Pye Chart Busters (1971 - 1976)
The Marble Arch label was shut down in September 1971, calling a premature end to the ‘new’ “Chartbusters” albums. Parent label Pye were by no means finished with the series though, and reinvented it as “Pye Chart Busters”. The Pye albums follow the established formula more closely than the Marble Arch ones had, particularly in having volume numbers and female cover stars. The recordings were initially supplied through Dyne, but were recorded in-house from volume 4 onwards.
The series got off to a controversial start in late 1971, the first edition featuring a topless shot of model Nicola Austin. Both this album and the follow-up volume made the UK album charts during the window in which budget albums were eligible in 1971.
Nine volumes were issued on vinyl, cassette and 8-track before the series stalled. A year later, it came back to life once more, this time with the name changed to “12 Chart Buster Hits”. This late series was also released on cassette and 8-track, but this time these alternative editions had their own cover designs, slightly different titles to the records (“12 Chart Busters”) and their own, independent numbering system starting again at volume 1. In 1975, the vinyl editions stopped appearing, the series continuing just on the two tape formats until into 1976 when it folded. (See separate page for more details of the 8-track discography.)
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Tape editions CLICK THE ICON |
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Overseas editions CLICK THE ICON |
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Hey Girl Don't Bother Me / Did You Ever / Back Street Luv / Cousin Norman / It's Too Late / Let Your Yeah Be Yeah / Nathan Jones / I Believe (In Love) / Tap Turns On The Water / You've Got A Friend / Reason To Believe / Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum
Comments: Produced by Tony Palmer. Not billed as “volume 1”. Labels credit “Various Artists”. Cover model is Nicola Austin, who appears topless. This album reached 36 on the UK album charts. There is a rare alternative sleeve in existence, pictured above. This is believed to have been produced in reaction to objections raised to the topless image.
Comments: Produced by Tony Palmer. Not billed as “volume 1”. Labels credit “Various Artists”. Cover model is Nicola Austin, who appears topless. This album reached 36 on the UK album charts. There is a rare alternative sleeve in existence, pictured above. This is believed to have been produced in reaction to objections raised to the topless image.
Volume 2 (PCB 15001) Nov 1971
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Jeepster / Gypsies Tramps And Thieves / Coz I Luv You / Johnny Reggae / Sing A Song Of Freedom / I Will Return / Till / Banks Of The Ohio / Tokoloshe Man / Surrender / Run Baby Run / Something Tells Me (Something Is Gonna Happen Tonight)
Comments: Produced by Tony Palmer. Labels credit “Various Artists”. This album reached 29 on the UK album charts.
Comments: Produced by Tony Palmer. Labels credit “Various Artists”. This album reached 29 on the UK album charts.
Volume 3 (PCB 15002) Feb 1972
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Telegram Sam / Look Wot You Dun / Day After Day / American Pie / All I Ever Need Is You / Storm In A Teacup / Son Of My Father / Let's Stay Together / Without You / Have You Seen Her / Poppa Joe / My World
Comments: Produced by Tony Palmer. Labels credit “Various Artists”.
Comments: Produced by Tony Palmer. Labels credit “Various Artists”.
Volume 4 (PCB 15003) Apr 1972
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Alone Again (Naturally) / Heart Of Gold / Hold Your Head Up / The Young New Mexican Puppeteer / Crying Laughing Loving Lying / Too Beautiful To Last / Beg Steal Or Borrow / Back Off Boogaloo / It's One Of Those Nights (Yes Love) / Sweet Talkin' Guy / Until It's Time For You To Go / Desiderata
Comments: Recorded at Pye Studios. Labels credit “Various Artists”.
Comments: Recorded at Pye Studios. Labels credit “Various Artists”.
Volume 5 (PCB 15004) Jun 1972
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Metal Guru / Doobedood'Ndoobe Doobedood'Ndoobe / Lady Eleanor / What's Your Name / Sister Jane / California Man / Rocket Man / Could It Be Forever / Vincent / Oh Babe What Would You Say? / Mary Had A Little Lamb / Take Me Bak 'Ome
Comments: Recorded at Pye Studios. Labels credit “Various Artists”.
