The 20th of February 1973
Official U.K. Albums 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.
Gilbert O’Sullivan
Himself
At No.34, on the “The Top 50 U.K. Albums Chart” on my 1st Birthday, is Gilbert O’Sullivan with “Himself”.
As we continue. climbing the chart,..
…we are met again by Gilbert (real name Raymond Edward) O’ Sullivan with his debut album.
Born in south east Ireland, but raised in Swindon, Gilbert was enjoying continued success with his previous 1930’s look (cue an image change coming further up this chart) and music style. Pulling influences from McCartney-esque Beatles era tones, and words and rhymes akin to the style of Spike Milligan, the feel of his songs is observational. Basically it’s the artist putting people-watching to music.
Last time we left Gilbert, the album had left the Top 50 after the 7th of October, however the absence had been brief, and before that month was over, he’d be back again, from the 15th of October, back in at No.33.
The album wouldn’t leave again for the rest of the year, and would get as high as No.15 during November. In fact, the album wouldn’t disappear until after the 10th of February in 1973, but that would only be for a week.
By this week he’s back again, only for a couple of weeks this time, before he’s taking another week long break.
Once back, from the 11th of March, he’ll stick around for most of the Spring with this album, before another quick break.
The album will pop it’s head in for a quick week at the beginning of June, then appear again for three weeks from the 17th of that month, jumping into the month of July, and then it’s off again after the 7th.
The album will finally start to lose momentum from here, staying for a week from the 12th of August, another week from the 9th of October, and another week from the 9th of December.
The album just about gets into 1974, spends another week on chart from the 13th of January, before it runs out of steam just before my 2nd birthday, when it’s last week happens from the 27th of January until the 2nd of February.
By this time in his career, the shorts and cap were now a distant memory. But, as debut albums go, it was a magnificent one, with a final total of 82 weeks (that’s over a year and a half) on the U.K. Album Chart.
I’ve created my own separate playlists for both Sides 1 and 2 of this album with (I hope) the correct versions and the original track sequencing order for the U.K. release.
Side 1
Side 2
Many thanks go to the following YouTube Channels for providing the chance to hear this music once again.
Please show your appreciation by visiting their channel:
The Top 50 U.K. Singles Chart Playlist for the week of my 1st Birthday:
The Top 50 U.K. Singles Chart Playlist for the day I was born:
Grab Your Binoculars, Come Follow Me
What is it…?
Why am I…?
How do I…?
When am I…?
