On the 27th June 1969 at the popular Bay Hotel
in Seaburn Sunderland the often overlooked Pretty Things, beat The
Who in 1968 with S.F. Sorrow, while much shorter than most rock
operas, is the best rock concept album ever. Shortly after the S.F. Sorrow
album, founding member Dick Taylor left the group and the Pretty Things
regretfully became mainly a hard rock band. Biggest hits included, Rosalyn,
Don't Bring Me Down, and Honey I Need.
Below is the Wearside top ten for The 1st of October 1964
1 I'm into something good Herman's Hermits
2 Rag Doll The Four Seasons
3 Oh pretty woman Roy Orbison
4 Have I the Right The Honeycombs
5 You really got me The Kinks
6 Where did our love go The Supremes
7 As tears go by Marianne Faithfull
8 The Crying game Dave Berry
9 I wouldn't trade you for the world The Bachelors
10 The Wedding Julie Rogers
Yes
The group Yes was a big welcome for Wearside fans
at the Fillmore /Bay Hotel Sunderland in June 1969.
The music of Yes is filled with beautiful melodies. Yes was fortunate
in having three writing members and their music advanced significantly
from The Yes Album, Fragile and to Close To The Edge. Yes songs
also got longer, until their new album for 1974, Tales From Topographic
Oceans, was a double-LP consisting of four long tracks, they were beautiful
songs, but so demanding that even keyboard player Rick Wakeman bailed out
after the accompanying tour.
Below is the Wearside top ten for the 9th of October 1968
1 Those were the days Mary Hopkin
2 Jesmine The Casuals
3 Hey Jude The Beatles
4 Little Arrows Leapy Lee
5 My little lady The Tremeloes
6 Lady Willpower The Union Gap
7 Ice in the sun Status Quo
8 Red Balloon The Dave Clark Five
9 Hold me Tight Johnny Nash
10 I say a little prayer Aretha Franklin
Slade
Sunderland has seen many famous rock bands, Slade,
formally Ambrose Slade another big name from
the 70's appeared at Annabel's night club in October 1969.
Unlike many new groups who found themselves with a hit single, Slade
were well prepared for the success that awaited them and I Luv
You got to No.1 in the charts by November of 1971. The song was
written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea and established a successful
writing team which began a run of hit singles for Slade including six
number ones by the end of 1973. Slade would
enjoy international success until the late 1970's.
Even today, well known artists continue to record versions of
their songs and the Slade hit Merry XMas Everybody still remains a
seasonal favourite. Noddy Holder left Slade at the end of the 1980's
but remains a well known personality on both radio and TV.Noddy Holder
lead vocal, guitar Dave Hill, lead guitar, Jim Lea bass guitar and Don Powell drums
Below is the Wearside top ten for the 11th of December 1968
1 The good the bad and the ugly Hugo Montenegro
2 Lily the pink The Scaffold
3 Ain't gat no - I got life Nina Simone
4 Build me up buttercup The Foundations
5 Eloies Barry Ryan
6 I'm the urban spaceman The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band
7 This old heart of mine The Isley Brothers
8 Breaking down the walls of heartache Johnny Johnson
9 May i have the Next dream with you Malcolm Roberts
10 I'm a tiger Lulu
