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| 1961 |
 George Formby suffers his second heart-attack and dies in Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Preston. His funeral takes place at St Charles' Church in Aigburth, Liverpool and over 100,000 people line the 20 mile route to Warrington Cemetery, where he is buried in the Booth family grave. |
| Georgie Fame joins Liverpudlian Billy Fury's backing band, The Blue Flames, in June 1961, playing piano |
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| 1962 |
| David Jones, now aged 16, is nominated for a Tony Award whilst playing the Artful Dodger in the Broadway production of Oliver. |
| Macclesfield-born guitarist and Manchester College of Art student John Mayall joins Mancunian drummer Hughie Flint in the Blues Syndicate. Another Blues enthusiast, Alexis Korner, persuadesMayall to move to London |
| singer Glyn Ellis and bassist Bob Lang attend an audition at the Oasis Club in Manchester although the rest of their group, The Jets, fail to show. They recruit the services of other musicians there. Hastily re-named Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders (named after Elvis Presley's drummer and a then-recently released hit movie), they get offered a 2 year record contract aptly by Fontana Records |
| Allan Clarke and Graham Nash, childhood friends from Salford, form The Hollies, playing their first gig at the Oasis Club in Manchester in December 1962 and take over The Beatles regular spot at Liverpool's Cavern Club |
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| 1963 |
| The Twisted Wheel nightclub opens on Brazenose Street, just off Deansgate. Playing blues music, it becomes Manchester's number venue for mods to hang out. |
 | Freddie & The Dreamers |
Freddie & The Dreamers  |
| In May, novelty Manchester band Freddie & The Dreamers, fronted by 5 foot 3" Freddie Garrity, have a number 3 hit with 'If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody'. It's later included on their self-titled debut album, which reaches no.5 in November. The group also have hits 'I'm Telling You Now' (no.2) and 'You Were Made For Me' (no.3, selling over 250,000 copies)[video] |
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 | The Hollies |
| Stay With The Hollies |
| The Hollies enjoy their first chart success in May 1963 with the single '(Ain't That) Just Like Me' (UK no.25). It's quickly followed by the single 'Searching' (UK no.12). Their debut album 'Stay With The Hollies' reaches UK no.2 in Feb 1964 and spawns the hit 'Stay' (no.8) [video] |
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 | The Dakotas |
| Do You Want To Know A Secret |
| Manchester band The Dakotas team up with Billy J Kramer for a no.2 hit with a cover of The Beatles, 'Do You Want To Know A Secret' in May. Without the Liverpool frontman, they reach number 18 hit with the instrumental track 'The Cruel Sea' in July, which is later included on their Number 19 EP, 'Meet The Dakotas' (Dec). [video] |
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 | The Dakotas |
| Bad To Me |
| Lennon & McCartney write the first UK no.1 hit for Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas. 'Bad To Me' spends 3 weeks at no.1, selling 250,000 copies, before being succeeded by The Beatles own 'She Loves You' [video] |
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| Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas release debut album, 'Listen To Billy J Kramer' (UK no.11) |
| Billy Fury replaces The Blue Flames with The Tornados. As a result, Georgie Fame becomes frontman of The Blue Flames |
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| 1964 |
 | Georgie Fame |
| Rhythm And Blues At The Flamingo |
| Georgie Fame releases his debut album. It doesn't chart. The LP includes the single 'Do The Dog' and it's b-side 'Shop Around', which also fails to chart. A later EP of the same name reaches no.8 in the UK charts, featuring the tracks 'Night Train', 'Parchman Farm', 'Work Song' & 'Baby Please Don’t Go' |
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 | The Dakotas |
| Little Children |
| Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas enjoy their biggest hit and second chart topper. 'Little Children' spends 2 weeks at no.1 in Feb 1964, selling 250,000. (USA no.7) [video] |
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 | Elkie Brooks |
| Something's Got A Hold On Me |
| 19 year old Salford born, Prestwich raised, jazz singer, Elaine Bookbinder, the younger sister of Dakotas drummer Tony Mansfield, releases a cover of the Etta James classic under her stage name 'Elkie Brooks'. Like her next 7 singles, it doesn't chart. She goes on to join Robert Palmer in Vinegar Joe |
