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.
Wizzard
Ball Park Incident
At No.42, on the “The Top 50 U.K. Singles Chart” on my 1st Birthday, is Wizzard with “Ball Park Incident”.
Roy Wood’s first single with his latest venture…
…after departing the Electric Light Orchestra, was having their final week with this first single.
“Ball Park Incident” had entered the U.K. Singles Chart on the 3rd of December, a couple of months before, at No.46.
The single would climb steadily until reaching No.6 on the 7th of January and stay there for 3 weeks before falling away to this week’s position.
As a little fun fact,..
…the B side’s title was originally just called “The Carlsberg Special” for want of a better title at the time (Carlsberg Special being quite a potent lager).
It was written by the band’s keyboardist and French Horn player, who’d Roy had also nicked from the Electric Light Orchestra, Bill Hunt.
As a bit of a joke, the band decided to inform Bill that they’d thought of a new title for the track, without telling him what it was, and Bill, without thinking, went along with the idea.
It was only after the single released that he saw his home telephone number on the label!
At first Bill, just married at this point in his life, didn’t mind when people started ringing his home, but when it started ringing during the night too, he contacted the phone company to have the number changed.
A new number was swiftly arranged and all was quiet again for Bill.
What wasn’t quiet though, was the home of an 85 year old lady who the phone company gave his old number to.
The “A” Side
The “B” Side
Wizzard – Ball Park Incident (Video Promo)
Wizzard – Ball Park Incident (Top of the Pops performance)
Many thanks go to the following YouTube Channels for providing the chance to hear this music, and watch the footage, 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…?
