The 20th of February 1974
Official U.K. Albums Chart results from Sunday the 17th to Saturday the 23rd of February 1974
Cut-off for sales figures was up to the end of Saturday the 16th of February
Results counted from Sunday the 17th,
and published on Wednesday the 20th of February 1974.
Golden Earring
Moontan
At No.24, on the “The Top 50 U.K. Albums Chart”, the week of my 2nd Birthday, are Golden Earring with Moontan.
Golden Earring’s ascension,..
…in the western world, was gaining serious momentum at this point, mainly due to the massive attention of ‘Radar Love’. With that hit single storming the chart in parallel this week in the UK with this album, everything appeared to be on the up for the band.
The group seemed to have grabbed the torch from that other popular Dutch combo Focus, and were now running with it.
Over in the United States, they were making the climb from an opening act for bands such as King Crimson and Santana, and are now scheduled later this year to be headliners themselves, with other acts supporting them instead such as Aerosmith and Kiss.
It’s no surprise…
…that the publicity for the single has pushed the album from whence it came into the charts; it’s just a bonus for some fans to have top Page 3 model Jilly Johnson plastered all over the cover (although some males may feel a little disappointed when they discover what’s on the inner gatefold, but there may be a few female eyebrows raised, along with a smile).
Within the groove itself, the listener will find Marilyn Monroe. Overall though, it seems that visually, the word is getting out that sex sells, as this is the second cover so far that features a glamour model on the front as I continue my climb up this chart, and I’m guessing there maybe more to come.
(this last remark in no way is perceived to be an unintentional pun, but make of it what you will).
With a full blown version of their big hit to begin the proceedings, the rest of the album is another progressive journey erring heavily towards rock than progressive. It is nevertheless keeping their new swathe of followers happy.
It’s also interesting to note that the single, in other territories, doesn’t introduce the album the way I described, so if you have fond memories of listening to this album after purchasing it in continental Europe, including the band’s home turf of the Netherlands, in fact anywhere except the U.K., the U.S., Canada and Australia, then it may not seem as familiar to how you remember, with tracks shuffled and other tracks replaced entirely.
As this is the U.K. album chart and I’m indeed from the U.K., then if you’re from anywhere I haven’t mentioned, and remember and indeed prefer your own original sequence, then you’ll just have to dig out and dust off your own copies.
The album…
…had entered the chart last month on the 27th of January and had almost fallen out again the following week, but managed to cling onto the No.50 position. The following week it has recovered to get up to No.34, before another boost sends it up to this position.
From here,..
…you would assume that the album will be on an upwards trajectory, judging by the numbers, but this week would be it. There would be no more positions to fill either up or down the chart, as it falls out completely; and so far, is never to be seen again.
Side 1
Side 2
Many thanks go to the following YouTube Channels for providing the chance to hear these tracks, so that together we can experience both sides of this album release, as it was intended, once again.
Please show your appreciation by visiting their channel:
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