#1 at KRUX/Phoenix: “It Don’t Come Easy” by Ringo Starr. This was his first solo hit after the Beatles, but he had lots of help: George Harrison produced it and played the distinctive guitar part; Stephen Stills was on piano; and members of Badfinger contributed background vocals, among others. Ringo blocks Carole King’s inevitable #1 “It’s Too Late” (#2) at least for this week.
The Doors drop from #6 to #12 with their former KRUX #1, “Love Her Madly,” the group’s next-to-last single before Jim Morrison died. Chicago’s “Lowdown” jumps from #22 to #13. It was a much bigger hit in Phoenix than it was nationally.
Ditto for Nilsson’s “Me And My Arrow” (falling from #8 to #15) from his animated TV special The Point! (narrated by Ringo Starr in the U.K. version) about a boy named Oblio and his dog Arrow. Another canine tune, “Me And You And A Dog Named Boo” by Lobo, drops from #13 to #22.
Three debuts this week:
- “Draggin’ The Line” (#21), the biggest solo hit for Tommy James after he left the Shondells;
- “Don’t Pull Your Love” (#25), a future KRUX #1 by Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds;
- “Take Me Home, Country Roads” (#29), John Denver’s first hit, which later would become the official state song of West Virginia.
Holding at #28 is “Lucky Man” by Emerson, Lake & Palmer, a future classic rock radio mainstay — most notable for Keith Emerson’s Moog synthesizer solo during its final minute.