Pick of the Pops (1970 - 1971)
The “Pick of the Pops” albums were issued by Deacon, a London-based budget label active from 1970 until the end of 1971. For reasons unclear, some (possibly all) appeared in identical sleeves, but on the Gallery label. A couple also emerged in a third incarnation, via the Heron label – apparently created for a petrol forecourt retailer of that name!
“Pick of the Pops” was preceded by one early album on Deacon, taking the form of an annual round-up for 1969, before the series proper was launched. “Pick of the Pops” only ran to six editions, but the numbering got confused anyway, there being no volumes 2 or 3 in the sequence. The album contents were supplied by Hensley Music, and often turn up on other budget LPs, for example volume 7 matching Marble Arch’s “Chartbusters New Series Volume 4”.
Towards the end, Deacon were sued by Pickwick International over the similarity of “Pick of the Pops” to “Top of the Pops”, and so the series title had to change. Just before it did, the operation was moved to the Windmill label, who continued it as “Parade of Pops” (see separate page) which endured in various incarnations until the mid-1980s. Thus, this modest title in fact forms part of one of the largest series ever to appear.
End-of-year collections
Woodstock / I Hear You Knocking / My Sweet Lord / (Where Do I Begin) Love Story / Rose Garden / Hot Love / Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep / Hey Girl Don't Bother Me / Knock Three Times / Butterfly / Maggie May / Coz I Luv You
Comments: LP issued in two different covers (see images). Includes five tracks not featured in the main series (the last five titles in the track listing). The contents of this LP can also be heard on albums on the Windmill and Flag labels respectively. Gallery label pressing cat number: GDEA 1080. There is an 8-track cartridge edition in existence, which may be a US issue; the LP with corresponding artwork (above left) is definitely a UK issue however.
The LP sleeve on the left is known in two variants, one of which has an "AZ" logo printed on the back. It is not clear what this signifies, but not all copies have it. And copies with the AZ logo give Deacon's company address as 120 King Street whereas copies without it give the address as Winchelsea Road NW10. Thanks to collector Simon Mclean for alerting us to this.
The LP sleeve on the left is known in two variants, one of which has an "AZ" logo printed on the back. It is not clear what this signifies, but not all copies have it. And copies with the AZ logo give Deacon's company address as 120 King Street whereas copies without it give the address as Winchelsea Road NW10. Thanks to collector Simon Mclean for alerting us to this.