List of UK top-ten singles in 1970 explained
The UK Singles Chart is one of many music charts compiled by the Official Charts Company that calculates the best-selling singles of the week in the United Kingdom.[1] Before 2004, the chart was only based on the sales of physical singles.[2] [3] This list shows singles that peaked in the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart during 1970, as well as singles which peaked in 1969 and 1971 but were in the top 10 in 1970. The entry date is when the single appeared in the top 10 for the first time (week ending, as published by the Official Charts Company, which is six days after the chart is announced).
One-hundred and twenty-two singles were in the top ten in 1970. Eleven singles from 1969 remained in the top 10 for several weeks at the beginning of the year, while "Grandad" by Clive Dunn, "I'll Be There" by The Jackson 5 and "Ride a White Swan" by T. Rex were all released in 1970 but did not reach their peak until 1971. "All I Have to Do Is Dream" by Bobbie Gentry and Glen Campbell, "Melting Pot" by Blue Mink, "Suspicious Minds" by Elvis Presley and "Tracy" by The Cuff Links were the singles from 1969 to reach their peak in 1970. Nineteen artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1970. Chicago, Deep Purple, Hot Chocolate, The Jackson 5 and Neil Diamond were among the many artists who achieved their first UK charting top 10 single in 1970.
The 1969 Christmas number-one, "Two Little Boys" by Rolf Harris, remained at number-one for the first four weeks of 1970. The first new number-one single of the year was "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" by Edison Lighthouse. Overall, fourteen different singles peaked at number-one in 1970, with fourteen unique artists having singles hit that position.
Background
Multiple entries
One-hundred and twenty-two singles charted in the top 10 in 1970, with one-hundred and twelve singles reaching their peak this year.
Nineteen artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1970. Elvis Presley and The Jackson 5 shared the record for most top 10 hits in 1970 with four hit singles each.
Christie was one of a number of artists with two top-ten entries, including the number-one single "Yellow River". Andy Williams, The Dave Clark Five, Gerry Monroe, Marmalade and Stevie Wonder were among the other artists who had multiple top 10 entries in 1970.
Chart debuts
Fifty artists achieved their first top 10 single in 1970, either as a lead or featured artist. Of these, five went on to record another hit single that year: Chairmen of the Board, Chicago, Christie, Gerry Monroe and White Plains. The Jackson 5 had three other entries in their breakthrough year.
The following table (collapsed on desktop site) does not include acts who had previously charted as part of a group and secured their first top 10 solo single.
- NotesYoko Ono and John Lennon both made their first appearances in the chart where they are given individual credit, both having appeared under the guise of Plastic Ono Band, the latter as a member of The Beatles. Plastic Ono band debuted in 1969 with "Give Peace a Chance".
Fair Weather was set up by Andy Fairweather Low, formerly of the newly disbanded group Amen Corner, who had four top 10 singles between 1966 and 1969, including number-one "(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice". Dave Edmunds had been part of Love Sculpture's line-up in the late 1960s, "Sabre Dance" becoming a surprise hit. "I Hear You Knocking", his debut solo single, was 1970's Christmas number-one.
Songs from films
Original songs from various films entered the top 10 throughout the year. These included "Come and Get It" (from The Magic Christian) and "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid).
Best-selling singles
Mungo Jerry had the best-selling single of the year with "In the Summertime". The single spent eleven weeks in the top 10 (including seven weeks at number one). "The Wonder of You" by Elvis Presley came in second place. Freda Payne's "Band of Gold", "Spirit in the Sky" from Norman Greenbaum and "Bridge over Troubled Water" by Simon & Garfunkel made up the top five. Singles by the England World Cup Squad 1970, Free, Lee Marvin, Christie and Smokey Robinson and The Miracles were also in the top ten best-selling singles of the year.
