Colourful Music Hits of 1970

Here are some music of the 70s hits that had a colour in the title or in the group or artist. All these charted in the UK during the year 1970.

1/Melting Pot by Blue Mink

Written by Cook and Greenway this hit was still a left over hit from 1969, and is all about racial harmony. Still applies today.

The lyrics to many Blue Mink songs here.

BBC 70s Music Chart January 10th 1970

  January 1970

 Libya gets Gaddafi   Muaammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi , who was born in 1942,was a name that not many people really knew, but from this year onwards his name would dominate the world’s news right through to now. The name of course became synonymous with that of a tyrant for the next fifty years.   After getting military training in the UK, he was already planning a way to take over his country of Libya from the Prime Minister King Ildris, whilst Ildris was in Turkey. This he and the military did in in 1969, when Gaddafi was only 27. He was already  now having unofficial control of the country.   He had little love for the west, and was happy if people purchased guns to fight the west, in fact Libya in 1970 had a thriving Italian community, they disappeared very quickly as most westerns did. This was in part because Gaddafi became chairman of an organisation called the Revolutionary Command Council and expelled all the Italians.

 On January 28^th of 1970, now aged 28, Gaddafi moved into the front line of politics, by taking over as the Libyan premier and installing four out twelve ministers from his from his council. It must be remembered that Gaddafi 1969 coup was bloodless, and now he had worked his way  to premier almost unchallenged.   He himself managed to stop a coup against him in the closing days of 1969, and he was now going to ensure that everyone knew who was in charge of the new Libya It was him, still wearing his army uniforms and also he wore dark glasses, that became a trademark of his for many years.   In 1970 business and power in Libya, if you were not Libyan then you were forced out of any important position, and Gaddafi instigated a system where small businesses stayed in control of their owners, larger ones became the property or became controlled by the state.   But Gaddafi still needed the British former colonisers, as he needed weapons and tanks, and this he got from the British and other sources for many future years. Gaddafi knew the power of having weapons in that area, and he maintained a very high profile with his army and the fire power it had.

 Oil of course was a  key element in the power and the economy of Libya, and in 1970 nit was the fourth largest oil producer in the world, and despite Gaddafi pushing down the free economy when he took over, the oil kept flowing and he knew that would give him the power to stay in position and to make sure the west knew that he had the power to affect oil flow.   Libya through the decades of Gaddafi rule has always been linked to providing arms to other governments and organisations, and with his power to buy from the US and Europe he was in a very good place to sell on to other Arab countries for political favours and control.   Gaddafi really believed in the unification of the Arab Sates and was a close friend to President Nasser Hussein of Egypt who was killed in September this year. At that time Gaddafi took up the mantle of Hussein and his version of Pan Arabism , which was a loose liaison between the Arab countries , especially Egypt Syria and Libya.

  The music of the 70s continues now as we look at the BBC chart from 10th January 1970.

No. 20

If I Thought you You'd Change Your Mind by Cilla Black.

Our Cilla was born Priscilla White in 1943, and has been one of the country's biggest stars throughout the 60s ,70s, 80s and 90s .In the 70s she had her own TV show called "Cilla" on the BBC, and up until 1973 she was produced by non other than the Beatles manager George Martin.

N0. 19



Comin' Home by Delaney and Bonnie and Friends

Lyrics to "Coming Home". This song was written by John Cameron, who composed the CCS version of "Top Of The Pops" theme, and at some points Eric Clapton was involved with this group, and the song is about a short sex story with a groupie

No. 18 Something/Come Together by Beatles Article about the Beatles Double A side from the super group the Beatles, both songs coming from the album "Abbey Road", this song was about a political struggle between California candidates Ronald Regan and Timothy Leary. Leary lost because of a drug conviction.



No. 17
But You Love Me Daddy by Jim Reeves

No. 16

Reflections Of My Life by Marmalade

A group from Scotland and the song was written by guitarist Junior Campbell, and became a one million seller. Funny to think the original name of the group was "The Gaylords", I wonder why they changed it?
 
No. 15 (Call Me) Number One by Tremeloes

No. 14 Winter World Of Love by Engelbert Humperdinck  

No. 13 Without You by Tom Jones Article about Tom Jones

No. 12 Durham Town (The Leavin') by Roger Whittacker

No. 11 The Onion Song by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrill

No. 10 The Liquidator by Harry J Allstars
                            
No. 9 Yester-Me,Yester-you,Yesterday by Stevie Wonder
Article about Stevie Wonder

No. 8

Good Old Rock "N" Roll by Dave Clark Five  

No. 7 Suspicious Mind by Elvis Presley

No. 6 Sugar Sugar by Archies                     

No. 5 All I have To Do Is Dream by Bobbie Gentry and Glenn Campbell

No. 4 Tracey by Cufflinks                        

No. 3

Melting Pot by Blue Mink


Article about Blue Mink


No. 2

Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition

See article on Kenny Rogers

 No. 1 Two Little Boys by Rolf Harris
 



BBC1 TV LISTINGS JAN 10TH 1970

12.00:Weatherman

GRAHAM PARKER looks at the weekend weather.

