The Top 10 Songs of 1973 (UK)
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The UK's Top 10 Best Selling Songs of 1973
You probably could not create a list of ten songs as diverse as those that captured the attention of the record buying public during 1973. Who would have thought that Slade, The Simon Park Orchestra and Donny Osmond could end up appearing on the same countdown? But, that is exactly what happened.
Note that these songs have not been picked as my favourites of this year, but to show which records sold the most during 1973.
1. Tie A Yellow Ribbon
Dawn Ft. Tony Orlando
Written by Irwin Levine and L. Russell Brown, Tie a Yellow Ribbon (Round the Ole Oak Tree) was a massive worldwide hit in 1973 for Dawn featuring Tony Orlando.
It reached Number One on both the US and UK charts for four weeks in April 1973, and Number One on the Australian charts for seven weeks from May to July 1973. It was the top selling song for the year 1973 in both the US and UK.
The song lists at Number 37 on Billboard's Greatest Songs of all time.
2. Eye Level
The Simon Park Orchestra
Eye Level was selected by Thames Television in England to be the theme tune for the Netherlands based detective series, Van der Valk. The work was based on a Dutch nursery rhyme which Simon Park arranged for his own orchestra.
As a result of the popularity of the TV show, this instrumental became one of the biggest hits of 1973 in Great Britain.
3. Welcome Home
Peters and Lee
Coming after their success on the British talent show Opportunity Knocks, Peters and Lee recorded the former French language song Welcome Home. It became the duo's one and only Number One song in the UK, spending a single week at the top in July 1973.
4. Block Buster!
The Sweet
Block Buster! was written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman and was The Sweet's sole UK Number One hit, along with becoming one of glam rock's biggest hits of 1973.
Released in January, it spent five weeks at the top of the UK Singles Chart, and also made Number One in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Ireland. Outside Europe it fared less well, as it peaked at Number 29 in Australia and at Number 73 on the American Billboard Hot 100.
5. C*m On Feel The Noize
Slade
Written by band members Jim Lea and Noddy Holder, C*m on Feel the Noize was Slade's fourth Number One single in the UK and their first to enter the chart at Number One. Quite a rare feat at the time, as it was the first occasion this had happened since The Beatles with Get Back in 1969.
It went on to spend four weeks at the top of the chart in March 1973. Typical of Slade's releases at the time, it fared less well in the USA, where it would only peak at Number 98 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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6. I Love You Love Me Love
Gary Glitter
Written by Gary Glitter with Mike Leander, I Love You Love Me Love was Glitter's second Number One song in the UK, spending four weeks at the top of the chart in November 1973. It was also the last of his four hits of 1973.
7. See My Baby Jive
Wizzard
Written and produced by lead singer, Roy Wood, See My Baby Jive was the second single by Wood's band and their first to reach Number One in the UK, spending four weeks at the top of the chart in May.
Although the follow-up, Angel Fingers, also topped the British charts, it did not sell enough copies to register as one of the top 10 songs of 1973.
Several of Wizzard's recordings are deeply indebted to Phil Spector's Wall of Sound.
8. I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)
Gary Glitter
Written by Gary Glitter and Mike Leander, I'm The Leader Of The Gang (I Am) was Glitter's first Number One single in the UK, spending four weeks at the top of the chart in July 1973.
The song is a Glam Rock anthem, and typical of Glitter's early Seventies output, based on a simple mid-tempo rhythm and loud chanted backing vocals.
9. The Twelfth of Never
Donny Osmond
Written by Jerry Livingston and Paul Francis Webster, The Twelfth of Never had previously been recorded successfully by the likes of Johnny Mathis and Cliff Richard.
During the era of Osmondmania, Donny Osmond recorded his version which reached the summit of the UK Charts for a single week in March.
Although the Osmonds were all over the music charts at this time, none of their other recordings managed to secure a spot in this list of the top 1973 hits.
