As we anticipated, "American Pie" moves into the #1 spot this week ... making it the last #1 of 1971 and the first #1 of 1972 as the chart is dated "Week Ending 1/1/72.
Other than that, it's a pretty boring chart, owing much to the fact that as a year-end chart, there probably wasn't much movement going on. (I'm not sure if any of the trade publications had started their "frozen chart" policy yet or not ... but only THREE records in The Top Twenty this week show upward movement of five places or more: "Let's Stay Together" (which moves from #19 to #13), "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing," Hillside Singers version (#24 to #17) and "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing," New Seekers version, (#26 to #18) ... catching up fast!
Playing Favorites:
New on the chart this week at #63 is "Stay With Me" by Faces.
This was a big year for Rod Stewart, both on his own as a solo artist and with The Faces, who actually have TWO records on this week's chart. (Their remake of "(I Know) I'm Losing You" sits at #21, down from #17 the week before.)
To this day, "Stay With Me" is one of my all-time favorite Rod Stewart songs. (I'd rank "Hot Legs" up there, too, which as a similar rock feel to it.) Its #63 debut makes it the highest charting premier of the week.
"Bang A Gong" by T-Rex premiers this week at #81 ... it's a Classic Rock Classic if there ever was one.
And right behind it is "Tupelo Honey," one of my very favorite Van Morrison songs.
Robert John's VERY faithful remake of The Tokens' #1 Hit "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" premiers at #84. (The fact that The Tokens actually PRODUCED Robert John's version may have a little something to do with that!!!)
This Week in 1971:
December 26th – Actor Jared Leto is born
December 27th – The Sonny And Cher Show begins its 4 ½ year run on CBS.
Also on this date, David Clayton-Thomas makes his final appearance with Blood, Sweat And Tears. (I was fortunate enough to see him perform that summer for my birthday. It was an AMAZING show!)
The opening act that night was Linda Ronstadt, now off on her own after leaving The Stone Poneys, and still trying to get her solo career off the ground.
Mid-way through the show, she turned the stage over to her back-up band for a couple of numbers. She explained that they would soon be leaving in order to release their own first album. The two songs they performed that night were “Take It Easy” and “Witchy Woman” … and before you knew it, The Eagles were one of the biggest bands on the planet! (Talk about being in the right place at the right time!!!)
Meanwhile, Clayton-Thomas would return to BST briefly a few years later … and then was virtually never heard from again. A rare solo appearance at The Arcada Theatre was cancelled in 2020 due to Covid 19.
