas (mis-spelled), a lamp (a lamp??) and a couple of quid from his Danish grandmother.
However, it seems like I made up for it a little later in the [...]

Number One Singles of 1973 (Part 4)

[... "Number One Singles of 1973" continued from Part III]
October to December
• David Cassidy – Daydreamer/The Puppy Song
Released as a Double A-side to (somewhat cynically I feel) extend its shelf life and radio play, this was teen idol Cassidy’s 6th UK hit.
It would prove to be his last Number 1 in Britain and spent three [...]

Number One Singles of 1973 (Part 2)

[... "Number One Singles of 1973" continued from Part I]
April to June
 • Gilbert O’Sullivan – Get Down
I wrote a little bit about Gilbert during my pieces on Number One Singles of 1972 a year ago
Here’s a piece of trivia that people may not be aware of. Gilbert is wholly responsible for the ongoing necessity of [...]

Number One Singles of 1973 (Part 1)

Let’s do a little bit of pop remininscing about the UK’s Number One singles in 1973 shall we?…
Starting off with January to March…
• Little Jimmy Osmond – Long Haired Lover from Liverpool
I dismissed talked briefly about Little Jimmy’s novelty hit a year or so ago, it being a spill-over from enjoying “Number One at Xmas” status [...]

December 20th 1972

“Sponsered Silence, Krismas Karols, Tra La La ETC”
OK, answer me this … how exactly did everyone – presumably as school – participate in a sponsored silence (“sponsered” even) AND do Christmas Carols?
Mind you, those are exactly the kind of Christmas Carols I would like.
People of the world should realise they only need ONE Christmas song, [...]

Number Ones of 1972 (Part 5)

…[continued from Part 4]
You know when you write about a year in these terms – all the number ones – you wonder whether it gives a realistic representation of the music everyone listened to.
In terms of sheer public popularity I guess it does, but in my own personal world I feel there were many different songs [...]

Number Ones of 1972 (Part 3)

… [continued from Part 2]
“…… and they called it Puppy Luuuuuuuuuuuurve” was a Number One call to arms for fresh-faced Mormon superstar teenager Donny Osmond.
1972 really was the year of Osmond-mania in the UK, when the family troupe, The Osmonds (put together as a “white” answer to the Jackson 5)  - especially photogenic teen idol Donny – created abject [...]

Number Ones of 1972 (Part 2)

… [continued from Part 1]
When the UK had ’suffered’ enough Chicory Tip at Number One, it then propelled a peculiar love song to the top of the charts. 
“Without You” was written and originally recorded by Badfinger, a band from Wales who were (somewhat inexplicably IMHO) signed to The Beatles‘ Apple Records. 
The song was heard by John Lennon’s pal Harry Nilsson – who [...]

July 19th 1972

“Early morning thunder and lightning” /”Didn’t do much during day, played with Jonathan” / “Mum in mood in morning ‘cos I plyd Slade” / “Arguverge” / “fixed puncture”
Almost this entire entry could be ignored with the obvious exception of the great line “Mum in mood in morning ‘cos I plyd Slade“
Throughout the ages, it’s not [...]

July 18th 1972 (II)

In afternoon went up Gordon’s + borrowed Slade Alive + 45’s”/ “Argument on verge” / “Poured down + lightning” / “6m”
Parents still on the cusp of arguing, a teenager on holiday is still writing diary notes about the weather, another six miles on the bike…. it’s all pretty yawn-filled stuff isn’t it? So thank heavens for [...]