What was the number one song in the UK on 8th July 1972?
“Puppy Love” by Donny Osmond was number one on 8th July 1972 and stayed there for five weeks.
The Osmond family was everywhere in the 70s. Here in the United States, I remember hearing their songs on the radio and watching their variety shows and Christmas specials on TV. And most important to me at the time, Marie and Donny Osmond came in Barbie form, which was pretty much the standard I set back then for considering something a pop culture phenomenon.
Donny originally sang with his brothers and later, of course, with his sister Marie, but in the early 70s, as he entered his teen years, he emerged as a solo artist and instant teen idol. You could barely pick up a teen magazine in the early 70s without Donny’s shiny teeth smiling back at you.
His version of Puppy Love, a song originally performed and released by Paul Anka in 1960, was a single from his third studio album Portrait of Donny, released when he was just 14. It reached No.1 in the UK and Canada, and No. 3 in the US.
Check out this video of Donny singing Puppy Love in 1972 on Top of the Pops. And while I was more of a David Cassidy kinda girl, it’s easy to see why so many teenagers swooned over Donny. The not-quite-mature voice reminds me of the first time I heard the Biebs on the radio:
Here’s what Wikipedia has to say about Puppy Love. I’m loving that Paul originally wrote this for Annette Funicello, proving that relationship goals is not a 21st century concept.
Wikipedia
“Puppy Love” is a popular song written by Paul Anka in 1960 for Annette Funicello, whom he was dating at the time. Anka’s version reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #33 on the UK Singles Chart.
Twelve years later it was revived by Donny Osmond. It was released on February 19, 1972. It reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 on April 1, 1972. It peaked at #1 in April 1972 on both the Canadian RPM singles chart for three weeks and the UK Singles Chart for five weeks the following July. Billboard ranked this version as the No. 67 song for 1972. The song was also covered by British pop group S Club Juniors in 2002. It was certified Gold by the RIAA on March 24, 1972.
On March 15, 1972, DJ Robert W. Morgan played the Donny Osmond version for 90 minutes straight on KHJ in Los Angeles. LAPD mistakenly raided the station studios after receiving numerous calls from listeners. Confused, the officers left without making any arrests.
Lyrics
And they called it puppy love
Oh, I guess they’ll never know
How a young heart really feels
And why I love her so
And they called it puppy love
Just because we’re in our teens
Tell them all, please tell them it isn’t fair
To take away my only dream
I cry each night my tears for you
My tears are all in vain
I’ll hope and I’ll pray that maybe someday
You’ll be back in my arms once again
Someone, help me, help me, help me please
Is the answer up above
How can I, oh how can I tell them
This is not a puppy love
Someone, help me, help me, help me please
Is the answer up above
How can I, oh how can I tell them
This is not a puppy love, not a puppy love
Spotify
The Talk About Pop Music Every UK Number One is now on Spotify. Relive, enjoy and share every song featured up until the latest post!
Acoustic Cover
Here at Talk About Pop Music we love an acoustic cover and Danny McEvoy does them the best!
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