10. Daydreamer/Puppy Song
David Cassidy
Daydreamer was David Cassidy's second and final Number One single in the UK, spending three weeks at the top of the chart in October, 1973.
The song was a double-A side with a version of Harry Nilsson's Puppy Song on the reverse.
The Top 10 Songs of 1973 at iTunes
The Top 10 songs of 1973 can be directly downloaded from here to your favourite mp3 player!
| Track | Artist | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree | Tony Orlando & Dawn | Tony Orlando & Dawn: The Definitive Collection | |
| Eye Level | Top Hits Group | Chart Toppers, Vol. 5 | |
| Welcome Home | Peters & Lee | Peters and Lee: The Greatest Hits | |
| Cum On Feel the Noize | Slade | Greatest Hits | |
| The Twelfth of Never | Donny Osmond | 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Donny Osmond | |
| Daydreamer | David Cassidy & The Partridge Family | The Definitive Collection | |
| The Puppy Song | David Cassidy | Dreams Are Nuthin' More Than Wishes | |
| See My Baby Jive | Wizzard | Wizzard Brew | |
| I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am) | Gary Glitter | The Hey Song (The Greatest Hits) | |
| I Love You Love Me Love | Gary Glitter | The Hey Song (The Greatest Hits) |
1973's Best Selling Albums (UK)
The Number Four best selling album, We Can Make It by Peters and Lee, is currently unavailable and has been replaced by their Greatest Hits Collection.
PS: The Top 10 Songs of 1973 in the USA
The Best of 1973 Stateside
The US Top 10 Best Selling Singles for 1973
1. Tie a Yellow Ribbon
Tony Orlando and Dawn
2. Bad Bad Leroy Brown
Jim Croce
3. Killing Me Softly With His Song
Roberta Flack
4. Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye
5. My Love
Paul McCartney and Wings
6. Why Me?
Kris Kristofferson
7. Crocodile Rock
Elton John
8. Will It Go Round in Circles?
Billy Preston
9. You're So Vain
Carly Simon
10. Touch Me In the Morning
Diana Ross
AND:
Record of the Year: Killing Me Softly With His Song - Roberta Flack
Album of the Year: Innervisions - Stevie Wonder
Song of the Year: Killing Me Softly With His Song
Best New Artist of the Year: Bette Midler
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About Your Author
With each article, Richard invites you to step into his world of music, television and entertainment. He will introduce you to The Top 10 Albums in the UK, share The 20 Scariest Film Scores Ever? and even give you an up close look at some classical actors like Christopher Lee as Dracula.
For a complete list of Richard's articles, please visit Waxing-Lyrical on Squidoo.
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Your Thoughts on the Top 10 Songs of 1973
Your Comments Are Welcomed!
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crosscreations Oct 24, 2011 @ 4:43 pm | delete
- Was music THAT different from the US to the UK? Guess so, cause the US list you included sounded MUCH more familiar, knew them all. :-) Wondering why you picked that year 1973 bestselling singles - twas a significant year for me.
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scarlettohairy Oct 24, 2011 @ 2:15 pm | delete
- I'd only heard of three of these songs (I'm from the U.S.) but good recap of 1973!
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jetliu123
Sep 8, 2011 @ 4:21 am | delete
- brings back good old memories
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poddys Jul 16, 2011 @ 12:03 pm | delete
- Some classic songs in 1973, and some I would prefer to forget as well. Nice to see The Who performing 5:15 on TOTP. Great job, great memories, and blessed.
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outsource123
Jan 30, 2011 @ 5:49 am | delete
- I Love this lens. Since I love music.
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24websurf Nov 30, 2009 @ 11:54 pm | delete
- I love this lens! Slades version of "Cum on feel the noize" was awesome! Tie a Yellow Ribbon is an all time favorite too.
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The_Homeopath
Jul 27, 2008 @ 1:50 pm | delete
- I remember when I was very young, I got to stay up late once a week to watch the Tony Orlando and Dawn show on TV!!! It was a VERY big deal for me at the time.
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by Waxing-Lyrical
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