12.05:Casey Jones

Honeymoon Express The leader of a gang of bank robbers finds that two can play the same trick,

12.25:Zokko!

All for fun! Fun for all!! with Skaun and the Moon People: 6: We have no reason to trust you ... with the voices of SHEELAGH MCGRATH , GORDON CLYDE , ANTHONY JACKSON , and pictures by LESLIE CASWELL PAUL FOX and ANNE

12.45:Grandstand

Introduced by Frank Bough featuring Rugby Union, Ireland v South Africa-coverage of the whole match, the third International of the Springboks tour. Also in Grandstand: The Geoffrey Gilbey Memorial Handicap Steeplechase and two more races from the day's top meeting at Newbury; and Rallycross. 12.55* Football Preview Introduced by SAM LEITCH 1.10, 1.40, 2.40, 4.30* Rallycross from Lydden Circuit, Kent Round 5 of the 1969-70 Rallycross Championship in which leading drivers compete for the W.D. and H.O. Wills Trophy (organised by the Thames Estuary Automobile Club). Commentator MURRAY WALKER TV presentation by BRIAN JOHNSON 1.20, 1.50, 2.20* Racing from Newbury 1.30 Newtown Novices' Hurdle Race (Div 1) (2 miles) 2.0 Wantage Novices' Steeplechase (2 miles and 160 yards) 2.30 Geoffrey Gilbey Memorial Handicap Steeplechase (3 miles) Commentators PETER O'SULLEVAN and JULIAN WILSON TV presentation by DENNIS MONGER 2.55* Rugby Union: Ireland v South Africa This afternoon's International at Lansdowne Road, Dublin Commentator CLIFF MORGAN TV presentation by the Irish Television Service (Full coverage of the match also an Radio 3 and 4) 4.50* Results Service Times are subject to alteration. Latest news, football scores, and racing results are given throughout the afternoon, and the Teleprinter service is at 4.40* Grandstand presented for television by BRIAN VENNER

17.15:DrWho

starring Jon Pertwee with Caroline John and Nicholas Courtney Spearhead from Space by ROBERT HOLMES Part 2 UNIT soldiers find a meteorite - with disastrous consequences. Ransome investigates the Plastics factory and makes a strange and horrible discovery.

17.40:The Debbie Reynolds Show

in which this lovely film star makes her television debut in a new comedy series Debbie Reynolds stars as Debbie Thompson At home with the family she delights, mystifies, and maddens ... This week: That's Debbie ... the Caddie Laddie !

18.05:The News

Weatherman GRAHAM PARKER

18.15:It's Cliff Richard

with Una Stubbs , Hank B. Marvin featuring Daliah Lavi Lovely Daliah Lavi joins Cliff, Una, and Hank to play Mata Hari in the spy film to end all spy films. She will also be singing her new song - called very simply ' Love Song.' Born in Israel 29 years ago, Daliah Lavi is something of an expert in spy films having appeared in several, including Casino Royale, Spy with a Cold Nose, and The Silencers.

18.45:High Adventure The Last Voyage

Tonight's presentation in this season of feature films with action, spectacle, and excitement stars Robert Stack , Dorothy Malone George Sanders and Edmond O'Brien A fire in the boiler room of a veteran American liner quickly spreads. The order comes to abandon ship, but in the chaos one man struggles to free his wife trapped in the wreckage. A stickler for realism, producer Andrew Stone leased the old He de France (ready for the breakers' yard), set it on fire, and proceeded to sink it during location filming in the Sea of Japan. The result is spectacular, gripping entertainment. Written and directed by ANDREW L. STONE Produced by ANDREW STONE VIRGINIA STONE

20.15:The Val Doonican Show

starring Val Doonican with special guests: Shari Lewis Kenny Rogers and The First Edition The Romeros Marian Davies THE GILLIAN LYNNE DANCERS THE ADAM SINGERS

21.00:Vanity Fair

by W. M. THACKERAY dramatised in five parts by REX TUCKER starring Susan Hampshire The Sedleys have become bankrupt and Amelia's engagement to George broken off. Becky, now governess to the younger children of Sir Pitt Crawley , has met his second son, Rawdon.

