The 20th of February 1972
Official U.K. Singles Chart results from Sunday the 20th to Saturday the 26th of February 1972
Cut-off for sales figures was up to the end of Saturday the 19th of February
Results counted from Sunday the 20th,
announced on Tuesday the 22nd,
and broadcast on B.B.C. Radio 1 on Sunday the 27th of February 1972.
The Hollies
The Baby
At No.40, on the the U.K. Top 50 Singles Chart the day I am born, is The Hollies with “The Baby”.
As we reach the Top 40,..
…we’re welcomed by one of the more established groups of the past decade but, who were at this moment, going through some tumultuous times.
They had already lost one member of the band a few years back. Rhythm guitarist, singer and songwriter, Graham Nash.
However,
…they’d now lost their lead singer Allan Clarke as well.
To counter these losses,..
…there were a couple of gains.
A swift replacement singer, from a band named Bamboo who had supported them on tour around 1967, was being welcomed on board. A singer/ songwriter, by the name of Mikael Rickfors from Sweden. The other change was the record label, as they were now newly signed to Polydor.
With these changes,..
…it seemed that the band were looking into the seventies with, not just a brave new outlook, but with a new sound as well, as Mikael’s soulful baritone vocal chords were a far cry from Allen’s higher tenor range, which the group and the fans were accustomed to.
So, with this new rebirth, this week will be its first on the U.K. Chart for this first new single.
In terms of the success…
…the Hollies were used to in the Sixties, the band seemed to be not quite fully adjusted to the new sound of the new decade so, for them at this time, this song was a more relatively minor hit than those already past.
They will crack the Top 30 shortly after this week, ultimately achieving the position of No.26 for the week of the 19th to the 25th of March 1972, but would then fall away again.
So, with a changing band, and sound, “The Baby” will be destined to spend only 6 weeks on the UK Chart in total.
The “A” Side
The “B” Side
The Hollies – The Baby (Video Promo)
The Hollies – The Baby (TV Appearance)
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