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| Because it is not recorded on a major label, Irish record promoter Ronan O'Rahilly fails to getGeorgie Fame's debut album played on the BBC and Radio Luxembourg. As a result he decides to set up his own offshore radio station. On Easter Sunday 1964, Radio Caroline airs for the first time. |
 | Herman's Hermits |
| I'm Into Something Good |
| In Aug 1964, 16 year old Peter Noone, already famous for his role as Stanley Fairclough in Coronation Street, becomes lead singer of Herman's Hermits and spends 2 weeks at UK no.1 with 'I'm Into Something Good', a cover of the Earl Jean US hit, which sells over 250,000 copies. It's later included on the self-titled UK no.16 debut album (Feb 1965) with other hits 'Show Me Girl' (UK. no.19) and 'Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter' (US no.1 / UK.no.3) [video] |
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| In August, Georgie Fame enjoys chart success, (UK no.15) with his second album, 'Fame At Last' |
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| Freddie & The Dreamers have their last UK chart success in December 1964 with the uncharacteristically 'serious' single 'I Understand'. It reaches no.5, selling over 250,000 copies in the process [video] |
 | John Mayall |
| John Mayall Plays John Mayall |
| John Mayall makes releases the 'John Mayall Plays John Mayall' album which captures him live in concert in London, December 1964. The band includes future Fleetwood Mac bassist John McVie and Mancunian drummerHughie Flint. Featuring the earlier non-charting single, 'Crawling Up a Hill' the album fails to chart. |
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| 1965 |
 | Herman's Hermits |
| Can't You Hear My Heartbeat? |
| in January Herman's Hermits reach no.2 in the USA with 'Can't You Hear My Heartbeat?'. It reaches no.3 in the UK as a double a-side with 'Silhouettes' (which also reaches US no.5) [video] |
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| in February Herman's Hermits reach UK no.3 (USA no.5), selling over 250,000 copies of 'Silhouettes' [video] |
| Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders reach no.18 in the same month with their self-titled debut LP |
| in March, The Yardbirds reach UK no.3 (US no.6) with the hit 'For Your Love', a track originally written by Graham Gouldman from Broughton, Salford, for his Manchester band The Mockingbirds. The Yardbirds also have hits with his other tracks 'Heart Full of Soul' (UK no.2 / US no.9) and 'Evil Hearted You' (UK no.3). |
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 | Herman's Hermits |
| Mrs Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter |
| Herman's Hermits knock their fellow Mancunians off the USA number 1 spot with the single 'Mrs Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter', where it stays for 3 weeks. [video] |
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 | Herman's Hermits |
| I'm Henry VIII, I Am |
| Herman's Hermits knock The Rolling Stones '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' off the no.1 spot in the USA with the novelty 'I'm Henry VIII, I Am' (June). [video] |
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| The Hollies release their self-titled third album in September 1965. It reaches UK no.8 |
| In September, The Twisted Wheel nightclub moves to new premises on Whitworth Street and starts to play very rare Detroit soul music, defining the genre of 'Northern Soul' |
| Following the flop album 'It's Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders', Wayne Fontana walks off stage halfway through a gig in October, splitting with The Mindbenders and leaving guitarist Eric Stewart to become lead singer |
 | The Bee Gees |
| The Bee Gees Sing and Play 14 Barry Gibb Songs |
| the brothers Gibb, better known as their stage name 'The Bee Gees', release their debut album, a compilation of their Australian singles from the previous 3 years (Nov 1965) |
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| Wayne Fontana scores a minor hit with debut solo single, 'It Was Easier To Hurt Her' (UK no.36) |
 | Davy Jones |
| David Jones |
| David Jones releases the self-titled album together with 3 singles, 'Dream Girl', 'What Are We Going To Do?' and 'The Girl From Chelsea'. Whilst he has no chart success he is offered a part in 'The Monkees', alongside American singers, Micky Dolenz, Mike Nesmith and Peter Tork, a pop group formed expressly for a TV show. [video] |