Top-ten singles
- Key
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|
| bgcolor=lightblue | ‡ | Single peaked in 1969 but still in chart in 1970. |
| ♦ | Single released in 1970 but peaked in 1971. |
| (#) | Year-end top-ten single position and rank |
| Entered | The date that the single first appeared in the chart. |
| Peak | Highest position that the single reached in the UK Singles Chart. | |
Entered
(week ending) | Weeks
in
top
10 | Single | Artist | Peak | Peak reached
(week ending) | Weeks
at
peak |
|---|
| Singles in 1969 |
|---|
| 14 | "Sugar, Sugar" ‡ | | 1 | | 6 |
| 8 | "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday" ‡ | Stevie Wonder | 2 | | 1 |
| 12 | "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" ‡ | Kenny Rogers and The First Edition | 2 | | 6 |
| 2 | "The Liquidator" ‡ | Harry J All Stars | 9 | | 1 |
| 12 | "Two Little Boys" ‡ | Rolf Harris | 1 | | 6 |
| 8 | "Melting Pot" | Blue Mink | 3 | | 1 |
| 9 | "Suspicious Minds" | Elvis Presley | 2 | | 1 |
| 4 | "Winter World of Love" ‡ | Engelbert Humperdinck | 7 | | 1 |
| 6 | "Tracy" | | 4 | | 1 |
| 7 | "All I Have to Do Is Dream" | Bobbie Gentry & Glen Campbell | 3 | | 1 |
| 2 | "Without Love (There is Nothing)" ‡ | Tom Jones | 10 | | 2 |
| Singles in 1970 |
|---|
| 3 | "Good Old Rock 'n' Roll" | | 7 | | 1 |
| 5 | "Reflections of My Life" | Marmalade | 3 | | 3 |
| 5 | "Come and Get It" | Badfinger | 4 | | 1 |
| 7 | "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" | Edison Lighthouse | 1 | | 5 |
| 2 | "Friends" | Arrival | 8 | | 1 |
| 6 | "Leaving on a Jet Plane" | Peter, Paul and Mary | 2 | | 1 |
| 4 | "The Witch's Promise"/"Teacher" | Jethro Tull | 4 | | 1 |
| 2 | "I'm a Man" | Chicago | 8 | | 1 |
| 5 | "Temma Harbour" | Mary Hopkin | 6 | | 1 |
| 5 | "Let's Work Together" | Canned Heat | 2 | | 1 |
| 3 | "Venus" | Shocking Blue | 8 | | 1 |
| 5 | "I Want You Back" | | 2 | | 1 |
| 9 | "Wand'rin' Star" (#8) | Lee Marvin | 1 | | 3 |
| 5 | "Instant Karma!" | John Lennon & Yoko Ono with Plastic Ono Band | 5 | | 2 |
| 2 | "My Baby Loves Lovin'" | White Plains | 9 | | 2 |
| 1 | "United We Stand" | Brotherhood of Man | 10 | | 1 |
| 10 | "Bridge over Troubled Water" (#5) | Simon & Garfunkel | 1 | | 3 |
| 3 | "Years May Come, Years May Go" | Herman's Hermits | 7 | | 1 |
| 4 | "Let It Be" | | 2 | | 1 |
| 5 | "That Same Old Feeling" | Pickettywitch | 5 | | 2 |
| 1 | "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" | Sacha Distel | 10 | | 1 |
| 8 | "Can't Help Falling in Love" | Andy Williams | 3 | | 4 |
| 3 | "Don't Cry Daddy" | Elvis Presley | 8 | | 1 |
| 2 | "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" | Steam | 9 | | 1 |
| 5 | "Young, Gifted and Black" | Bob and Marcia | 5 | | 1 |
| 5 | "Knock, Knock Who's There?" | Mary Hopkin | 2 | | 1 |
| 2 | "Everybody Get Together" | | 8 | | 1 |
| 2 | "Something's Burning" | Kenny Rogers and The First Edition | 8 | | 1 |
| 7 | "All Kinds of Everything" | Dana | 1 | | 2 |
| 9 | "Spirit in the Sky" (#4) | Norman Greenbaum | 1 | | 2 |
| 4 | "Gimme Dat Ding" | | 6 | | 2 |
| 3 | "Farewell Is a Lonely Sound" | Jimmy Ruffin | 8 | | 1 |
| 1 | "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" | Four Tops | 10 | | 1 |
| 3 | "Never Had a Dream Come True" | Stevie Wonder | 6 | | 1 |
| 1 | "Good Morning Freedom" | Blue Mink | 10 | | 1 |
| 8 | "Back Home" (#6) | England World Cup Squad 1970 | 1 | | 3 |
| 5 | "House of the Rising Sun" | Frijid Pink | 4 | | 1 |
| 1 | "When Julie Comes Around" | | 10 | | 1 |
| 5 | "Daughter of Darkness" | Tom Jones | 5 | | 3 |
| 2 | "Travelin' Band" | Creedence Clearwater Revival | 8 | | 1 |
| 3 | "I Can't Tell the Bottom from the Top" | | 7 | | 1 |
| 5 | "Question" | | 2 | | 1 |
| 8 | "Yellow River" (#9) | Christie | 1 | | 1 |
| 3 | "Brontosaurus" | | 7 | | 1 |
| 2 | "I Don't Believe in If Anymore" | Roger Whittaker | 8 | | 2 |
| 5 | "Honey Come Back" | Glen Campbell | 4 | | 1 |
