In 1972 I was twelve and had just started buying singles, albums being far beyond my meagre pocket money. The timing was perfect, Marc Bolan having kick started the glam revolution barely six month’s before. Simple, flash and disposable it injected pure fun into the pop culture bloodstream. The reawakening of the hit single was buttressed by speedily made glam albums, padded with revivalist rock’n’roll and unoriginal originals yet even when the production line chancers moved in to Serve up the mien fuehrer of glam Gary Glitter, The Sweet, Mud and Suzi Quatro, the music and images remained thrillingly entertaining. More ‘serious artists’ like Elton John and ELO merely dabbled, Jeff Lynne appearing on TOTP’s in a particularly gimp silver wig, beard still intact of course. So this is the not-so-cool side of glam, those poetically described as ‘brickies in make up’, the star studded shams. Even at 13 I knew the difference well enough but they can still get my feet stomping with memories of church hall discos, illicit fags, a bottle of cider and a grope in the dark.
01 Gary Glitter / Rock And Roll Pt 2 / June 1972
02 Sweet / Wig Wam Bam / September 1972
03 Elton John / Crocodile Rock / October 1972
04 Slade / Gudbuy T’ Jane / November 1972
05 Electric Light Orchestra / Roll Over Beethoven / March 1973
06 Gary Glitter / Hello Hello I’m Back Again / April 1973
07 Wizzard / Angel Fingers / September 1973
08 David Essex / Lamplight / November 1973
09 Barry Blue / Do You Wanna Dance ? / November 1973
10 Mud Tiger Feet / January 1974
11 Alvin Stardust / Red Dress / May 1974
12 Showaddywaddy / Hey Rock’n’Roll May 1974
13 Bay City Rollers / Summerlove Sensation / July 1974
14 The Glitter Band / Rock On / September 1974
15 Slade / Far Far Away / October 1974
16 The Rubettes / Juke Box Jive / November 1974
17 Hello / Tell Him / November 1974
18 Suzi Quatro / The Wild One / November 1974
19 The Rubettes / I Can Do It / March 1975
20 Kenny / Fancy Pants / March 1975
21 The Arrows / I Love Rock’n’Roll / June 1975
22 Slik / Forever And Ever / November 1975
23 Hello / Star Studded Sham / November 1975