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| 1966 |
 | The Mindbenders |
| A Groovy Kind Of Love |
| The Mindbenders first single without Wayne Fontana reaches number 2 in both the UK and USA (Jan 1966). It sells 250,000 copies in the UK and is later a number 1 hit for Phil Collins. Their self-titled album only reaches UK no.28 [video] |
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 | St Louis Union |
| Girl |
| After winning the 1965 Melody Maker National Beat Contest, Chorlton soul rockers, St Louis Union, fronted by Tony Cassidy, are rewarded with a record contract. They score their only hit in January with a cover of The Beatles 'Girl', which reaches UK no.11. Whilst the band appear in the film 'The Ghost Goes Gear' they split shortly after. [video] |
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| The Bee Gees release their second album, 'Spicks and Specks' in Australia. The headline single reaches number 1 in Australia |
| Wayne Fontana fails to chart with his debut solo album 'Wayne One'. During 1966 he scores a few minor hits in the UK, the most successful of which are 'Come On Home' (no.16) and 'Pamela Pamela' (no.11). |
| John Mayall teams up with Eric Clapton for the 'Blues Breakers' LP which reaches UK no.6 in July. It again features Manchester drummer Hughie Flint & future Fleetwood Mac bassist John McVie |
 | The Hollies |
| I Can't Let Go |
| The Hollies spend 3 weeks at UK no.2 with the Chip Taylor cover 'I Can't Let Go' in Feb 1965. The track is later included on their fourth album 'Would You Believe' which reaches UK no.16 in July [video] |
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| In May, Georgie Fame reaching UK no.6 with his third album, 'Sweet Things' |
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| In the same month The Hollies reach no.5 in both the UK and USA with the single 'Bus Stop' [video] |
 | The Magic Lanterns |
| Excuse Me Baby |
| Manchester group the Magic Lanterns, lead by Jimmy Bilsbury, have the near-miss singles 'Excuse Me Baby' (UK no.44) in July 1966 and 'Knight In Rusty Armour' (UK no.56). This is as close to fame as they'll get at home although chart success in the USA is soon to follow. |
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 | Davy Jones |
| The Monkees |
| Following the US no.1 hit single 'Last Train To Clarksville' (UK no.23) in August, the first episode of The Monkees starring Davy Jones airs on American TV, Sep 12th 1966. The group's self-titled debut album tops the chart in the USA and spends 7 weeks at No.1 in the UK. Davy Jones sings lead vocals on 'This Just Doesn't Seem to Be My Day', 'I'll Be True to You (Yes, I Will)', 'Gonna Buy Me a Dog' and the hit 'I Wanna Be Free' [video] |
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 | The Hollies |
| Stop Stop Stop |
| At the same time The Hollies reach no.2 in the UK (no.7 USA) with the single 'Stop Stop Stop'. It's later included on their fifth album 'For Certain Because' (no.23) [video] |
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| The same month, Georgie Fame's fourth album, 'Sound Venture' reaches UK no.9 |
| Davy Jones sings backing vocals on The Monkees worldwide smash. 'I'm A Believer', which spends 4 weeks at no.1 in the UK, selling over 250,000 copies in Dec. It also tops the chart in the USA[video] |
| Philomena Lynott buys the Clifton Grange Hotel in Whalley Range. The hotel is soon nicknamed 'The Biz' because of the number of showbiz personalities who stay there. Phil Lynott later writes the song 'Clifton Grange Hotel' on Thin Lizzy's debut album. |
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| 1967 |
| in February Herman's Hermits reach no.4 in USA (Uk no.7) with 'There's A Kind of Hush' [video] |
| Also in Feb'67 John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers reach UK no.10 with their 'A Hard Road' album. The line-up now includes future Fleetwood Mac guitarist Peter Green, bassist John McVie & drummer Aynsley Dunbar |
| In March, Georgie Fame's greatest hits album, 'Hall Of Fame' reaches UK no.12 |
 | Davy Jones |
| More Of The Monkees |
| The Monkees second album spends 2 weeks at the top of the UK charts in April and also hits the top spot in the USA. It features the the hit 'I'm A Believer' and the Davy Jones fronted 'When Love Comes Knockin' (At Your Door)', 'Hold On Girl', 'Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)', 'The Day We Fall in Love' and 'Laugh' |
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 | Davy Jones |
| A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You |
