BRITISH HIT PARADE

[karl]

Does anyone buy any of the British Hit Parade cd series? 1961 has just been released this week but it hasn't arrived yet so at the moment I am listening to 1960 and Matt has just finished singing Portrait Of My Love.

On checking the cd websites a few days ago I see they are also releasing a set in 3 volumes next month of b sides so that looks interesting.

The quality of the cd's is excellent and sometimes they give you 3 versions of the same song by different artists who had hits with it on both sides of the Atlantic, the booklets are also very informative.

[john]

I think I have a couple of this series, I shall certainly keep a look out for the b sides, often some of the b sides are just as good, if not better, than the a sides.

[Eman]

I have to agree, sometimes the "B" sides were better..but deemed as only throw away songs here!!

[ROBERT M.]

I have to agree, sometimes the "B" sides were better..but deemed as only throw away songs here!!

I agree Eman when I started buying 45 rpm singles in the 60's (when I was very young ) I never played any of the B sides, just listened to the main hit single

[Eman]

Robert, I didn't actually buy 45's well my parents didn't buy them for me until around 1971. My first 45 was "Joy To The World" by Three Dog Night. I remember playing the flipside "I Can Hear You Calling" more than the hit. I was 7. Another one I played more than the A side "D'yer Maker" was "The Crunge" by Led Zeppelin. I remember liking it more cuz it had a James Brown groove to it, plus all the kids that had the 45 were dancing to it back in 1974 in the 4th grade..

[karl]

Robert I am amazed you never played B sides. As Eamon said they were as good if not better than the A side. I always loved the B sides by Dusty, Sandie, Cilla and Cliff to name a few.

[mariana44]

I agree-I always played the "B" sides, even when the only records I bought were 78 rpm singles--I found some great tracks that way.

[Eman]

Yep sometimes the "B" side was a song that was only available on the 45.. just like the song "All I Wanna Do Is Touch You" by David Cassidy. That's one of the hardest 45's to get in good shape, the flipside was "Cherish". I think though in the UK the single was a double A side with "Could It Be Forever".. Anyway all us kids played that "B" side out more than the "A" side as it was more upbeat..

[mariana44]

I really love the song "Cherish"-but my favourite version is by The Association--and strangely enough, the only way I could get a copy of Their Greatest Hits, was to import it from USA--that was some time ago--it may be available now in Uk.

[Eman]

Wow Mariana, that's interesting about the Association. The thing I read about Cassidy's version was that they wanted him to record a love song for the teeny fans, but one that hadn't been covered and charted. So I guess his cover was the first version of the song to be recorded and hit the charts. Plus the song was chosen so the girl fans would get all mushy and think he was singing just for them..I remember seeing in my teen magazines that they'd have his picture and a fake signature that says "I "Cherish" you, Love David". Then in bold print it would say "LET DAVID CHERISH YOU - CHERISH THE NEW ALBUM BY DAVID CASSIDY on BELL RECORDS" get your copy now!! LOL..great marketing huh?

[mariana44]

My sister was a big fan of David Cassidy for many years--watched him in the Partidge Family, bought all his records, recorded his concerts from tv, bought his dvds-I think she still likes him a lot.

[Inky Fingers]

Cherish was most definitely recorded by the Association first. It was written by the group's lead singer Terry Kirkman, and their version was released in August 1966. It was number one in America for three weeks in September and October of that year.

David Cassidy's version wasn't released until 1972.

[Eman]

The Association were the originals, however David Cassidy was the second person to chart with the song. His version was released here in the U.S. on September 1971. The single peaked at No.9 on Nov 1971. The lp was released in 1972.

[Inky Fingers]

Thanks. I stand corrected.

[Eman]

Hey Inky, you are right though, in the UK it was released in 1972 and the flipside was Could It Be Forever.