20th of February 1973 to the 19th February 1974
Well, I’ve made it to a year old…
From the photos I’ve seen from that time around my big day, it looks like whoever took the them on that dark February day had no flash on the camera and a searchlight to illuminate the room.
Anyone would think the 3 Day Week had already started, but looking that era up, that doesn’t start until the beginning of the following year.
Do I have any memories from this time?
Well, not that I can really recall, no.
I can only go by memories that are gifted to me from my parents or sisters.
I remember years later when I asked my mother why she had a bit of wallpaper torn away in my mother and fathers bedroom. It was a little way up the wall.
Apparently it was from when I used to wake up in the cot, slip my hand through the bars and tear from a loose edge of the paper.
I don’t remember doing it, but my mother never got it fixed for years. I don’t think she minded, and I suppose it held a memory for her of me as a baby, now that I was growing up for her too fast.
I was still busy trying to walk and talk during my second year.
I also got a taste for bananas around this time, and they were becoming my favourite food.
There’s pictures of me in the wooden playpen outside in the warmer weather, chomping away at my fruit of choice.
Although, I have been told, they had to keep an eye on me as my big eyes took on more than my mouth could chew, quite literally.
One favourite memory of my mothers was the time she found me cramming so much banana in, that my cheeks had puffed out to resemble a human chipmunk.
To relieve the stress my face was clearly under, she gently pressed my cheeks back to their original shape with one hand, while I dispensed a lovely banana purée back into her other one. Yummy.
As for music,..
…there would now be a development in how I was picking it up and processing it.
Whereas before, living my first year, I would really just be having an awareness of it being around me. During my second year, I would be becoming more aware and getting certain feelings and emotions around certain tunes that I heard and listened to.
And so, that being the case, there is more of a selection of musical memories between my first and second year that I can recognise and pick up on.
So, going back to my First Birthday…
…and again, in as much entirety as I can get it at this time, I’m going to run down the official singles chart which ran from Sunday, the 18th to the 24th (taking in my 1st Birthday on the 20th) of February, 1973 all the way from 50 down to…1. And that includes the B-sides again as well (you lucky lot).
And, as before, the Number One gets a special mention, as it will every year on each of my Birthdays onwards.
Then, once I’ve done that, I’m going to go through the album chart as well.
Now the keen reader may again have observed…
…that I say “in as much entirety as I can”.
The reason is that, with my searching, I can’t find every piece on the chart – but I’ve done my best. I’ll keep trying to plug the holes as the journey progresses.
And, only once the musical background has been painted after the snapshot of the charts, I’ll showcase the songs I feel went into my little ear holes during my journey through, and up to, my second year while I started to get on my own two feet.
Now, as I have stated before in my Musical Road section,..
…this comes with a couple of side effects.
This means that there will be songs included which were banned from having airplay.
The other (and in some cases this will tie in with the former) reason is that this will include songs and artists which have attracted controversy, whether that’s from the time of the release, or from future scrutiny since then.
Some of you may come across pieces of music or performers that you may find upsetting.
I can only apologise in advance, however it is put there only to give as much of a complete snapshot of those times as possible.
I sense that this time will be one of the most controversial.
I feel I have to emphasise this again here due to the fact that I’m covering my journey through my second year which goes from the 20th of February 1973 through to the 19th of February 1974.
It will be getting controversial.
However, after getting that out of the way, there will be most overwhelmingly be gems to discover in this musical period, making it, in my opinion, one of the best years for music.
Whether good, or not so good, let’s go back to musically relive that magic era once again.
Listen to “The Official Top 50 UK Singles Chart: 20th February 1972” Playlist here:
Grab Your Binoculars, Come Follow Me…
What is it…?
Why am I…?
How do I…?
When am I…?