Comments: Recorded at Pye Studios. Labels credit “Various Artists”.
Volume 6 (PCB 15005) Sep 1972
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School's Out / Seaside Shuffle / Popcorn / All The Young Dudes / Lean On Me / 10538 Overture / Mama Weer All Crazee Now / Run To Me / Layla / Sugar Me / Too Busy Thinking 'Bout My Baby / You Wear It Well
Comments: Recorded at Pye Studios. Labels credit “Various Artists”.
Comments: Recorded at Pye Studios. Labels credit “Various Artists”.
Volume 7 (PCB 15006) Dec 1972
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Gudbuy T'Jane / What Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made A Loser Out Of Me) / Lookin' Through The Windows / My Ding-A-Ling / Crocodile Rock / Long Haired Lover From Liverpool / Ben / Solid Gold Easy Action / Crazy Horses / Rock Me Baby / Why / Clair
Comments: Labels credit “Various Artists”. 8-track is called "No. 7" rather than "Vol. 7".
Comments: Labels credit “Various Artists”. 8-track is called "No. 7" rather than "Vol. 7".
Volume 8 (PCB 15007) Feb 1973
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Cindy Incidentally / Part Of The Union / Looking Through The Eyes Of Love / Doctor My Eyes / Sylvia / Roll Over Beethoven / Cum On Feel The Noize / Superstition / Daniel / Hello Hurray / Whiskey In The Jar / Baby I Love You
Comments: Track listing stated on the back cover is in the wrong order.
Comments: Track listing stated on the back cover is in the wrong order.
Volume 9 (PCB 15008) May 1973
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Hell Raiser / Giving It All Away / Wonderful Dream / Walk On The Wild Side / And I Love You So / Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001) / See My Baby Jive / Brother Louie / Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree / Walking In The Rain / Broken Down Angel / My Love
Comments: Last release for a year.
Comments: Last release for a year.
RE-LAUNCH
After a 12-month gap, the albums started re-appearing under a new name: "12 Chart Buster Hits". At the same time, the cartridge and cassette editions were overhauled, given a standardised cover design and their own album titles: "12 Chart Busters". Confusingly, they also had a new run of volume numbers, starting again at number 1 - equivalent to the LP volume 10.
After a 12-month gap, the albums started re-appearing under a new name: "12 Chart Buster Hits". At the same time, the cartridge and cassette editions were overhauled, given a standardised cover design and their own album titles: "12 Chart Busters". Confusingly, they also had a new run of volume numbers, starting again at number 1 - equivalent to the LP volume 10.
Volume 10 (PCB 15009) May 1974
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Waterloo / Red Dress / Remember You're A Womble / Shang-A-Lang / Homely Girl / Rock 'N' Roll Suicide / The Cat Crept In / Don't Stay Away Too Long / Doctor's Orders / He's Misstra Know It All / Longlegged Woman Dressed In Black / A Walkin' Miracle
Comments: Cover model is Carol Cleveland.
Comments: Cover model is Carol Cleveland.
Volume 11 (PCB 15010) Jun 1974
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Hey Rock And Roll / Judy Teen / (You Keep Me) Hangin' On / Can't Get Enough / Guilty / One Man Band / There's A Ghost In My House / I See A Star / The In Crowd / A Touch Too Much / Liverpool Lou / Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
Comments: Cassette and 8-track editions are called “Volume 2”.
Comments: Cassette and 8-track editions are called “Volume 2”.
Volume 12 (PCB 15011) Sep 1974
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Love Me For A Reason / Kung Fu Fighting / What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted / Rock 'N' Roll Lady / Honey Honey / Na Na Na / Summerlove Sensation / Just For You / Mr Soft / I'm Leaving It (All) Up To You / Y Viva Espana / You You You
Comments: Cassette and 8-track editions are called “Volume 3”. 8-track available in green or white shell. Cover model is Carol Augustine.
