Kill or Save: UK No. 1-hits of the 70s

[msc 18,476]

Right on cue, tonight's Pointless repeat had an ABBA round!

[Toast 16,144]

1 hour ago, RoverAndOut said:

Don't really get the Abba hate from some quarters. Commercial success shouldn't be a barrier to good music and for a band that made no new music for 40 years, and barely appeared in public together in that time either, the success of their music has been astounding. I do think the two left here are better than the ones that have been lost, and, like others here, probably prefer The Name of the Game to Knowing Me, Knowing You (I can separate the latter from the Partridge links in my head), but agree with @msc, The Winner Takes it All is their best #1. And @Toast is also right, The Day Before You Came is a masterpiece. Don't Shut Me Down on the new album is similar in composition.

 

I think for most of us it's a case of getting rid of the ones we like less so that they don't get in the way of the ones we like best!

Which probably goes for more than just the ABBA songs.

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,346]

54 minutes ago, RoverAndOut said:

44 David Bowie – Space Oddity

42 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

34 Donna Summer – I Feel Love

33 Gary Numan – Cars

31 Blondie – Heart of Glass 

28 ABBA – The Name of the Game

23 ABBA – Knowing Me , Knowing You

22 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive

20 Baccara – Yes Sir, I Can Boogie 

20 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody 

18 T.Rex – Get It On +4

16 The Sweet – Blockbuster 

14 10cc – I'm Not in Love 

13 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Tears of a Clown 

10 Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge over Troubled Water - 6
9 Nilsson - Without You 

9 Alice Cooper – School's Out

 

Don't really get the Abba hate from some quarters. Commercial success shouldn't be a barrier to good music and for a band that made no new music for 40 years, and barely appeared in public together in that time either, the success of their music has been astounding. I do think the two left here are better than the ones that have been lost, and, like others here, probably prefer The Name of the Game to Knowing Me, Knowing You (I can separate the latter from the Partridge links in my head), but agree with @msc, The Winner Takes it All is their best #1. And @Toast is also right, The Day Before You Came is a masterpiece. Don't Shut Me Down on the new album is similar in composition.

 

Anyway, for now I'm focusing on what's down the bottom end and I quite like T-Rex (mainly because my mum loves them) and Get It On is preferable to some of the others on here. And I know to some they're iconic, and while I can admire them as artists, I just don't like Simon and Garfunkel. So, sorry...

The ABBA  reunion was a huge success by nearly all accounts .So I think there is still a lot of ABBA love out there.

[En Passant 3,741]

44 David Bowie – Space Oddity

42 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

38 Donna Summer – I Feel Love  +4

33 Gary Numan – Cars

31 Blondie – Heart of Glass 

30 ABBA – The Name of the Game

23 ABBA – Knowing Me , Knowing You

22 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

22 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive

20 Baccara – Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

18 T.Rex – Get It On

16 The Sweet – Blockbuster 

12 10cc – I'm Not in Love

10 Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge over Troubled Water

9 Nilsson - Without You 

9 Alice Cooper – School's Out

3 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Tears of a Clown -6


[RoverAndOut 4,746]

27 minutes ago, Gooseberry Crumble said:

The ABBA  reunion was a huge success by nearly all accounts .So I think there is still a lot of ABBA love out there.

 

Oh, there's clearly LOADS of ABBA love in the world at large. Just seem to be some on here all too keen to poo-poo them. That's what I was taking (slight) umbrage with. 

 

But narrowing this down to 1 is going to be incredibly difficult. What will emerge will be a consensus candidate after all.

[RIP Wee Jum 1,559]

48 David Bowie – Space Oddity +4

42 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

38 Donna Summer – I Feel Love 

33 Gary Numan – Cars

30 ABBA – The Name of the Game

25 Blondie – Heart of Glass -6

23 ABBA – Knowing Me , Knowing You

22 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

22 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive

20 Baccara – Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

18 T.Rex – Get It On

16 The Sweet – Blockbuster 

12 10cc – I'm Not in Love

10 Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge over Troubled Water

9 Nilsson - Without You 

9 Alice Cooper – School's Out

3 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Tears of a Clown


[Bibliogryphon 9,586]

48 David Bowie – Space Oddity

43 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights+1

38 Donna Summer – I Feel Love 

33 Gary Numan – Cars

30 ABBA – The Name of the Game

25 Blondie – Heart of Glass

24 ABBA – Knowing Me , Knowing You +1

23 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody +1

22 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive

20 Baccara – Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

18 T.Rex – Get It On

16 The Sweet – Blockbuster 

13 10cc – I'm Not in Love +1

10 Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge over Troubled Water

6 Nilsson - Without You -3

6 Alice Cooper – School's Out -3

3 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Tears of a Clown

[Book 3,557]

