1970 ~ Best Selling Singles (UK)

1970's best-selling single in the UK was this song that Elvis Presley released on April 20, 1970.

In the U.S., it charted at No.9 in the spring of 1970, though "The Wonder of You" topped the UK Singles Chart for six weeks in the summer of that year. This was the 59th Top 40 hit of his career.

"The Wonder of You" was one of about thirty five songs he would play live in concert, never recording it in a studio. It was the first of three singles during his lifetime that were recorded live in concert in Las Vegas, Nevada in February 1970.

"Yellow River" was the second best-selling song of 1970 and was written by Jeff Christie.

It was offered to The Tremeloes, who recorded it with the intention of releasing it as a single but after the success of their then most recent single, "Call Me Number One", and after considering it too pop-orientated for their future direction, they decided to follow it up with another of their own compositions, "By The Way", which ironically was only a minor Top 40 success.

Producer Mike Smith therefore took their vocals off the recording and added those of Jeff Christie. Released in the spring of 1970, it became a massive international hit, reaching #1 on the UK singles chart for a single week in June 1970. It also reached #23 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the US.

"Band of Gold" was written by the legendary Motown songwriting team of Holland/Dozier/Holland, first recorded by Freda Payne, and became a smash hit for her in 1970.

Almost immediately following its release, the Payne record became an instant pop hit, reaching #3 in the US and hitting #1 on the UK singles chart and remaining there for six weeks in September 1970, giving Payne her first gold record.

The song has been covered by numerous artists since, notably dueling 1986 versions by singers Belinda Carlisle and Bonnie Tyler, and a 2007 version by American Idol contestant, Kimberley Locke.

"Something" was originally recorded by The Beatles for their 1969 "Abbey Road" album, and became a Number One hit for the group in the US, as well as a Top 10 record in the UK.

Many artists have recorded the George Harrison song over the years, but one of the most commercially successful cover versions was by Dame Shirley Bassey in 1970.

Her version peaked at No.4 in August, 1970 but remained on the UK charts for 22 weeks, thereby selling enough copies to make the disc the sixth best seller of the year.

'"Wand'rin' Star"' was a UK number one single for Lee Marvin for three weeks in March 1970.

It was originally written by Alan J. Lerner and Frederick Loewe for the stage musical "Paint Your Wagon" in 1951. When the film of the musical was made in 1969, Lee Marvin took the role of prospector Ben Rumson.

Despite the film being a box office flop, the soundtrack became a success. Orchestrated and arranged by Nelson Riddle, Marvin's version of the song "Wand'rin Star" becoming an unlikely number one single in the UK, famously keeping The Beatles at number two with their single "Let It Be". Marvin never released a follow up single, so is classed as a one hit wonder.

"Spirit in the Sky" sold 2 million copies in 1969 and 1970 and peaked at Number 3 on the US Billboard chart, as well as Number 1 on the UK, Australian and Canadian charts in 1970. Rolling Stone ranked "Spirit in the Sky" #333 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The song was featured on the 1969 album of the same name.

Cover versions by Doctor and the Medics and Gareth Gates have also made the Number 1 spot in the UK.

"Two Little Boys" was written in 1902 and was very popular in the music halls of the day, and a song notably associated with Scottish entertainer, Harry Lauder.

Australian star, Rolf Harris, revived the song in 1969 for his popular UK BBC-TV show of the day. Audience reaction was so great that he decided to record it as a single. It soon rocketed to the top of the UK charts, and made it there in time for the song to become the Christmas Number One of 1969. Its popularity continued into 1970, eventually spending 25 weeks on the UK Charts.

"All Right Now" was released in the summer of 1970, and hit Number 2 on the UK singles chart, and Number 4 on the US charts. The song originally appeared on the album "Fire And Water: and in 1991, was remixed and re-released, reaching Number 8 on the UK singles chart.

"All Right Now" was a Number 1 hit in over 20 countries, and in 2000 an Award was given to group member, Paul Rodgers, by the British Music Industry when "All Right Now" passed 2,000,000 plus radio plays in the UK.

"Cottonfields" was a cover of a song written by Blues musician Lead Belly, and was released on the Beach Boys' 1969 album "20/20", with Al Jardine on lead vocals.

With a new arrangement, Jardine led the group to record a more country-rock style version. This remake, while not a hit in the US, was a Top Ten song around the world, including the UK, in the Spring and Summer of 1970. It remained on the UK chart for 17 weeks and peaked at Number Five.