John Denver dethrones The Bee Gees this week as his first big chart hit, "Take Me Home, Country Roads," moves into the #1 spot.
The Bee Gees don't fall far, however ... "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" now sits at #2, with "Mercy Mercy Me," "Sweet Hitch-Hiker" and "Signs" rounding out The Top Five.
New in The Top Ten this week are "Spanish Harlem" by Aretha Franklin, "Liar" by Three Dog Night and "Smiling Faces Sometimes" by The Undisputed Truth.
Climbing The Top 40 with bullets and moves of five spots or more are "Go Away Little Girl" by Donny Osmond (#26 to #15), "Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers (#25 to #16), "Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey" by Paul and Linda McCartney (which moves up fifteen places from #32 to #17), "Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who, "I Woke Up In Love This Morning" by The Partridge Family, "Bangla Desh" by George Harrison, "Stick Up" by The Honey Cone, "Go Down Gamblin'" by Blood, Sweat and Tears, "Tired Of Being Alone" by Al Green (up fourteen spots from #43 to #29), "The Story In Your Eyes" by The Moody Blues (up thirteen places from #44 to #31), "The Night They Drove Ole Dixie Down" by Joan Baez (up sixteen from #48 to #32), "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" by Mac and Katie Kissoon and "Saturday Morning Confusion" by Bobby Russell, which cracks The Top 40 AT #40 this week.
Down the ranks, "Maggie May" by Rod Stewart moves up thirteen places from #72 to #59 while "Call My Name, I'll Be There" by Wilson Pickett and "Make It Funky (Part 1)" by James Brown move up 14 and 19 spots respectively.
Playing Favorites:
The top debut this week belongs to Carole King, whose next "Tapestry" single, "So Far Away," premiers at #65. Country Singer Freddie Hart crosses over to the pop charts with "Easy Loving" while a couple of Leon Russell songs, "A Song For You" and "Superstar" are brand new hits for Andy Williams and The Carpenters.
Meanwhile, Grand Funk Railroad is new on the charts this week with their version of The Rolling Stones' tune "Gimme Shelter" ... it premiers at #94.
This Week in 1971:
August 27th – Forgotten Hits Founder Kent Kotal celebrates his 18th birthday. (Wow! Now THAT'S kinda scary ... if THIS is the biggest news story of this week in '71!!! What the heck is this thing I'm playing anyway?!?!)
