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

[ladyfiona 2,057]

43 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

40 Donna Summer – I Feel Love -2

40 David Bowie – Space Oddity

31 Blondie – Heart of Glass 

31 ABBA – The Name of the Game +1

30 Gary Numan – Cars

26 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You 

25 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody +3

21 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive -2

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

0 10cc – I'm Not in Love -2

[En Passant 2,968]

44 Donna Summer – I Feel Love +4

43 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

40 David Bowie – Space Oddity

31 Blondie – Heart of Glass 

31 ABBA – The Name of the Game

30 Gary Numan – Cars

26 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You 

25 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

21 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive

17 Baccara – Yes Sir, I Can Boogie14 T.Rex – Get It On 

12 The Sweet – Blockbuster

8 Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge over Troubled Water -6

6 Alice Cooper – School's Out

 

Overplayed. 

Criteria getting tight now.

[time 7,982]

47 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights +4

44 Donna Summer – I Feel Love

40 David Bowie – Space Oddity

31 Blondie – Heart of Glass 

31 ABBA – The Name of the Game

30 Gary Numan – Cars

26 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You 

25 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

21 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive

17 Baccara – Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

14 T.Rex – Get It On 

12 The Sweet – Blockbuster

5 Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge over Troubled Water -3

3 Alice Cooper – School's Out -3

[time 7,982]

Inasmuch as one can 'love' a song, there's only 3 here I would say I love. Several I have no strong feelings either way (and I include the ABBA tracks in this number) but there are also some I've grown tired of hearing, BOTW being one of those.

[Bibliogryphon 8,711]

Six of the top 8 are on my playlist. 

 

 

[RoverAndOut 3,560]

47 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

44 Donna Summer – I Feel Love

40 David Bowie – Space Oddity

33 ABBA – The Name of the Game +2

31 Blondie – Heart of Glass 

30 Gary Numan – Cars

27 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody +2

26 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You 

21 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive

17 Baccara – Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

14 T.Rex – Get It On 

11 The Sweet – Blockbuster - 1

3 Alice Cooper – School's Out

0 Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge over Troubled Water -5

[RIP Wee Jum 1,558]

47 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

44 Donna Summer – I Feel Love

40 David Bowie – Space Oddity

33 ABBA – The Name of the Game

31 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody +4

30 Gary Numan – Cars

26 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You 

25 Blondie – Heart of Glass -6

21 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive

17 Baccara – Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

14 T.Rex – Get It On 

11 The Sweet – Blockbuster -

3 Alice Cooper – School's Out

 

[Bibliogryphon 8,711]

49 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights +2

44 Donna Summer – I Feel Love

40 David Bowie – Space Oddity

33 ABBA – The Name of the Game

31 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

28 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You +2

27 Gary Numan – Cars -3

25 Blondie – Heart of Glass

21 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive

17 Baccara – Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

14 T.Rex – Get It On 

11 The Sweet – Blockbuster -

0 Alice Cooper – School's Out -3

 

Everything that is left I like

[Book 3,365]

49 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

44 Donna Summer – I Feel Love

40 David Bowie – Space Oddity

33 ABBA – The Name of the Game

32 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You +4

31 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

27 Gary Numan – Cars

25 Blondie – Heart of Glass

21 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive

17 Baccara – Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

14 T.Rex – Get It On 

05 The Sweet – Blockbuster  -6

[theoldlady 2,000]

49 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

44 Donna Summer – I Feel Love

40 David Bowie – Space Oddity

36 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You +4

33 ABBA – The Name of the Game

31 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

27 Gary Numan – Cars

21 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive

19 Blondie – Heart of Glass -6

17 Baccara – Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

14 T.Rex – Get It On 

05 The Sweet – Blockbuster  

[TQR 12,391]

49 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

44 Donna Summer – I Feel Love

40 David Bowie – Space Oddity

33 ABBA – The Name of the Game

31 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

30 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You -6

27 Gary Numan – Cars

23 Blondie – Heart of Glass +4

21 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive

17 Baccara – Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

14 T.Rex – Get It On 

05 The Sweet – Blockbuster  

[ThereWillBeDeaths7 612]

49 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

44 Donna Summer – I Feel Love

44 David Bowie – Space Oddity +4

33 ABBA – The Name of the Game

31 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

30 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You

27 Gary Numan – Cars

23 Blondie – Heart of Glass

21 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive

13 Baccara – Yes Sir, I Can Boogie -4

12 T.Rex – Get It On -2

05 The Sweet – Blockbuster

[msc 17,793]

49 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

44 Donna Summer – I Feel Love

44 David Bowie – Space Oddity 

37 ABBA – The Name of the Game +4

31 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

27 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You -3

27 Gary Numan – Cars

23 Blondie – Heart of Glass

21 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive

12 T.Rex – Get It On 

10 Baccara - Yes Sir, I Can Boogie -3

05 The Sweet – Blockbuster

[Grim Up North 3,565]

