"12 Tops" - overseas
This prolific UK series has been documented overseas, although information is sketchy. However we have a whole run of West German albums, one of which is a straight re-press, and also a French compilation plus a separate European compilation which we think comes from Sweden, although this is not confirmed. Further information would be welcomed, if anyone can help.
Brazil
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This is a Brazilian copy of volume 25. The cover is completely new, although the back is essentially the same as the UK edition, albeit printed in black and white. Stereo Gold Award still have their logo on it, but the label itself is different - we have not yet identified the name of the label. |
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France
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This LP came out on the French label, Mondio Music. It contains 12 tracks, nine of which appear on the UK albums, and three which only appeared on the special American editions. The cover art is very similar to a (later) UK album in the "Today's Smash Hits" series (see separate page). |
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Sweden (?)
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This album is a compilation, probably from Sweden. It takes 12 titles from "12 Tops" volumes 10 to 14, and is housed in essentially the same cover as UK volume 14 - the latest one it samples and with which it is undoubtedly contemporary. This dates it to around August 1973. There is no indication as yet that others exist. |
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Tracks: (Dancing) On A Saturday Night / Take Me To The Mardi Gras / Alright Alright Alright / Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting / Yesterday Once More / Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree / Say Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose / See My Baby Jive / Rubber Bullets / Brother Louie / Young Love / Goin' Home |
USA
The following albums were marketed in America. They contain selected material from the UK albums, bulked out with new recordings of songs which were American hits, making a roughly 50/50 split on each album. It will be noted that the sleeve designs are taken from the UK series. The last two are called "12 Hits".
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MER 359
A Cowboy's Work is Never Done / Back Off Boogaloo / Horse With No Name / Without You / Doctor My Eyes / Telegram Sam / Jungle Fever / American Pie / Me & Julio Down By The Schoolyard / Run Run Run / Vincent / Heart Of Gold Titles in bold from the UK series. Cover art from UK volume 1. |
MER 363
Rocket Man / The Young New Mexican Puppeteer / Lean On Me / How Can I Be Sure / Tumbling Dice / After Midnight / Day By Day / School's Out / Song Sung Blue / Coconut / Mary Had A Little Lamb / Amazing Grace Titles in bold from the UK series. Cover art from UK volume 2. |
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MER 365
Alone Again (Naturally) / Conquistador / Sealed With A Kiss / Popcorn / Where Is The Love / Join Together / Breaking Up Is Hard To Do / Beautiful Sunday / You Wear It Well / Run To Me / When You Say Love / Rock And Roll (Part 2) Titles in bold from the UK series. Cover art from UK volume 4. |
MER 371
Witchy Woman / I'm Stone In Love With You / Crazy Horses / Nights In White Satin / You Ought To Be With Me / Sweet Surrender / Goodbye To Love / Ventura Highway / Burning Love / Clair / Freddie's Dead / My Ding-A-Ling Titles in bold from the UK series. Cover art from UK volume 5. |
West Germany
The albums below are the West German equivalent of 12 Tops, and appeared under the slightly misleading title, Made In England (the LPs weren't - even if the recordings were). All bar one are compilations from the series (the odd one being a direct re-pressing) although there are a small number of tracks from some other source here and there. In each case we give the sources of the recordings, with the primary contemporary UK release listed first. The label is Sonic, and some of these have a billing for Freizeit Magazin - meaning Leisure Magazine - on the front.
Made In England
Ten tracks from 12 Tops vol 1. One track from vol 2 and one ("How Do You Do") from an unknown source.
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Made In England 2
Seven tracks from 12 Tops vol 2. The other five are from the US edition number 1.
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Made In England 3
All tracks from 12 Tops vol 4.
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Made In England 4
Eight tracks from 12 Tops vol 6. Three tracks from vol 5 and one ("Children Of The Revolution") from an unknown source.
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Made In England 5
Eight tracks from 12 Tops vol 8. Three tracks from vol 7 and one from US edition number 4.
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Made In England 6
Six tracks each from 12 Tops vol 9 and 10.
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Made In England 7
Seven tracks from 12 Tops vol 14. Two from vol 13, one from vol 12 and two from vol 11.
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Made In England 8
Six tracks from 12 Tops vol 17, five tracks from vol 16, plus one other to be confirmed.
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Made In England 9
Nine tracks from 12 Tops vol 19 and three tracks from vol 18.
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Made In England 10
Seven tracks from 12 Tops vol 22, three tracks from vol 21 and two ("Too Big" and "The Six Teens") from an unknown source - possibly 16 Chart Hits vol 13.
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