| 3 | "Up the Ladder to the Roof" | | 6 | | 1 |
| 3 | "Everything Is Beautiful" | Ray Stevens | 6 | | 1 |
| 7 | "Groovin' with Mr. Bloe" | Mr. Bloe | 2 | | 1 |
| 2 | "ABC" | | 8 | | 1 |
| 11 | "In the Summertime" (#1) | Mungo Jerry | 1 | | 7 |
| 7 | "Cotton Fields" | | 5 | | 2 |
| 9 | "All Right Now" (#7) | Free | 2 | | 5 |
| 5 | "Sally" | Gerry Monroe | 4 | | 1 |
| 4 | "The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)" | Fleetwood Mac | 10 | | 4 |
| 4 | "Goodbye Sam, Hello Samantha" | Cliff Richard | 6 | | 1 |
| 1 | "Abraham, Martin and John" | Marvin Gaye | 9 | | 1 |
| 6 | "It's All in the Game" | Four Tops | 5 | | 2 |
| 5 | "Up Around the Bend" | Creedence Clearwater Revival | 3 | | 1 |
| 2 | "Love of the Common People" | Nicky Thomas | 9 | | 2 |
| 7 | "Lola" | | 2 | | 1 |
| 8 | "Something" | Shirley Bassey | 4 | | 1 |
| 11 | "The Wonder of You" (#2) | Elvis Presley | 1 | | 6 |
| 7 | "Neanderthal Man" | Hotlegs | 2 | | 2 |
| 4 | "I'll Say Forever My Love" | Jimmy Ruffin | 7 | | 1 |
| 2 | "Lady D'Arbanville" | Cat Stevens | 8 | | 1 |
| 2 | "Love Like a Man" | Ten Years After | 10 | | 2 |
| 3 | "Natural Sinner" | Fair Weather | 6 | | 2 |
| 5 | "Rainbow" | Marmalade | 3 | | 1 |
| 7 | "The Tears of a Clown" (#10) | Smokey Robinson & The Miracles | 1 | | 1 |
| 2 | "The Love You Save" | | 7 | | 1 |
| 3 | "25 or 6 to 4" | Chicago | 7 | | 2 |
| 5 | "Mama Told Me Not to Come" | Three Dog Night | 3 | | 2 |
| 5 | "Give Me Just a Little More Time" | Chairmen of the Board | 3 | | 2 |
| 4 | "Make It with You" | Bread | 5 | | 1 |
| 1 | "Sweet Inspiration" | Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon | 10 | | 1 |
| 10 | "Band of Gold" (#3) | Freda Payne | 1 | | 6 |
| 2 | "Wild World" | Jimmy Cliff | 8 | | 1 |
| 3 | "Love Is Life" | Hot Chocolate | 6 | | 1 |
| 6 | "You Can Get It If You Really Want" | Desmond Dekker | 2 | | 2 |
| 5 | "Which Way You Goin' Billy?" | | 7 | | 2 |
| 5 | "Montego Bay" | Bobby Bloom | 3 | | 1 |
| 7 | "Black Night" | Deep Purple | 2 | | 2 |
| 5 | "Paranoid" | Black Sabbath | 4 | | 1 |
| 3 | "(They Long to Be) Close to You" | | 6 | | 1 |
| 4 | "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" | Diana Ross | 6 | | 1 |
| 6 | "Me and My Life" | | 4 | | 3 |
| 4 | "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" | | 7 | | 2 |
| 6 | "Patches" | Clarence Carter | 2 | | 3 |
| 6 | "Woodstock" | Matthews Southern Comfort | 1 | | 3 |
| 1 | "Still Water (Love)" | Four Tops | 10 | | 1 |
| 4 | "War" | Edwin Starr | 3 | | 1 |
| 3 | "The Witch" | | 8 | | 3 |
| 3 | "Ruby Tuesday" | Melanie | 9 | | 3 |
| 5 | "Indian Reservation" | Don Fardon | 3 | | 2 |
| 5 | "Voodoo Chile" | The Jimi Hendrix Experience | 1 | | 1 |
| 2 | "San Bernadino" | Christie | 7 | | 2 |
| 2 | "It's Wonderful (To Be Loved by You)" | Jimmy Ruffin | 6 | | 1 |
| 10 | "Cracklin' Rosie" | Neil Diamond | 3 | | 4 |
| 10 | "I Hear You Knocking" | Dave Edmunds | 1 | | 6 |
| 9 | "Ride a White Swan" ♦ | T. Rex | 2 | | 1 |
| 3 | "I've Lost You" | Elvis Presley | 9 | | 2 |
| 2 | "Julie, Do Ya Love Me" | White Plains | 8 | | 1 |
| 4 | "(You've Got Me) Dangling on a String" | Chairmen of the Board | 5 | | 1 |
| 8 | "When I'm Dead and Gone" | McGuinness Flint | 2 | | 3 |
| 6 | "It's Only Make Believe" | Glen Campbell | 4 | | 4 |
| 6 | "Home Lovin' Man" | Andy Williams | 7 | | 4 |
| 8 | "I'll Be There" ♦ | | 4 | | 1 |
| 10 | "Grandad" ♦ | Clive Dunn | 1 | | 3 |
| 5 | "Nothing Rhymed" | Gilbert O'Sullivan | 8 | | 4 |
| 3 | "My Prayer" | Gerry Monroe | 9 | | 3 |
|
Entries by artist
The following table shows artists who achieved two or more top 10 entries in 1970, including singles that reached their peak in 1969 or 1971. The figures include both main artists and featured artists, while appearances on ensemble charity records are also counted for each artist. The total number of weeks an artist spent in the top ten in 1970 is also shown.