| Also in April, Davy Jones sings lead vocals on the The Monkees US no.2 hit 'A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You'. It reaches no.3 in the UK, selling over 250,000 copies [video] |
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 | Georgie Fame |
| Georgie Fame EP |
| In June, Georgie Fame reaches UK no.2 with his self-titled EP which includes a cover of 'Knock On Wood' |
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| Davy Jones sings backing vocals on the The Monkees UK no.2 hit 'Randy Scouse Git', which is released under the name 'Alternate Title' [video] |
 | Davy Jones |
| Headquarters |
| In the same month The Monkees third album tops the US charts and spends 6 weeks at number 2 in the UK. Davy Jones sings lead vocals on the tracks 'Forget That Girl', 'Shades of Gray', 'I Can't Get Her Off My Mind', 'Zilch', and 'Early Morning Blues and Greens' |
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| Meanwhile The Hollies psychedelic sixth album 'Evolution' reaches number 13 in the UK |
| In July, Georgie Fame has a minor hit (UK no.22) with his fifth studio album, 'Two Faces Of Fame' |
| In July The Bee Gees release their first International album, a psychedelic rock album aptly named 'Bee Gees 1st'. It reaches number 8 in the UK and spawns their first UK hit, 'New York Mining Disaster 1941', which reaches no.12. The famous track 'To Love Somebody' is also included. |
 | The Bee Gees |
| Massachusetts (The Lights Went Out In) |
| The Bee Gees enjoy their first UK no.1 hit, where it remains for 4 weeks during September, selling over 250,000 copies. It's also the first no.1 single in Japan by a non-Japanese artist [video] |
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| In September John Mayall reaches UK no.8 with his 'Crusade' LP. His backing band this time includes Mick Taylor, John McVie and a returning Hughie Flint |
 | Davy Jones |
| Daydream Believer |
| Davy Jones sings lead vocals on The Monkees smash. Despite selling over 250,000 copies, it only reaches UK no.5 (Nov 1967) but tops the chart in the USA [video] |
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| Robin Gibb & his girlfriend survive the Hither Green rail crash in London, in which 49 people die |
| John Mayall, without a backing band, reaches UK no.24 with 'The Blues Alone' LP (Nov) |
 | Georgie Fame |
| The Ballad Of Bonnie And Clyde |
| Georgie Fame, enjoys his third UK no.1 hit single in December, topping the chart for a week, selling over 250,000. It's later included on his 'Third Face Of Fame' album, which doesn't chart [video] |
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 | Davy Jones |
| Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. |
| The Monkees psychedelic fourth LP, gives them their third no.1 album of 1967 in the USA. In the UK however it only reaches no.5 in December.Davy Jones sings lead vocals on 'She Hangs Out', 'Cuddly Toy', 'Hard To Believe' and 'Star Collector' as well as backing vocals on the hit single 'Pleasant Valley Sunday' (USA no.3 / UK no.11) [video] |
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| The Dakotas split following 3 years with no chart success |
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| 1968 |
| The Bee Gees release their fourth album in January. 'Horizontal' only reaches number 16 in the UK but includes the Top 10 hit singles 'Massachusetts' (no.1), 'World' (no.9 and selling over 250,000 copies) and 'Words' (no.8). |
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| John Mayall releases the albums 'Diary of A Band' Volume 1 (UK no.27) and Volume 2 (no.28) in March 1968 which captures highlights from over 60 hours of Bluesbreakers club recordings |
| Graham Gouldman replaces Bob Lang as bass player for The Mindbenders |
| John Mayall's Bluesbreakers release their most successful album in June 1968. Reaching UK no.3, 'Bare Wires' shows more of a jazz influence than the previous albums. Mick Taylor remains on guitar with Peter Green and John McVie having left to form Fleetwood Mac. It's the last album to be released under the Bluesbreakers name |
 | Davy Jones |
| The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees |
| With their TV show now cancelled, The Monkees fifth LP, 'The Birds, The Bees And The Monkees' flops in the UK (only reaching no.42 in July) although fairs better in the USA (no.3). Davy Jones sings lead vocals on the excellent 'Dream World', 'We Were Made for Each Other' and 'The Poster' as well as the two hit singles 'Daydream Believer' and 'Valleri' |
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 | Bee Gees |
| I've Gotta Get A Message To You |
