Like 1972, it was all about glam rock and the teen idols again in 1973. The difference was that T Rex were no longer dominating the chart, this year was the turn of Slade.
T Rex began the year with "20th Century Boy" reaching number 3, their lowest charting single to date since shortening the name T Rex. Their next single "The Groover" went one place lower at number 4, but this would prove to be their final top 10 hit with their final single of the year "Truck On (Tyke)" reaching number 12.
Slade on the other hand would score three number ones with "Cum On Feel the Noize", "Skweeze Me Pleeze Me" and "Merry Xmas Everybody" whilst their other single "My Friend Stan" reached number two. This brought Slade's total number ones to 6 which put them fifth on the all time list behind the Rolling Stones, Cliff Richard, Elvis Presley and the Beatles.
Elvis and Cliff continued to have hits this year, both adding three to their totals bringing Elvis to 85 and Cliff to 63 hits overall. Still nobody else catching up Lonnie Donegan and Frank Sinatra in third place though.
The Hollies continued their run of hits every year since 1963 and the Rolling Stones kept up their run of every year except 1970.
There was a return to the charts for two artists who were there in its first year in 1952. After a four year absence Max Bygraves returned to the charts with "Deck Of Cards" and after an eighteen year absence Al Martino, the artist who had the first ever number one returned to the charts with "Spanish Eyes". These would be the final hits for both artists.
Neil Sedaka made his return to the charts after a 11 year absence with "That's When the Music Takes Me". There was also a return to the charts after an 8 year absence for the Drifters with "Like Sister and Brother" although they did have reissued singles back in the charts the previous year. We would see more from both acts over the next couple of years.
Although Motown was the notable music from the 60s still going strong in the charts, this was the year that showed this was coming to an end. We had the Four Tops leave Motown the previous year, and their only hit this year "Sweet Understanding Love" would be their last hit for 8 years. After having a hit every year since 1964, this would be the final year on the charts for the Supremes with "Bad Weather" being their final hit. It would also be the last year that Gladys Knight & the Pips and the Jackson 5 would have hits on Motown, whilst the Temptations would have an 11 year break from the charts after this year. We still have Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder continuing to have hits though.
Suzi Quatro made he debut this year with the number one record "Can the Can" and followed this up with "48 Crash" and then "Daytona Demon". We also had Mud make their debut with "Crazy".
The previous year had seen the Barry White produced Love Unlimited debut in the charts, this year was the turn of Barry White himself with "I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little Bit More Baby".
We had Thin Lizzy debut with "Whiskey In the Jar", but it would be another three years until they returned to the charts, a common thing that seemed to be happening in the 70s so far.
From the teen idol world David Cassidy won the battle of number ones scoring two with "The Twelfth Of Never" and "Daydreamer/The Puppy Song" whilst Donny Osmond had just the one with "Young Love". Britain had it's own teen idol come along this year though with David Essex making his debut with "Rock On".
The end of the year saw Leo Sayer make his debut with "The Show Must Go On".
Overall 1973 wasn't that different from 1972, how different will 1974 be?
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