| Entries | Artist | Weeks | Singles |
|---|
| 4 | | 22 | "Don't Cry Daddy", "I've Lost You", "Suspicious Minds", "The Wonder of You" |
| 11 | "ABC", "I'll Be There", "I Want You Back", "The Love You Save" |
| 3 | Four Tops | 8 | "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)", "It's All in the Game", "Still Water (Love)" |
| 13 | "All I Have to Do Is Dream", "Honey Come Back", "It's Only Make Believe" |
| Jimmy Ruffin | 9 | "Farewell Is a Lonely Sound", "I'll Say Forever My Love", "It's Wonderful (To Be Loved by You)" |
| 2 | Andy Williams | 11 | "Can't Help Falling in Love", "Home Lovin' Man" |
| 5 | "Good Morning Freedom", "Melting Pot" |
| Chairmen of the Board | 9 | "Give Me Just a Little More Time", "(You've Got Me) Dangling on a String" |
| Chicago | 5 | "25 or 6 to 4", "I'm a Man" |
| Christie | 10 | "San Bernadino", "Yellow River" |
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | 7 | "Travelin' Band", "Up Around the Bend" |
| 5 | "Tracy", "When Julie Comes Around" |
| 5 | "Everybody Get Together", "Good Old Rock 'n' Roll" |
| Gerry Monroe | 7 | "My Prayer", "Sally" |
| 8 | "Instant Karma!", "Let It Be" |
| 9 | "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town", "Something's Burning" |
| Marmalade | 10 | "Rainbow", "Reflections of My Life" |
| Mary Hopkin | 10 | "Knock, Knock Who's There?", "Temma Harbour" |
| 5 | "Never Had a Dream Come True", "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday" |
| White Plains | 7 | "Julie, Do Ya Love Me, "My Baby Loves Lovin'" | |
Notes
- "I'll Be There" reached its peak of number four on 23 January 1971 (week ending).
- "Ride a White Swan" reached its peak of number two on 23 January 1971 (week ending).
- "Grandad" reached its peak of number-one on 9 January 1971 (week ending).
- "The Liquidator" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 10 January 1970 (week ending).
- "Knock, Knock Who's There?" was the United Kingdom's entry at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1970.
- "All Kinds of Everything" was Ireland's winning entry at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1970.
- "Back Home" was recorded by the England football team as the official single supporting their 1970 FIFA World Cup campaign.
- "Love of the Common People" re-entered the top 10 at number 9 on 25 July 1970 (week ending).
- "The Wonder of You" is listed as the best-selling single of the year by some sources, but the Official Charts Company gives the title to "In the Summertime" (sales cut-off date 19 December 1970).
- "Love Is Life" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 3 October 1970 (week ending).
- "Montego Bay" re-entered the top 10 at number 8 on 31 October 1970 (week ending).
- "It's Wonderful (To Be Loved by You)" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 5 December 1970 (week ending).
- "Cracklin' Rosie" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 30 January 1971 (week ending).
- "Ride a White Swan" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 2 January 1971 (week ending) for 6 weeks.
- Figure includes single that first charted in 1969 but reached its peak in 1970.
- Figure includes single that peaked in 1971.
- Figure includes single that peaked in 1969.
- Figure includes one top 10 hit with the group The Beatles.
See also
References
General
- Web site: Six decades of singles charts . The Official Charts Company . 18 January 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110303221018/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/archive-chart-singles/ . 3 March 2011 .
Specific
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: The Official UK Charts Company . . 1 January 2012.
- Book: Roberts, David. Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums (18th edition). 2005. 1-904994-00-8. 14. Guinness World Records Limited.
- Web site: New singles formats to save the charts. BBC News. 16 October 2003 . 21 February 2010.
