The 20th of February 1973
Official U.K. Singles Chart results from Sunday the 18th to Saturday the 24th of February 1973
Cut-off for sales figures was up to the end of Saturday the 17th of February
Results counted from Sunday the 18th,
announced on Tuesday the 20th,
and broadcast on B.B.C. Radio 1 on Sunday the 25th of February 1973.
Strawbs
Part Of The Union
At No.2, on the “The Top 50 U.K. Singles Chart” on my 1st Birthday, is the Strawbs with “Part Of The Union”.
The Strawbs were back for my 1st Birthday…
…after making an appearance in the Album Chart on the Day I was born with “Grave New World” the year before.
This hit single was pulled from their latest album,..
…even though it initially wasn’t intended to be included.
The song, written by drummer Richard Hudson and bass guitarist John Ford, was thought of for a new project direction called “The Brothers” while Dave Cousins was away, busy with his solo venture.
The only reason it became part of the Strawbs output was simply down to the fact that, with a new album having to be released in quite a hurry, there just wasn’t enough material to hand.
So, with the band back in the studio along with new member Dave Lambert, the track was rerecorded to help complete the album. But even so, it was quite a leap in a different direction from the sound people were used to from the band. A rather tongue in cheek analysis of the british working class attitude at the time.
The problem was, quite a few took the satirical tone seriously, as John Ford explains:
‘”Part of the Union” wasn’t as serious as it was taken to be, but people picked up on it. It was just a sort of mickey-take on how big the unions have become. … The next thing we knew Harold Soref [a right wing Conservative MP] was saying it was propaganda…. The only bloke who had the right idea was Jack Jones [the trade union leader, NOT the singer!], who said it should not be taken too seriously but it was a nice song anyway.’
Nevertheless, due to the narrative of the song, it soon caught the public’s attention and landed firstly at No.19 on the 21st of January before leaping straight into the Top 10 at No.7 the following week.
Week three found it at No.3 and then, the week before this chart, it got to its highest position of No.2.
It ends up staying at this position for 3 weeks, last week, this week and next week, after which it will spend one further week in the Top 10 at No.4, before ever wider strides back towards the outer edges of the chart where they’d march off after the 7th of April.
That wasn’t the end for this song though…
It would comeback plenty of times in numerous guises as a people’s defiance anthem and can hold as much relevance today as it did back then.
The “A” Side
The “B” Side
Strawbs – Part Of The Union (“Top Of The Pops” TV Appearance)
Strawbs – Part Of The Union (Original “Brothers” Recording)
Many thanks go to the following YouTube Channels for providing the chance to hear this music, and watch the footage once again.
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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…?
