July 1971

Here's for the next in my ongoing series of reviewing the Top 40 songs from 50 years ago.  I've been doing this version of the review for over a year now, plan to continue indefinitely.  

  So what was July 1971 like?

There were 5 weeks of July'71, and there were 58 songs that spent time in the Top 40. As usual, lots of great stuff.  1971 was a pretty outstanding year!

Three songs topped the charts over July's 5 weeks:  Carole King's "It's Too Late" held #1 for the last 3 weeks, finishing out a 5 week stay at the top.  "Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee) took #1 for a single week, and "Don't Pull Your Love" by Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds finished the month at the top spot. 

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

• It's Too Late - Carole King - 1.25
• Indian Reservation (The Lament Of The Cherokee Reservation Indian) - The Raiders - 1.75
• Treat Her Like A Lady - Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose - 4.25
• Don't Pull Your Love - Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds - 4.5
• You've Got A Friend - James Taylor - 5
• Rainy Days And Mondays - Carpenters - 6.5
• Mr. Big Stuff - Jean Knight - 7.5
• She's Not Just Another Woman - The 8th Day - 11.75
• That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be - Carly Simon - 12
• Draggin' The Line - Tommy James - 13.5

Twenty Three (23) songs made their Top 40 debut, a couple of pretty notable songs.  Here they are (listed by entering position):

• Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology) - Marvin Gaye - 26
• What The World Needs Now Is Love - Tom Clay - 26
• Hot Pants (She Got To Use What She Got To Get What She Wants) (Pt. 1) - James Brown - 27
• Maybe Tomorrow - Jackson 5 - 30
• Signs - Five Man Electrical Band - 33
• Rings - Cymarron - 33
• Double Barrel - Dave & Ansil Collins - 36
• Love The One You're With - The Isley Brothers - 37
• Beginnings - Chicago - 37
• If Not For You - Olivia Newton-John - 37
• Smiling Faces Sometimes - The Undisputed Truth - 37
• Sweet Hitch-Hiker - Creedence Clearwater Revival - 37
• You've Got A Friend - Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway - 38
• Summer Sand - Dawn - 38
• How Can You Mend A Broken Heart - Bee Gees - 39
• Chicago - Graham Nash - 39
• Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart) - The Stylistics - 39
• Riders On The Storm - The Doors - 39
• Wild Horses - The Rolling Stones - 40
• Moon Shadow - Cat Stevens - 40
• Love Means (You Never Have To Say You're Sorry) - Sounds Of Sunshine - 40
• Liar - Three Dog Night - 40
• Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get - The Dramatics - 40