Comments: Cassette and 8-track editions are called “Volume 3”. 8-track available in green or white shell. Cover model is Carol Augustine.
Volume 13 (PCB 15012) Dec 1974
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You're The First The Last My Everything / Oh Yes! You're Beautiful / Pepper Box / Closer / How Long / The Wild One / Juke Box Jive / Where Did All The Good Times Go / You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet / Tell Me Why / Magic / No Honestly
Comments: Labels credit “Various Artists”. Cassette and 8-track editions are called “Volume 4”. 8-track available in green or white shell.
Comments: Labels credit “Various Artists”. Cassette and 8-track editions are called “Volume 4”. 8-track available in green or white shell.
Volume 14 (PCB 15013) Feb 1975
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January / Good Love Can Never Die / Purely By Coincidence / The Bump / Black Superman (Muhammad Ali) / Boogie On Reggae Woman / Now I'm Here / Never Can Say Goodbye / Goodbye My Love / Please Mr Postman / Angie Baby / Sugar Candy Kisses
Comments: Labels credit “Various Artists”. Cassette and 8-track editions are called “Volume 5”. 8-track available in green or white shell.
Comments: Labels credit “Various Artists”. Cassette and 8-track editions are called “Volume 5”. 8-track available in green or white shell.
Volume 15 (PCB 15014) Mar 1975
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Let Me Be The One / There's A Whole Lot Of Loving / If / Fancy Pants / Philadelphia Freedom / Dreamer / Please Tell Him That I Said Hello / Mandy / I Can Do It / Girls / What Am I Gonna Do With You / Pick Up The Pieces
Comments: Cassette and 8-track editions are called “Volume 6”.
Comments: Cassette and 8-track editions are called “Volume 6”.
Volume 16 (PCB 15015) May 1975
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Oh Boy / Loving You / Hurt So Good / Life Is A Minestrone / Take Good Care Of Yourself / Ding-A-Dong / Hold On To Love / The Night / Let Me Try Again / Only Yesterday / Lady Marmalade (Voulez-Vous Coucher Aver Moi Ce Soir?) / Love Like You And Me
Comments: Cassette and 8-track editions are called “Volume 7”.
Comments: Cassette and 8-track editions are called “Volume 7”.
Final phase: tapes only
Volume 17 (called volume 8) (ZCPTC 508 / Y8PTC 508) Sep 1975
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What A Difference A Day Made / I Only Have Eyes For You / Fattie Bum Bum / Hold Me Close / I'm On Fire / Feelings / L-L-Lucy / Una Paloma Blanca / Like A Butterfly / Fallin' In Love / S.O.S. / There Goes My First Love
Volume 18 (called volume 9) (ZCPTC 509 / Y8PTC 509) Nov 1975
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Money Honey / You Sexy Thing / Love Hurts / Sky High / Imagine / This Old Heart Of Mine / Darlin' / Why Did You Do It / Na Na Is The Saddest Word / Heavenly / In For A Penny / Show Me You're A Woman |
Volume 19 (called volume 10) (ZCPTC 510 / Y8PTC 510) ? 1976
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Tracks not known |
Volume 20 (called volume 11) (ZCPTC 511 / Y8PTC 511) Aug 1976
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Dancing Queen / I Only Wanna Be With You / The Best Disco In Town / Dance Little Lady Dance / Mississippi / Loving And Free / Can't Get By Without You / Blinded By The Light / I Can't Ask For Anymore Than You / The Killing Of Georgie (Parts 1 And 2) / Baby We Better Try To Get It Together / Aria
End-of-year collections
1972: Golden Hour Presents Chartbusters 1972 (GH 548)
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Metal Guru / School's Out / Rocket Man / Beg Steal Or Borrow / Without You / Take Me Bak 'Ome / Jeepster / Vincent / Son Of My Father / Amazing Grace / Puppy Love / Telegram Sam / Could It Be Forever / Come What May / Mama Weer All Crazee Now / American Pie / You Wear It Well / Back Of Boogaloo / Mouldy Old Dough
Comments: ‘Sequel’ to 1971 Golden Hour album (see under Marble Arch “Chartbusters” series). Contains 19 tracks. Four are new to the series: “Amazing Grace”, “Puppy Love”, “Come What May” and “Mouldy Old Dough”. Also released on 8-track cartridge and cassette.