48 David Bowie – Space Oddity

43 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

38 Donna Summer – I Feel Love 

33 Gary Numan – Cars

30 ABBA – The Name of the Game

28 ABBA – Knowing Me , Knowing You  +4

25 Blondie – Heart of Glass

23 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

22 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive

20 Baccara – Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

18 T.Rex – Get It On

13 10cc – I'm Not in Love

10 Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge over Troubled Water

10 The Sweet – Blockbuster  -6

6 Nilsson - Without You

6 Alice Cooper – School's Out

3 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Tears of a Clown

[TQR 14,400]

48 David Bowie – Space Oddity

43 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

38 Donna Summer – I Feel Love 

33 Gary Numan – Cars

30 ABBA – The Name of the Game

29 Blondie – Heart of Glass +4

23 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

22 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive

22 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You  -6

20 Baccara – Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

18 T.Rex – Get It On

13 10cc – I'm Not in Love

10 Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge over Troubled Water

10 The Sweet – Blockbuster

6 Nilsson - Without You

6 Alice Cooper – School's Out

3 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Tears of a Clown

[theoldlady 2,305]

48 David Bowie – Space Oddity

43 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

38 Donna Summer – I Feel Love 

33 Gary Numan – Cars

30 ABBA – The Name of the Game

26 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You  +4

23 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

23 Blondie – Heart of Glass -6

22 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive

20 Baccara – Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

18 T.Rex – Get It On

13 10cc – I'm Not in Love

10 Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge over Troubled Water

10 The Sweet – Blockbuster

6 Nilsson - Without You

6 Alice Cooper – School's Out

3 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Tears of a Clown

[CaptainChorizo 1,983]

48 David Bowie – Space Oddity

43 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

38 Donna Summer – I Feel Love 

33 Gary Numan – Cars

30 ABBA – The Name of the Game

26 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You 

25 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive +3

23 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

20 Baccara – Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

19 Blondie – Heart of Glass -4

16 T.Rex – Get It On -2

13 10cc – I'm Not in Love

10 Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge over Troubled Water

10 The Sweet – Blockbuster

7 Nilsson - Without You +1

6 Alice Cooper – School's Out

3 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Tears of a Clown

[ThereWillBeDeaths7 741]

52 David Bowie – Space Oddity +4

43 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

38 Donna Summer – I Feel Love 

33 Gary Numan – Cars

30 ABBA – The Name of the Game

26 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You 

25 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive

23 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

20 Baccara – Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

19 Blondie – Heart of Glass

14 T.Rex – Get It On -2

11 10cc – I'm Not in Love -2

10 Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge over Troubled Water

8 The Sweet – Blockbuster -2

7 Nilsson - Without You

6 Alice Cooper – School's Out

3 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Tears of a Clown

[justonecornetto 951]

52 David Bowie – Space Oddity 

43 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

38 Donna Summer – I Feel Love 

33 Gary Numan – Cars

30 ABBA – The Name of the Game

26 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You 

25 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive

23 Blondie – Heart of Glass +4

21 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody -2

20 Baccara – Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

14 T.Rex – Get It On 

11 10cc – I'm Not in Love 

10 Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge over Troubled Water

8 The Sweet – Blockbuster 

6 Alice Cooper – School's Out

3 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Tears of a Clown

3 Nilsson - Without You -4

[Great Uncle Bulgaria 1,287]

46 David Bowie – Space Oddity -6

43 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

38 Donna Summer – I Feel Love 

33 Gary Numan – Cars

30 ABBA – The Name of the Game

26 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You 

25 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive

23 Blondie – Heart of Glass 

21 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody 

20 Baccara – Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

14 T.Rex – Get It On 

12 The Sweet – Blockbuster +4

11 10cc – I'm Not in Love 

10 Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge over Troubled Water

6 Alice Cooper – School's Out

3 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Tears of a Clown

3 Nilsson - Without You 

[Toast 16,144]

46 David Bowie – Space Oddity

43 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

42 Donna Summer – I Feel Love  +4

33 Gary Numan – Cars

30 ABBA – The Name of the Game

26 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You 

25 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive

23 Blondie – Heart of Glass

20 Baccara – Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

15 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody  -6

14 T.Rex – Get It On 

12 The Sweet – Blockbuster

11 10cc – I'm Not in Love 

10 Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge over Troubled Water

6 Alice Cooper – School's Out

3 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Tears of a Clown

3 Nilsson - Without You 

 

I love Heart Of Glass, but I fear there are too many haters for it to have a chance.

