#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:
- “For The Good Times” (#9), Ray Price’s cover of Kris Kristofferson;
- “Stoney End” (#17) by Barbra Streisand, written by Laura Nyro.
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.