When looking at 1960, it seemed like we were still in the 50s and the 60s were yet to begin. The question is then, does 1970 seem more like the 60s or the 70s?
It was the year The Beatles broke up and they had one final hit before they split with "Let It Be" reaching number 2 and therefore keeping them at 17 number ones. It wasn't the last we'd see of them on the charts though, they would return with reissues and previously uncharted material.
Elvis Presley managed to add to his tally of number ones with "The Wonder Of You" bringing his total to 16. He had a further 3 hits bringing his total number of hits to 73. Cliff Richard had a further 3 hits bring his total to 54. Still no change in 3rd with Lonnie Donegan on 30, and still Nat 'King' Cole, Everly Brothers, Frankie Vaughan and Frank Sinatra tied in fourth with none of these acts adding to their total hits this year.
Whilst Elvis currently held the longest run of hits in consecutive years, having had a hit every year since 1956, he was not the earliest charting act in the charts this year. That honour went to 1953 debutant Dorothy Squires who would have her final two hits with "Till" and "My Way". After a couple of years out the charts, 1957 debutant Shirley Bassey returned to the charts with her cover of "Something" by the Beatles. Another 1957 debutant still on the charts was Andy Williams who had 3 hits this year. So Elvis, Cliff, Dorothy Squires, Shirley Bassey and Andy Williams became the only acts so far to have had a top 40 hit in the 50s, 60s and 70s.
Despite it being 6 years since his death, Jim Reeves kept his run of hits every year since 1960 going having hits with "Nobody's Fool" and "Angels Don't Lie", and he wasn't finished yet. Only missing one year since 1960 was Ken Dodd who had a hit with "Broken Hearted". Keeping a run of hits every year since 1961 was Gene Pitney who charted with "A Street Called Hope" and "Shady Lady", though this run would end this year.
Dave Clark Five would bid farewell to the charts this year with their final two hits "Everybody Get Together" and "More Good Old Rock n Roll". Also bidding farewell were Herman's Hermits who's final hit would be "Lady Barbara". Meanwhile Dusty Springfield would have her last hit for 17 years with "How Can I Be Sure" and the Beach Boys would end their run of hits every year since 1963 with "Cottonfields" and would only have the occasional hit from now on.
It was the first year since their 1963 debut that the Rolling Stones had no hits. We did however have Mick Jagger score his first solo hit with "Memo To Turner".
Having split up the previous year, the Bee Gees reunited in 1970 and were back in the charts with "Lonely Days".
Motown would continue to have a strong presence on the charts with the Temptations, Supremes, Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Jimmy Ruffin and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles all having hits this year, the latter getting to number one with "Tears Of A Clown". It was also the year that The Contours scored their only UK hit is "Just A Little Misunderstanding".
There were two Motown debutants this year though which in my opinion is a sign they were moving into the 70s. First was the Jackson Five who debuted with "I Want You Back" and followed up with three further hits this year. Then there was the solo debut of Diana Ross who had a minor hit with "Reach Out And Touch" and then followed up with a top 10 with her cover of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough".
Joni Mitchell had her only top 40 hit this year with "Big Yellow Taxi". It was also the most prolific year for a man known for being several one hit wonders, Tony Burrows, who would chart as part of Edison Lighthouse, Brotherhood Of Man, White Plains and Pipkins. He had the first number one of the years with "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" by Edison Lighthouse which was a one hit wonder. The line up of Brotherhood Of Man this year was an entirely different line up to the one which enjoyed greater success later on in the decade.
Having already enjoyed chart success as a songwriter, this year saw the debut of Neil Diamond as an artist who had a hit with "Cracklin Rosie".
We were also seeing rock music get heavier this year with Deep Purple debuting with "Black Night" and Black Sabbath debuting with "Paranoid".
T Rex were back in the charts this year and were now sounding like the T Rex most people remember, scoring a number two with "Ride A White Swan" which also marked the beginning of glam rock in the charts.
There were several other notable acts debuting this year which showed we were now in the 70s. There was Free debuting with "All Right Now", Bread with "Make It With You", the Carpenters with "(They Long To Be Close) To You", Hot Chocolate with "Life Is Life" and Gilbert O'Sullivan with "Nothing Rhymed". There was also a one hit wonder called "Neanderthal Man" by Hotlegs, a band who would go on to be known as 10CC.
The year saw the first Dutch act on the charts, with Shocking Blue having their only top 40 hit with "Venus".
So 1970 very much seemed like a year of transition and there were many signs that the 70s had now begun. At the same time though, it didn't seem like the 60s were quite done yet. Will 1971 put an end to that? We'll see next time.
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