January 1971

As we move into January 2021, my "50 years ago" Top 40 review moves into 1971.  My gut feel is that '71 was note quite as good as '72 or '71, but still very very good.  So what was January 1971 like?

During the 4 weeks of January 1971, there were 54 songs that spent time in the Top 40. As usual, lots of great stuff.

Three songs made #1 during the month.  Only 2 songs topped the charts though.  George Harrisons "My Sweet Lord" held the first 3 weeks, continuing from the end of 1970.  And Tony Orlando and Dawn took over the last 2 weeks, with "Knock 3 Times".

Here's the top 10 songs of the month, ranked by average chart position over the 4 weeks of the month:

• My Sweet Lord - George Harrison - 1.4
• Knock Three Times - Dawn - 1.8
• One Less Bell To Answer - The 5th Dimension - 3
• Black Magic Woman - Santana - 6
• I Think I Love You - The Partridge Family - 8.4
• Lonely Days - Bee Gees - 8.6
• Stoney End - Barbra Streisand - 9.4
• Groove Me - King Floyd - 9.6
• Stoned Love - The Supremes - 11.4
• It's Impossible  - Perry Como - 12.4

Eighteen (18) songs made their Top 40 debut, here they are (listed by entering position):

• Remember Me - Diana Ross - 31
• Let Your Love Go - Bread - 33
• Stop The War Now - Edwin Starr - 33
• One Bad Apple - The Osmonds - 34
• (Don't Worry) If There's A Hell Below We're All Going To Go - Curtis Mayfield - 34
• I Really Don't Want To Know - Elvis Presley - 35
• Born To Wander - Rare Earth - 36
• If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot - 36
• Amos Moses - Jerry Reed - 36
• Amazing Grace - Judy Collins - 37
• 1900 Yesterday - Liz Damon's Orient Express - 37
• Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved (Pt. 1) - James Brown - 38
• Watching Scotty Grow - Bobby Goldsboro - 39
• Precious, Precious - Jackie Moore - 39
• Mr. Bojangles - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - 40
• (Do The) Push And Pull Part I - Rufus Thomas - 40
• Somebody's Watching You - Little Sister - 40
• Most Of All - B.J. Thomas - 40