49 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

44 Donna Summer – I Feel Love

44 David Bowie – Space Oddity 

37 ABBA – The Name of the Game

35 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody +4

27 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You

27 Gary Numan – Cars

23 Blondie – Heart of Glass

15 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive -6

12 T.Rex – Get It On 

10 Baccara - Yes Sir, I Can Boogie 

05 The Sweet – Blockbuster

[justonecornetto 794]

49 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

44 Donna Summer – I Feel Love

44 David Bowie – Space Oddity 

37 ABBA – The Name of the Game

35 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody 

27 Blondie – Heart of Glass +4

27 Gary Numan – Cars

21 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You -6

15 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive 

12 T.Rex – Get It On 

10 Baccara - Yes Sir, I Can Boogie 

05 The Sweet – Blockbuster

 

[Great Uncle Bulgaria 1,057]

49 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

44 Donna Summer – I Feel Love

41 David Bowie – Space Oddity -3

37 ABBA – The Name of the Game

32 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody -3

27 Blondie – Heart of Glass 

27 Gary Numan – Cars

21 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You 

15 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive 

12 T.Rex – Get It On 

10 Baccara - Yes Sir, I Can Boogie 

09 Sweet – Blockbuster +4

 

Sweet were my favourite band for about 6 years growing up, as they progressed from being a bubble gum singles band to some agreeably heavy albums, so my tastes matured with them.

I like everything that's left, but Space Oddity is just a novelty record, albeit quite a good one, but it's not better than anything left (or indeed most of what has already gone).Bohemian Rhapsody is/was great, but I've just heard it too often over the years.

[En Passant 2,968]

49 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

48 Donna Summer – I Feel Love +4

41 David Bowie – Space Oddity

37 ABBA – The Name of the Game

32 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

27 Blondie – Heart of Glass 

27 Gary Numan – Cars

21 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You 

15 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive 

12 T.Rex – Get It On

9 Sweet – Blockbuster

4 Baccara - Yes Sir, I Can Boogie -6

 

Got to love the +4 / -6 scoring. For example the battle between The Old Lady and TQR will be pyrrhic for both tunes if continued ad-infinitum - yet what else could one do in such a situation?

[Toast 14,893]

49 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

48 Donna Summer – I Feel Love

41 David Bowie – Space Oddity

37 ABBA – The Name of the Game

29 Blondie – Heart of Glass   +2

29 Gary Numan – Cars  +2

26 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody  -6

21 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You 

15 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive 

12 T.Rex – Get It On

9 Sweet – Blockbuster

4 Baccara - Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

[TQR 12,391]

37 minutes ago, En Passant said:

Got to love the +4 / -6 scoring. For example the battle between The Old Lady and TQR will be pyrrhic for both tunes if continued ad-infinitum - yet what else could one do in such a situation?

I am fully aware of this. And I am not backing down.

[Toast 14,893]

1 hour ago, Great Uncle Bulgaria said:

I like everything that's left, but Space Oddity is just a novelty record, albeit quite a good one, but it's not better than anything left (or indeed most of what has already gone).Bohemian Rhapsody is/was great, but I've just heard it too often over the years.

 

You're right about Space Oddity, but Bohemian Rhapsody is also a novelty record.

I might go so far as to say that so is Wuthering Heights.

There, I've said it.

[Death Impends 7,412]

49 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

48 Donna Summer – I Feel Love

41 David Bowie – Space Oddity

37 ABBA – The Name of the Game

33 Blondie – Heart of Glass +4

29 Gary Numan – Cars

21 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You

20 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody -6

15 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive

12 T.Rex – Get It On

9 Sweet – Blockbuster

4 Baccara - Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

[Bibliogryphon 8,711]

19 minutes ago, Toast said:

 

You're right about Space Oddity, but Bohemian Rhapsody is also a novelty record.

I might go so far as to say that so is Wuthering Heights.

There, I've said it.

 

Number ones tend to fall into two categories

 

The flavour of the month category which sees multiple No.1s just because they are extremely popular at that moment in time the songs from Grease would fit into this category and then you have stand out songs that capture the imagination. The three you mentioned all belong in this category. They all stood out from everything else around and often established the artist reputation for the future.

There is an element of ubiquity about some of these tracks but that should not take away how impressive they are musically.

[time 7,982]

49 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

48 Donna Summer – I Feel Love

41 David Bowie – Space Oddity

37 ABBA – The Name of the Game

37 Blondie – Heart of Glass +4

29 Gary Numan – Cars

20 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

15 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive

15 ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You -6

12 T.Rex – Get It On

9 Sweet – Blockbuster

4 Baccara - Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

 

Let's lend my support to Blondie for a while. Certainly not my favourite Blondie track, but deserves to survive until the latter reaches of the final.

[msc 17,793]

I feel like we've jumped the shark somewhat with what constitutes a novelty record (though by definition you could add in most of the charts since 1960) but never mind that - what's wrong with novelty records? 

[Grim Up North 3,565]

38 minutes ago, Toast said:

 

You're right about Space Oddity, but Bohemian Rhapsody is also a novelty record.

I might go so far as to say that so is Wuthering Heights.

There, I've said it.

 

All the final 12 could be novelty records if you wanted to argue a broad definition with the exception of Devil Gate Drive which is just shit