This cassette is called "Top Hits of the Year", and contains half a dozen songs from Chevron's "Parade of Pops" cassettes, which started in the spring of 1978, plus another six recordings which are completely new to the series. (Check out the advert for the "Casade 34" - a grandiosely titled cassette carrying case sold by Chevron. Mutiple Sound owned the "Casade" trademark, although it was branded with Warwick's logo!)
With his of the calibre of "You're The One That I Want" and "Night Fever", plus the best-selling "Mull of Kintyre", the cassette is an excellent memento of the 1978 hit charts. It also contains a version of "Wuthering Heights", different to the "Top of the Pops" recording, about which, Mojo magazine said it should never have been attempted!
What's doubly interesting about this cassette, is that it forms part of an extremely long sequence. Budget LP collectors will be aware that when Chevron started up their "Parade of Pops", they were essentially reviving a much older series by the same name, which had appeared on the Windmill label between 1972 and 1976. When Windmill were holding the reins, they also issued end-of-year round-up albums called "Top Hits of the Year", covering every year from 1971 to 1975 inclusive. Then Chevron adopted the same policy, albeit mainly on cassette, from 1978 to 1985 inclusive. Thus, "Top Hits of the Year" has a fourteen year history in its own right.
Here, for you delectation, are images of the Chevron cassette series, from 1979 to the finish...
Great albums all of them. I have the this one & the 1979 edition on vinyl, plus the 81,82 & 85 editions on cassette. Putting together a catalogue of Chevron tapes & records sounds like a great idea, particularly as they released a good many 'Sing & Play' type albums during their lifetime, far more than any other budget label I would guess.
ReplyDeleteJust one more thought, although Chevron didn't resurrect the Parade Of Pops series until spring 1978, Chevron cassettes first went on sale in Woolworths in June 1977. On that basis, there could well be a Top hits Of The Year for 1977. Wishful thinking maybe, but you never know......
Richard Brooke :-)
Best of 1977?... Now there's a thought! I do know that Pye issued one on cassette at the end of 1977, but that's another story.
ReplyDeleteSomeone has kindly sent me a partial listing for Chevron, which has many of the cassettes detailed. I wonder what would be the best way to get the info online, and try and get the gaps filled in? Any ideas?