Comments: ‘Sequel’ to 1971 Golden Hour album (see under Marble Arch “Chartbusters” series). Contains 19 tracks. Four are new to the series: “Amazing Grace”, “Puppy Love”, “Come What May” and “Mouldy Old Dough”. Also released on 8-track cartridge and cassette.
1974: 1974 Top 30 (Y8PTM 5501 / ZCPTM 5501)
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Gonna Make You A Star / Billy Don't Be A Hero / Killer Queen / Always Yours / The Most Beautiful Girl / Everything I Own / Kissin In The Back Row Of The Movies / Rock Your Baby / Kung Fu Fighting / I'm Leaving It (All) Up To You / Jealous Mind / Waterloo / Love Me For A Reason / The Wombling Song / Annie's Song / You're The First The Last My Everything / When Will I See You Again / She / You're Sixteen / Teenage Rampage / Devil Gate Drive / Born With A Smile On My Face / Remember You're A Womble / Angel Face / Hey Rock And Roll / Y Viva Espana / Don't Stay Away Too Long / This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us / Seasons In The Sun / Tiger Feet
Comments: Tapes only. Contains 30 tracks. 26 are new to series.
Comments: Tapes only. Contains 30 tracks. 26 are new to series.
1975: 1975 Top 30 (Y8PTM 5502 / ZCPTM 5502)
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January / Sugar Candy Kisses / There's A Whole Lot Of Loving / You Sexy Thing / Only You Can / If / Barbados / Misty / Stand By Your Man / Loving You / There Goes My First Love / Oh Boy / Moonlighting / The Hustle / Tears On My Pillow / I'm Not In Love / Fox On The Run / Love Is The Drug / Give A Little Love / Can't Give You Anything (But My Love) / I Only Have Eyes For You / Space Oddity / Hold Me Close / I Can Do It / Only Yesterday / The Last Farewell / Whispering Grass / Sailing / Send In The Clowns / Bye Bye Baby
Comments: Tapes only. Contains 30 tracks, all new to series.
Comments: Tapes only. Contains 30 tracks, all new to series.
1976: Best of Chartbusters 1976 (Y8 PTM 5504)
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Save Your Kisses For Me / Money Money Money / Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To) / I Can't Ask For Anymore Than You / Music / Play That Funky Music / Can't Get By Without You / Under The Moon Of Love / Mississippi / Summer Of My Life / Howzat / If You Leave Me Now / Dancing Queen / Don't Make Me Wait Too Long / Aria / Blinded By The Light / When Forever Has Gone / You Make Me Feel Like Dancing / I'm Mandy Fly Me / I Love To Love Comments: Tapes only. Contains 20 tracks, all new to series. Catalogue number 5503 has been skipped for some reason. Cassette edition not currently known.
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1977: Chart Busters Top 30 1977 (ZC PTM 5506)
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Knowing Me, Knowing You / Getting’ Ready For Love / Angelo / Slow Down / Chanson D’Amour / Float On / Turn To Stone / Don’t Give Up On Us / From New York To LA / Name of the Game / Dancing Party / Sam / I Feel Love / Dancin Easy / Oxygene / Mull Of Kintyre / Lucille / That’s What Friends Are For / So You Win Again / How Deep Is Your Love / 2.4.6.8. Motorway / I Remember Elvis Presley / Free / Ma Baker / When I Need You / I Remember Yesterday / Love Of My Life / Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue / First Cut Is The Deepest / Star Wars Comments: Tapes only. Contains 30 tracks, all new to series. |