21.45:The News

with KENNETH KENDALL and Weather

21.55:Match of the Day Special 1970 World Cup Draw

live by satellite from Mexico City Match of the Day from a top fixture David Coleman reports from the Maria Isabella Hotel , Mexico City, where Sir Stanley Rous , President of FIFA, conducts the groupings of the final 16 nations. From Mexico City and London, on-the-spot reaction about England's opponents next June from team manager SIR ALF RAMSEY , skipper BOBBY MOORE , goalkeeper GORDON BANKS, and England's 97-times-capped BOBBY CHARLTON. BARRY DAVIES talks to the England personalities about the 15 other finalists: Mexico, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, El Salvador, Czechoslovakia, Israel, Italy, Morocco, Peru, Rumania, Russia, Sweden, Uruguay, and West Germany. Presented by Telesistema Mexicano KENNETH WOLSTENHOLME and OUtside broadcast cameras go to one of England's famous soccer grounds for 45 minutes of soccer action from Match of the Day. Presented by JONATHAN MARTIN Executive producer ALEC WEEKS Editor SAM LEITCH

23.30:Braden's Week

One man, Bernard Braden and his team John Pitman , Esther Rantzen and Sean O'Reilly take a look at some of the things that happened - and some of the things that didn't. Musical memory of the week: Malcolm Vaughan ' Every Day of My Life ' (1955) Children: Harold Williamson Song: Alex Glasgow

0.00:Weatherman

Closedown

In The 1970s Blue Mink

This group only lasted five years, but are fondly remembered all their songs with such love. This English group consisted of Roger Coulam and Madeline Bell. Madeline was from the U.S. and once worked with the great Dusty Springfield.

But perhaps the most famous member of the group was Roger Cook. Roger born in 1940 was also a big song writer, and with his co-write Roger Greenaway they wrote some of the 1970 classics like I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing In Perfect Harmony by New Seekers, this of course started life as a Coca Cola commercial in 1971.

Other 1970 hits, including Blame It On The Pony Express by Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon Doctors Orders by Sunny, and Like Sister And Brother by the Drifters. Roger moved to the states in the mid-1970s and had a hit with Talking In My Sleep by Crystal Gayle. He originally wrote that for the Scottish group Marmalade.

The bassist for Blue Mink was no less than Herbie Flowers who also worked with Bowie, T.Rex, Lou Reed and Jeff Wayne on his classic The War Of The Worlds concept album. Herbie also as a joke and a bet at a party was approached by Clive Dunn the TV star in Dad’s Army (played Corp Jones) and was asked to write a record for Clive. He did. Granddad by Clive Dunn went on to be a huge No.1 in the UK charts, and is much remembered even to today.

Barry Morgan the drummer for Blue Mink died in 2007. Alan Parker was the guitarist and he studied at the London Academy of Music before joining the group. Alan was also the guitarist on the Walker Brothers No Regrets single in the 1970s, as well as playing on the Top of the Pops theme, which was a cover of CCS Whole Lotta Love.

The groups first hit was Melting Pot in 1969.

In 1970 was the great Good Morning Freedom.

Good morning world it's a brand new day I'm packin' my bags and I'm getting away I'm movin' my legs and my city type bones I gotta get away from the busy man's 'phones.

The very next hit was Our World again in 1970. But the bigger hits came in 1971 with the fast paced Banner Man that got as high as No. 3 in the UK charts. Surprisingly the only song to chart in the U.S. was Our World which only managed to sneak in at No. 64 of the Billboard 100.

1972 the group came out with the very laid back Stay With Me. Again the groups harmonies were perfect here, and in part it was a much more rocky sound then before. The single managed to get to No. 11 and had perfect repeating lyrics.

“Stay with me, lay with me, love me for longer than just your goodbye. I need a friend at the end of a long lonely day. All my tomorrows, my yesterday sorrows have blown to the wind. Stay with me, lay with me, love let your loving begin”

It was 1973 that saw the last year for the group and their last hits in the 1970s. The first hit single was By The Devil I Was Tempted on their new EMI label. The song managed to get to No. 26. The group was now definitely underperforming.

“ Open your eyes, my friend

I ask you not to pretend

I know you're lonely and blue

No doubt I probably am too

Our time has come to end

So please don't try and pretend

Now come on, let's both walk away

We really have nothing to say”

The group’s very last song was perhaps their finest. The song called Randy made people listen just because of its title. Randy in the 70s was a little cheeky to say the least. The song was a very well put together single, again the harmonies were perfect and it gave the group a deserve No.9 hit to go out on.

The group had half a dozen albums in the 70s, including a very successful compilation album in 1978 simply called Collection; Blue Mink.