[TQR 14,400]

38 minutes ago, Toast said:

I love Heart Of Glass, but I fear there are too many haters for it to have a chance.

I’m not giving up on it. It has stayed level the past couple of days and fully deserves to be in it to the end.

[Bibliogryphon 9,586]

8 minutes ago, TQR said:

I’m not giving up on it. It has stayed level the past couple of days and fully deserves to be in it to the end.

 

My favourite Blondie song never made it to No.1  - Rapture

[Book 3,557]

Heart of glass is a classic 

But I also adore Atomic and Call me.

They are waiting for us in the 80s KoS... 

[Death Impends 7,979]

10 minutes ago, Bibliogryphon said:

 

My favourite Blondie song never made it to No.1  - Rapture

 

It did get to No 1 in the US for some consolation

 

Blondie got something of the short end of the stick here though. Four US No. 1s, but despite that none of their other songs even cracked the top 20

[Death Impends 7,979]

43 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

42 Donna Summer – I Feel Love

40 David Bowie – Space Oddity -6

33 Gary Numan – Cars

30 ABBA – The Name of the Game

27 Blondie – Heart of Glass +4

26 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You 

25 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive

20 Baccara – Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

15 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

14 T.Rex – Get It On 

12 The Sweet – Blockbuster

11 10cc – I'm Not in Love 

10 Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge over Troubled Water

6 Alice Cooper – School's Out

3 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Tears of a Clown

3 Nilsson - Without You 

[Grim Up North 3,726]

43 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

42 Donna Summer – I Feel Love

40 David Bowie – Space Oddity

30 ABBA – The Name of the Game

29 Gary Numan – Cars -4

27 Blondie – Heart of Glass

26 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You 

23 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive -2

20 Baccara – Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

15 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

14 Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge over Troubled Water +4

14 T.Rex – Get It On 

12 The Sweet – Blockbuster

11 10cc – I'm Not in Love 

6 Alice Cooper – School's Out

3 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Tears of a Clown

3 Nilsson - Without You 

[Bibliogryphon 9,586]

1 hour ago, Death Impends said:

 

It did get to No 1 in the US for some consolation

 

Blondie got something of the short end of the stick here though. Four US No. 1s, but despite that none of their other songs even cracked the top 20

 

On Twitter someone did a series of polls for the best album of 1978 though it was done by polls of tracks from the album playing off against each other and the 'Manager' for the album selected the tracks. My nomination was The Kick Inside by Kate Bush and it managed to get through to the final when it fell to Parallel Lines which I think was understandable

[Drewsky1211 4,754]

43 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

42 Donna Summer – I Feel Love

40 David Bowie – Space Oddity

30 ABBA – The Name of the Game

29 Gary Numan – Cars

27 Blondie – Heart of Glass

26 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You 

23 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive

20 Baccara – Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

19 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody +4

14 Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge over Troubled Water

14 T.Rex – Get It On 

12 The Sweet – Blockbuster

8 10cc – I'm Not in Love -3

6 Alice Cooper – School's Out

3 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Tears of a Clown

0 Nilsson - Without You -3

[Joey Russ 7,228]

43 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

42 Donna Summer – I Feel Love

40 David Bowie – Space Oddity

31 Blondie – Heart of Glass +4

30 ABBA – The Name of the Game

29 Gary Numan – Cars

26 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You 

23 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive

19 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody 

17 Baccara – Yes Sir, I Can Boogie -3

14 Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge over Troubled Water

14 T.Rex – Get It On 

12 The Sweet – Blockbuster

8 10cc – I'm Not in Love 

6 Alice Cooper – School's Out

0 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Tears of a Clown -3

 

Poor clown must be really sad now

[wannamaker 1,408]

43 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

42 Donna Summer – I Feel Love

40 David Bowie – Space Oddity

31 Blondie – Heart of Glass 

30 ABBA – The Name of the Game

30 Gary Numan – Cars +1

26 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You 

23 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive

22 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody +3

17 Baccara – Yes Sir, I Can Boogie 

14 Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge over Troubled Water

14 T.Rex – Get It On 

12 The Sweet – Blockbuster

6 Alice Cooper – School's Out

2 10cc – I'm Not in Love -6