According to the Joel Whitburn book #1s, here are the singles and albums that topped the seven major Billboard charts this week in 1971, fifty years ago:
The Bee Gees were atop the Hot Singles chart with “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart,” in its first week at No. 1.
On top of the R&B chart was a record that likely has the longest title for any single ever mentioned in this space, James Brown’s “Hot Pants Pt. 1 (She Got To Use What She Got, To Get What She Wants).”
Charley Pride was on top of the Country chart with “I’m Just Me,” in its second week in the top spot.
And “If Not For You” by Olivia Newton-John was perched atop the Adult Contemporary chart.
Things were more long-term on the album side:
Carole King’s Tapestry was in its eighth week at No. 1 on the pop chart.
Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On was No. 1 on the R&B chart for the second week.
And I Won’t Mention It Again by Ray Price was No. 1 on the country chart for the fourth week.
As is almost always the case, I know the pop stuff, I know half of the R&B stuff – What’s Going On has been on my shelves for many years – and I don’t know the country stuff. But since we’ve come across Tapestry again, I thought we’d take a look at another cover of its most well-known track, “It’s Too Late.”
Among the artists who have covered the song that I noticed but didn’t mention earlier this week are the Isley Brothers, who gave the song a ten-minute-plus workout on their 1972 album, Brother, Brother, Brother. Here it is:
Tags: Isley Brothers
Echoes In The Wind Archives 
August 7, 2021 at 5:39 pm |
Love the Isleys cover of It’s Too Late. Thanks for turning me on to it. This just might replace their cover of “Summer Breeze” as my fav cover of theirs.