Top Ten Tuesday: WLS, 12/7/70

Andy Kim, “Be My Baby”: A song done by The Ronettes in 1963, written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Spector, that reached #2 on the Hot 100. Andy’s 1970 cover peaked at #14 on the Hot 100 and #6 in Canada.

Dawn, “Knock Three Times”: Tony Orlando, who was the lead singer on the record, wasn’t named on it. The song reached #1 on the Hot 100 in January and ultimately sold six million copies.

Brian Hyland, “Gypsy Woman”: Written by Curtis Mayfield and done by The Impressions in 1961, when it reached #2 on the R&B chart. Hyland’s cover reached #3 in the US and Canada.

The 5th Dimension, “One Less Bell To Answwer”: Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David in 1967 for Keely Smith (Louis Prima’s wife). Bones Howe, The Fifth Dimension’s producer, discovered it in 1969, and it was included on their Bell Records debut, Portrait. It reached #2 on the Hot 100, #1 on the Easy Listening chart, #4 on the Soul Singles chart, and was a platinum record for them.

Chicago, “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is”: From Chicago’s 1969 debut album The Chicago Transit Authority, this wasn’t released as a single until after two songs from their second album, “Make Me Smile” and “25 Or 6 To 4,” had become hits. It reached #7 on the Hot 100 and #2 in Canada.

Eric Clapton, “After Midnight”: Written and originally recorded by J. J. Cale in 1966, Clapton covered it in 1970. Clapton’s was so successful that Cale went back and recorded it for his 1972 album. Clapton reached #4 on the Mainstream Rock chart and #9 in Canada.

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, “The Tears Of A Clown”: Written by Hank Cosby (no relation to Bill), Smokey Robinson, and Stevie Wonder, Smokey and the Miracles originally recorded it for their 1967 album Make It Happen. It was released in the UK in 1970 and went to #1 there, so it was re-released in the US where it topped both the Hot 100 and the R&B Singles charts. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002.

The Guess Who, “Share The Land”: Title track from their 1970 album, written by Burton Cummings, it reached #10 on the Hot 100 and #2 in Canada.

Bobby Bloom, “Montego Bay”: Cowritten by Bloom and Jeff Barry, it reached #6 in the US, #5 in Canada, #3 in the UK, and #9 in Australia. At the end, Bloom sings the first verse of “Oh, What A Beautiful Morning,” so credit was given to Rodgers & Hammerstein as well.

George Harrison, “My Sweet Lord”: Released in November 1970 along with George’s debut solo album All Things Must Pass. It topped the charts worldwide. It was part of a famous lawsuit in which he was found to have plagiarized “He’s So Fine,” the Ronnie Mack song that was a hit for The Chiffons in 1963. George argued that the song was inspired by the song “O Happy Day,” which by that time was out of copyright.