Dec 09 | This week in 1970

#1 at KRUX/Phoenix: The double-sided classic, “My Sweet Lord” and “Isn’t It A Pity?” by George Harrison, the first #1 record by an ex-Beatle. It bumps out “Stoned Love,” the Supremes’ second big hit after Jean Terrell replaced Diana Ross.

Harrison’s Apple label mates Badfinger climb from #9 to #4 with “No Matter What,” an early example of what became known as “power pop.”  Chicago jumps from #18 to #10 with “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?,” a song originally from their 1969 debut album that became their third big hit following the release of “Make Me Smile” and “25 Or 6 To 4” from their 1970 second album.

Many notable cover songs appear on this week’s chart, including:

  • You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me” (#5), Elvis Presley’s version of the 1966 Dusty Springfield hit;
  • Black Magic Woman” (#6), Santana’s cool remake of the Fleetwood Mac tune from 1968;
  • Gypsy Woman” (#12), Brian Hyland’s former #1 smash written by Curtis Mayfield for his group the Impressions in 1961;
  • Be My Baby” (#13) by Andy Kim, co-written by Phil Spector for the Ronettes in 1963;
  • Cry Me A River” (#14), a rockin’ in-concert performance by Joe Cocker, originally a 1955 hit by Julie London;
  • River Deep, Mountain High” (#24) by the Supremes (again, after Diana Ross left the group) and the Four Tops, another song co-written by Phil Spector, this time for Ike & Tina Turner in 1966;
  • Let’s Work Together” (#26) by Canned Heat, which was also a hit earlier in the year by Wilbert Harrison, which itself is a re-working of his 1962 song “Let’s Stick Together.”

In addition, a couple of artists have hits penned by other prominent songwriters:

Also on this chart are three particularly interesting artists who wrote their own hits:

  • Van Morrison with his third top 40 solo hit, “Domino” (#8);
  • Todd Rundgren, under the name of Runt, with “We Gotta Get You A Woman” (#27);
  • Mike Nesmith & The First National Band with “Silver Moon” (#29), one of Wool Hat’s many post-Monkees projects.

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