| The Bee Gees enjoy their second UK number 1 hit in August. Selling over 250,000 copies, it's knocked off the top spot the following week by The Beatles' 'Hey Jude'[video] |
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 | The Hollies |
| Hollies' Greatest |
| This August 1968 singles collection from The Hollies spends 7 weeks at no.1 in the UK (no.11 in the USA) and includes the hits 'I'm Alive', 'Just One Look', 'I Can't Let Go', 'Stop Stop Stop', 'Carrie Anne', 'Here I Go Again', 'Look Through Any Window', 'Carousel', 'Bus Stop', 'We're Through', 'Jennifer Eccles', 'Stay', 'Yes I Will' and 'King Midas In Reverse' |
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| In August, The Bee Gees release their fifth album, 'Idea', which reaches number 4 in the UK and sells over a million copies worldwide. Together with the chart topper 'I've Gotta Get A Message To You', it features 'Such a Shame', the only Bee Gees song where lead vocals aren't sung by a Gibb brother. |
| The Mindbenders split up after their 'With Woman In Mind' LP and various singles fail to chart (Aug) |
| Freddie & The Dreamers also split up after a lack of chart success |
| In October, The Dakotas manager, Peter Tattersall, and Eric Stewart from The Mindbendersopen up Strawberry Studios in Stockport. Graham Gouldman also joins the business |
| In December Graham Nash, who is not in agreement with the plan to record an album entirely of Bob Dylan songs, leaves The Hollies |
| John Mayall releases the album 'Blues from Laurel Canyon' which reaches UK no.33 (US no.68) in December 1968. It features guitarists Mick Taylor and Peter Green and takes its name from Laurel Canyon, California, where Mayall moves to the following year |
| Peter Tork quits The Monkees in December |
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| 1969 |
| In January, The Bee Gees release their sixth album, 'Odessa', their fourth International release. It only reaches number 10 in the UK. Disagreements over which song was to be released as a single results in Robin Gibb leaving the group (the single 'First Of May' is chosen, charting at no.6). |
| Despite false rumours in the press that she is engaged to Davy Jones, Lulu marries Maurice Gibb. |
 | The Fivepenny Piece |
| Running Free |
| Ashton-under-Lyne Lancashire folk act The Wednesday Folk win the folk section of TV talent show New Faces. Changing their name to The Fivepenny Piece, they release their first single, 'Running Free' in Jan 1969. Like their self-titled debut LP, it fails to chart |
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| In March The Hollies, with Liverpool guitarist Terry Sylvester replacing Graham Nash, reach UK no.3 with the single 'Sorry, Suzanne' [video] |
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| In May The Hollies release the Bob Dylan cover album, 'The Hollies Sing Dylan'. (UK no.3) |
 | Graham Nash |
| Crosby, Stills & Nash |
| Graham Nash joins up with David Crosby and Stephen Stills to record their self-titled debut LP. It reaches no.6 in the USA (no.25 in UK) and spawns the Nash written single 'Marrakesh Express' (UK #5 / USA #28) as well as 'Suite: Judy Blue Eyes' (USA #28). Nash also writes the tracks 'Pre-Road Downs' and 'Lady of the Island' [video]. |
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 | Robin Gibb |
| Robin's Reign |
| Robin Gibb's solo career is short lived with the UK no.2 hit single, 'Saved by The Bell'. It's later included on the album 'Robin's Reign' which fails to chart[video]. |
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 | Bee Gees |
| Don't Forget To Remember |
| In August, The Bee Gees (without Robin Gibb), sell over 250,000 copies, reaching UK no.2 with the single, 'Don't Forget to Remember' which is released under the name 'Bee Gees featuring Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb & Colin Peterson' [video] |
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| A collection of non-LP singles from John Mayall called 'Looking Back' reaches no.14 (USA no.79) in August |
| The Hollies sell over 250,000 copies, reaching UK no.3 (US no.7) with the September single 'He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother'. Elton John plays piano on the track [video] |
| In October, The Magic Lanterns reach number 28 in the USA with the track, 'Shame Shame', which is written with Albert Hammond |
| In the same month, The Bee Gees reach UK no.7 with their compilation album 'Best Of The Bee Gees' |
| John Mayall reaches UK no.11 (USA no.32) in November with the live album 'The Turning Point' |
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taken from http://www.prideofmanchester.com
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