#1 at KRUX: “Too Late To Turn Back Now,” the second of two big hits by the Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose.
Beatles pal Billy Preston takes a big leap from #10 to #2 with the instrumental “Outa Space.” Bill Withers’ enduring “Lean On Me” jumps from #12 to #5.
The sole debut, way up at #15, is “Brandy” by the Looking Glass, a future #1 hit. Another soon-to-be chart-topper, “Alone Again (Naturally)” by Gilbert O’Sullivan, jumps from #24 to #17.
Elton John falls to #19 with “Rocket Man,” which also serves as the title to his biographical movie released in May 2019. The Eagles’ first hit, “Take It Easy,” moves up to #20 (“Standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona . . . “)
Two future classics are Hitbound: “Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)” by the Hollies, and “Layla” by Derek & The Dominos.
Crosby, Stills Nash & Young are well represented on the album chart: Graham Nash & David Crosby are #1, Stephen Stills with his part-time band Manassas is at #2, and Neil Young’s classic Harvest is at #5.
The rest of the album chart ain’t too shabby, either: Debut releases from America (#10) and Jackson Browne (#15), Paul Simon’s first solo album (#13) and Credeence Clearwater Revival’s final album, Mardi Gras (#7).
Other classic albums: Thick As A Brick (#3) by Jethro Tull, Exile on Main Street (#9) by the Rolling Stones, American Pie (#11) by Don McLean, and Carole King‘s Tapesty holding on at #14, more than a full year after its release.
And finally, proving that offbeat records can be hits on pop radio, check out “Amazing Grace” (#23), a bagpipe rendition of the gospel standard performed by The Pipes and Drums and the Military Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.