The 20th of February 1975
Official U.K. Singles Chart results from Sunday the 16th to Saturday the 22nd of February 1975
Cut-off for sales figures was up to the end of Saturday the 15th of February
Results counted from Sunday the 16th,
published on Tuesday the 18th,
and broadcast on B.B.C. Radio 1 on Sunday the 23rd of February 1974.
Wizzard
Are You Ready To Rock
At No.49, on the “The Top 50 U.K. Singles Chart”, the week of my 3rd Birthday, are Wizzard with Are You Ready To Rock.
The superb song-smith sorcerer…
…which is Roy Wood, is back once again, this time with Wizzard, and this rip-roaring track which, to me, is an absolute barnstormer of a tribute to further acts of his youth, this time focusing on talents such as Bill Haley and the Comets, who had recently revisited the UK as part of a tour, earlier the previous year of 1974, to much celebration.
The whole package…
…which is this single, holds a special place in my heart, unfortunately not exactly of fondness, but more to do with the fact that it completely scared the living daylights out of me at the age of 3.
OK, so let me explain.
Probably, the first time I heard it, was when the group performed it on Top of the Pops back in January 1975.
Now firstly, Wizzard certainly looked completely nuts anyway, but when Roy appeared on the screen looking like, what I can only describe, as some sort of bearded egg-head with something sprouting out the top it, flanked by two ventriloquist dummies, each with features that could literally give me nightmares (see YouTube clip below), that was enough to give me the creeps for ages whenever I heard it; and I haven’t even got to the single’s B-side yet.
Secondly,..
…my big sister Susan had this record, and so, with her sister-sidekick Katherine, took great delight in freaking me the hell out whenever the opportunity arose. This especially became effective when she knew how petrified I got when the single was flipped over and the B-side was played.
To be honest, it wasn’t the whole of the track which had me darting under whichever safe place I could immediately find. More, it was just the fade in at the beginning. The rest of the track sounds more like a coming together of The Persuaders meeting Hawaii Five-O.
To me, it was like the faces of those dummies were closing in and about to kill me or something. There was (to me anyway) something so frightening about that build up, that it literally sent me horror-stricken and running for my life. The most notable instance of which still sticks in my memory, was the cunning set-up Susan and Katherine lured me into.
So try and picture the scene…
…It’s quite a sunny day, probably the weekend as my sisters weren’t at school, and I’m guessing it’s spring. Susan, who’s just turned 13 last December, is in her own room now, and I’ve started sharing the other bedroom with Katherine, who at this point is 9.
Susan, I’m guessing, has been the proud owner of her own little red record player, probably since her birthday. It’s usually playing something or other. Osmonds, Bay City Rollers, etc.
Anyway, I’ve wandered upstairs, and Susan and Katherine are both in Susan’s room. Susan asks if I want to go in her room too.
Now, that sort of offer probably set off big red warning lights for a start. I was never usually allowed anywhere near her room, being the annoying little brother. But then Katherine also reinforces the invitation. Yes, we could all play together she enthuses.
I hesitantly make my way…
…into the room where it’s nice and sunny, and it’s while I’m wondering what they want to play, that I hear the intro-sound of Marathon Man getting louder and louder. Without me knowing it, Susan has had the single lined up ready for this, her perfect moment of devilishness.
Full blown blind terror leaps onto me. The next thing I remember, I’m pelting my way out of the room and back down the stairs, the shrieking sound of my two sisters cackling hysterically chasing after me. I probably don’t stop until I’m outside in the sunny garden.
It’s been over fifty years since that moment, and those two still haven’t changed. Little shits.
The single…
…had entered the chart late last year on the 15th of December 1974 at No.43, where it sat for a fortnight before beginning a determined climb as the New Year dawned; reaching the Top 10 by mid-January, and hitting its highest peak of No.8 the following week of the 19th of that month.
Since then, it’s been slowly dropping back through the numbers until it settles at this week’s position.
From here,..
…the single will fall out of the chart after the 22nd of February, leaving behind 10 weeks, and, thanks to two freakishly disturbing dummies, and two terrorising sisters, a now mentally scarred 3-year-old.
…and I didn’t even mention the gorillas. Cheers Roy.
The “A” Side
The “B” Side
‘Top of the Pops’ Appearance – January 1975
‘Crackerjack’ Appearance – January 1975
‘TopPop’ Appearance – March 1975
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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Grab Your Binoculars, Come Follow Me
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