Hit Parade Special (1970 - 1973)
Rediffusion’s first series, “Sounds Like Hits”, was discontinued in mid-1970. The reasons are not altogether clear, but probably had something to do with the demise of the Fontana label at around that point. (Fontana had been issuing their versions of "Sounds Like Hits" until late-1969, and were presumably helping to fund the releases.) However these events did not interrupt normal supply; the first installment of “Hit Parade Special” appeared reasonably soon after "Sounds Like Hits" was retired, starting a run of nine in total.
During the period that "Hit Parade Special" was in production, Rediffusion also released three albums which followed the same general format, but which were called something different. Since successive releases of "Hit Parade Special" were numbered in sequence, these extra LPs cannot be considered part of the set, and so are treated separately here - although there is no obvious reason why two of the odd three should have been issued outside the main series.
Some of these albums are composed of Mike Morton recordings, although he is not always credited on them.
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Tape editions CLICK THE ICON |
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Overseas editions CLICK THE ICON |
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Grandad / I Hear You Knocking / Woodstock / Apeman / Lonely Days / Indian Reservation / The Witch / You're Ready Now / Pretty Woman / Nothing Rhymed / Whole Lotta Love / Jerusalem Comments: Cover photo by M. Laguens.
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Volume 2 (ZS 89) Jul 1971
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Let Your Yeah Be Yeah / Bangla-Desh / I'm Still Waiting / You've Got A Friend / Won't Get Fooled Again / Leap Up And Down (Wave Your Knickers In The Air) / What Are You Doing Sunday / Happy Birthday, Ruthy Baby / Heartbreak Hotel / These Things Will Keep Me Loving You / Walk The World Away / Move On Up |
Volume 3 (ZS 96) Oct 1971
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The Witch Queen Of New Orleans / Simple Game / Sultana / Moon Shadow / You Don't Have To Be In The Army To Fight In The War / Brandy / Spanish Harlem / Butterfly / The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down / Keep On Dancing / Mamy Blue / I'm Leavin' Comments: Recordings credited to Mike Morton. Cover photo by M. Laguens.
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Volume 4 (ZS 105) Jan 1972
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I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing / Horse With No Name / Stay With Me / Brand New Key / Morning Has Broken / Family Affair / Let's Stay Together / Bless You / Where Did Our Love Go / All I Ever Need Is You / Can't Let You Go / Diamonds Are Forever Comments: Recordings credited to Mike Morton. Cover photo by M. Laguens.
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Volume 5 (ZS 114) Apr 1972
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Tumbling Dice / Little Piece Of Leather / Everything I Own / Could It Be Forever / Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard / Come What May / Rocket Man / Open Up / Hurting Each Other / You Are Everything / Oh Babe What Would You Say? / Sunshine |
Volume 6 (ZS 124) Aug 1972
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School's Out / Seaside Shuffle / Popcorn / Breaking Up Is Hard To Do / You Wear It Well / Run To Me / It's Four In The Morning / All The Young Dudes / Layla / The Loco-Motion / Too Busy Thinking 'Bout My Baby / Where Is The Love Comments: Matches Mike Morton's "Non Stop Hits" volume 2 on RCA. |
Volume 7 (ZS 132) Oct 1972
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Nice To Be With You / Brandy / Freddie's Dead / Burning Love / Happiest Girl In The Whole USA / I Gotcha / Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me / Day Dreaming / Candy Man / Everybody Plays The Fool / Black And White / Hey Girl Comments: Album composed almost entirely of songs which were not UK hits.
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Volume 8 (ZS 136) Jan 1973
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Blockbuster / The Jean Genie / Can't Keep It In / Long Haired Lover From Liverpool / Relay / Always On My Mind / Solid Gold Easy Action / If You Don't Know Me By Now / Hi Hi Hi / Ball Park Incident / You're So Vain / Wishing Well Comments: Matches Mike Morton's "Non Stop Hits" volume 4 on RCA. |
Volume 9 (ZS 151) Jun 1973
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Skweeze Me Pleeze Me / Born To Be With You / Take Me To The Mardi Gras / Sweet Illusion / Can You Do It / Snoopy Vs The Red Baron / Live And Let Die / The Groover / Welcome Home / Rubber Bullets / Albatross / Can The Can / Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) Comments: Side 1 contains seven tracks. Cover photo by M. Laguens.
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End-of-year collections
1971: Pick of the Hits ’71 (ZS 101)
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Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep / It's Impossible / I Hear You Knocking / I Am... I Said / River Deep Mountain High / She's A Lady / Knock Three Times / Hot Love / The Song Of My Life / Put Your Hand In The Hand / (Where Do I Begin) Love Story / Banner Man Comments: Includes some tracks only available on “Hits Stateside” (see below). Cover photo by M. Laguens.
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1972: Pick of the Hits ’72 (ZS 129)
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I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing / Look Wot You Dun / How Can I Be Sure / Oh Babe What Would You Say / Without You / School's Out / Mouldy Old Dough / You Wear It Well / Horse With No Name / Coz I Luv You / All The Young Dudes / You're A Lady Comments: Contains six tracks not sourced from previous LPs.
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1974: The Best Of ’74 (01-186)
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Gonna Make You A Star / You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me / Seasons In The Sun / Sad Sweet Dreamer / When Will I See You Again / Billy Don't Be A Hero / Kung Fu Fighting / Love Me For A Reason / Tiger Feet / She / Rock Your Baby / Waterloo Comments: Released after the final “Hit Parade Special” LP and therefore the last to appear. None of the tracks feature in the main series.
This version of Gonna Make You A Star is taken from 16 Chart Hits Volume 15. |
Other releases
The following titles were released while "Hit Parade Special" was current and all contain comtemporary hits. It is not clear why they were not incorporated into the main series (although the US-themed "Hits Stateside" is more obviously separate).
Chart Party
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Hits Stateside
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Summer ’73
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