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.
Benny Hill
Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West)
At No.44, on the the U.K. Top 50 Singles Chart the day I am born, is Benny Hill with “Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West)”.
At No.44 was the previous year’s Christmas Number 1 single.
Benny Hill, a former milkman himself, came up with the idea of Ernie as far back as 1955, when he wrote a screenplay loosely based on his own experiences doing the milk rounds.
The first time the song itself made an appearance in any form was in 1970 when he performed it on his TV show and, after a couple of revisions, released it as a single the following year.
“Ernie” had begun his U.K. Chart run back in November,..
…on Sunday the 13th, and had steadily climbed up to achieve his No.1 status in the first week of December 1971.
But he had a massive battle on his hands to stay pud – I mean put, to keep himself there, with Slade’s “Coz I Luv U” and T-Rex’ “Jeepster” biting at his ankles all the way but, unlike his battle to the death with Two Ton Ted from Teddington (who drove the baker’s van), good ol’ Ernie only went and won the Day (well, Days actually, both Christmas and New Year).
By Sunday the 20th February Ernie’s gold tops were rattling their way to their triumphant exit.
He slipped one more place a week later before finally galloping out of the chart at the beginning of March 1972.
But we won’t forget Ol’ Ernie.
The “A” Side
The “B” Side
Benny Hill – Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West) (Promo Video)
Benny Hill – Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West) (“The Benny Hill Show” Original TV Performance)
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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